Eight-Month Waits for Vital Mental Health Assessments in Dudley
Vulnerable residents in Dudley are facing waits of more than eight months for crucial mental health assessments that could determine whether they are deprived of their liberty for their own safety. A stark report prepared for Dudley Council's Social Care and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee has revealed that the longest wait for a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) assessment recently reached 262 days.
Rising Referrals and a Persistent Backlog
The situation comes amid a significant surge in demand for these assessments. The report details that DoLS applications in Dudley increased dramatically in the 2023/24 period, with 1,055 applications received. This marks a sharp rise from the 690 applications recorded in the previous year. Consequently, a substantial backlog of uncompleted cases persisted, with 660 assessments still outstanding at the end of the financial year.
Despite the growing pressure, the report notes a silver lining: waiting times have actually improved from a previous high of 352 days. This indicates that efforts to manage the caseload are having some effect, even as the number of people referred continues to climb.
Council Invests to Tackle the Crisis
In response to the mounting delays, Dudley Council's Pay Cost Control Board has authorised a significant financial injection to address the problem. An extra £215,692 has been allocated for overtime payments to DoLS assessors, additional administrative support, and more assessments conducted by mental health specialists.
This funding is expected to deliver 524 new assessments, aiming to cut the current waiting list, which stands at 556 cases. The report cautions, however, that this solution may create a future challenge. As more assessments are completed now, the number of cases requiring renewal assessments in the coming years is also predicted to rise, creating a cyclical demand.
When compared to other authorities in the region, Dudley faces a particularly heavy burden. Of 14 regional authorities, Dudley has the third highest number of applications for assessments. Furthermore, its non-completion rate is worse than the regional average. While the average authority in the region received 900 applications, Dudley was asked to process 1,055, and its 660 uncompleted cases far exceed the regional average of 500.
On a more positive note, Dudley's maximum waiting time, though lengthy, is still better than the ten-month regional average. Councillors are set to meet on December 3 to scrutinise whether the actions taken are sufficient to ease the critical backlogs. The report concludes that despite improvements, including the establishment of a team with three permanent assessors and better administrative support, Dudley's DoLS Team remains less well-resourced compared to its regional peers.
