The council is set to bring its adult social care services back under its own control after its current system was deemed “inefficient”.

Social care is currently provided for borough residents by Optalis - a company jointly owned by Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM).

WBC delivers other parts of the services but a review found residents would benefit from receiving care from just one organisation instead of two.

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Conservative councillor Charles Margetts, who is WBC’s executive member for health, well-being and adult social services, said: “We know some of WBC and Optalis staff have been frustrated that our current structures have not helped them in their work.

“We have worked with staff on these issues and are putting improvements in place. This change would be part of that improvement process and would allow a more timely, efficient and customer-focussed practice.”

A council report outlined issues with the dual-system including a “lack of strategic leadership” and “a lack of clarity on the responsibility for adult social care with two bodies managing the system”.

Reorganising social care provisions will mean 48 staff members switch from Optalis to WBC and the restructuring is set to cost the council £119,000 in the first year, before rising to £238,000 in each of the following two years.

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Labour councillor Andy Croy welcomed the switch, saying: “Anything that makes vulnerable adults safer has got to be welcomed.”

He added: “We don’t put people’s lives at risk to save money - end of.

“There are questions about how, for so long, the borough council had an experimental model that nobody else was trying.

“We’re the only borough in the country where our statutory responsibilities are split between the outsourced company on one hand and in-house on the other hand.

“It’s an experiment in privatisation and it was obviously putting people at risk.

“I hope no one has suffered as a result and I’m very pleased that risk has been reduced.”

Despite the proposed switch, Cllr Margetts said Optalis was “doing a great job.”

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The council’s top team are set to confirm the switch at a meeting on Thursday, June 27.