Care Inspectorate Wales and Healthcare Inspectorate Wales conclude assurance check of Carmarthenshire learning disability services
The inspection, which took place between 10 and 12 November 2025, assessed the local authority's social services and health board's performance in exercising their statutory duties and functions.
We have recently completed an assurance check with Healthcare Inspectorate Wales of Carmarthenshire County Council's Community Learning Disability Team (CLDT) and the Learning Disabilities Directorate within Hywel Dda University Health Board.
Key improvements identified
Our inspection found that strategic alignment between health and social care ensures coordinated and responsive services that meet people's complex needs. Strong partnership working is evident across healthcare, social care, and third-sector organisations.
Carmarthenshire County Council provides a supportive working environment with strong recruitment and retention, supported by initiatives such as the grow your own approach and care academy. Staff describe a positive culture with good access to training and development opportunities.
Many people rate their care positively, describing practitioners as helpful, friendly, and supportive.
The local authority has significantly expanded supported accommodation, with 45 people moving into supported living in the last two years, demonstrating positive practice in promoting independence and choice.
Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and Mental Health Act practice keeps people at the focus with clear prevention of harm. Best interest decision-making is well understood and integrated into everyday practice.
Advocacy provision is strong, with a single point of access functioning effectively. People are supported to understand and exercise their rights.
Areas requiring further development
Whilst recognising these strengths, our inspection identified some areas where further progress is needed.
The health board must ensure all eligible people are offered annual health checks and that clinicians receive appropriate training to understand the specific health needs of people with learning disabilities.
The health board must ensure all relevant staff complete basic life support training in a timely manner to maintain up-to-date certification and meet the minimum compliance standard of 85%.
The health board must improve access to services when people transition from child to adult services to ensure continuity of care.
Leaders must work with practitioners to improve communication standards, ensuring telephone calls and emails are responded to promptly.
The health board should quality assure care plans and risk assessments to ensure these documents are accessible and recorded in a consistent and proportionate manner across systems.
The health board and local authority must ensure delays and waiting lists, particularly for occupational therapy and day opportunities, are appropriately monitored with key information recorded to evidence appropriate prioritisation.
The local authority must continue to address potential service exclusion due to rural and digital barriers, ensuring representative groups reach people across all areas.
Next steps
We expect the local authority and health board to consider the areas identified for improvement and take appropriate action to address them.
CIW will monitor progress through our ongoing performance review activity. Where relevant we expect the local authority to share the positive practice identified with other local authorities to help drive continuous improvement in statutory services throughout Wales.
HIW will monitor progress against the health-related improvements via completion of an Improvement Plan, which will detail the findings and agreed improvement actions with responsible officers and timescales.