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SOCIAL SERVICES NORTH WEST
MEETING ON 15 SEPTEMBER 2000 AT WIGAN
REPORT OF THE CO-ORDINATOR
RAISING THE PROFILE OF SOCIAL SERVICES NORTH WEST
1. Matter for consideration:
To update members on action being taken to raise the profile of the organisation.
2. Information:
2.1 The March 2000 report on the Future Direction of Social Services North West outlined various actions to be
taken to raise the profile of Social Services North West. An update on each of these was given in the June 2000
report on the Annual Work Programme 2000-2001. This report provides a further brief update on these, together with
a more detailed proposal on the content of SSNWeb - the website for Social Services North West which is currently
being designed.
2.2 Quarterly newsletter: The third edition of SSNW News was finalised and circulated immediately after the meeting
with the NHS Executive North West and Social Services Inspectorate in July. As well as being distributed as a four-page
paper document through the Directors of member authorities, it is also available in electronic form via an email
mailing list. A number of our key partners are now subscribers to this: anyone wishing to be added to the list
may send an email to ssnw@btinternet.com
2.3 Conference Programme: 3 conferences are already scheduled for Autumn, and others are in prospect depending
on decisions taken at this meeting: see also separate report.
2.4 Liaison with partner bodies: As will be seen from other reports on this agenda, links are developing rapidly
with the Local Government Association Social Affairs and Health Executive, the NHS Executive North West and the
Social Services Inspectorate (Social Care Group North). We have recently made a link to the North West Regional
Assembly in respect of their research into regional disability issues. It is proving more difficult to establish
meaningful contact with the North West Development Agency, but efforts are continuing. The period since the last
meeting has also seen active attempts to engage the interest of the 62 MPs serving the area of our 19 member authorities.
They each received a letter from the Chair about our policies on the Children's Rights Commissioner and about arrangements
for commissioning care for older people - some 18 replies were received. Latterly they have been sent more general
details of SSNW, and an invitation to attend the meeting on 15 September in Wigan.
2.5 Website: Design work has continued during the summer on SSNWeb - the website of Social Services North West,
and it should be ready for launch at the meeting with the LGA on 11 October. A trial site should be available for
private viewing by SSNW members and officers before then - details of its availability will be notified to those
on the email mailing list. Anyone wishing to be added to the list may send an email to ssnw@btinternet.com
2.6 The proposed content of the site is as follows:
Home Page
Latest News - featuring a weekly (at least) News Roundup of information from related websites, and notes of other additions to the site
Aims and Work - the aims and objectives of SSNW and details of our Annual Work Programme 2000-2001, and other information about work in hand
Members - brief details about member authorities, and our staff support team
Policies - current and recent policy papers, and correspondence with Ministers and MPs
Partners - details of some of the organisations we work with, and links to their websites
Events - details of our current Conference Programme, and other events
Contact Us - details of all the ways SSNW can be contacted
Links - clickable links to other relevant websites
Obviously the site will take time to develop but it is believed that this basic structure will hold good as
the site grows and more information is added. One point for discussion is the amount of information which we should
provide on each member authority. It is proposed to restrict information initially to the names and contact details
of representatives and deputy representatives and Directors, and links to the authority's own website. Comments
on whether local information should be further developed will be welcome.
2.7 Media strategy: It was intended that this should be gradually developed as the Annual Work Programme got under
way, but the concern of members at the last meeting about the NHS Federation proposal about the commissioning of
social care demanded a prompt and high-profile response. Contacts were made with regional TV and press media, and
a comprehensive mailing list gathered, with assistance from member authorities, to whom press releases could be
issued. Extensive efforts, including the offer of filming opportunities in two authorities, failed to interest
regional television on this occasion ,but a substantial article appeared in the Manchester Evening News about our
letter to the Secretary of State, and a shorter article in Community Care, the leading 'trade journal' for social
services matters. Subsequent press releases have been produced on the meeting with the Regional Chair of the NHS,
the NHS Plan and the Government's new Quality Strategy. This area of work will continue to be developed on a gradual
basis.
3. Recommendations
3.1 That the report be noted
3.2 That the proposed content of SSNWeb, the website of Social Services North West, be approved.
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