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SOCIAL SERVICES NORTH WEST
MEETING ON 15 JUNE 2001 AT TAMESIDE
REPORT OF THE CO-ORDINATOR
REVIEW OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES NORTH WEST
WORK PROGRAMME 2000 - 2001
1. Matter for consideration:
To review the progress of the Annual Work Programme agreed last year.
2. Introduction:
At its June 2000 meeting, Social Services North West considered a report on a consultation with member authorities on the Future Direction of the organisation. It proposed an Annual Work Programme and reported progress on raising the profile of Social Services North West.
3. Information:
3.1 The outcome of last year's consultation was a clear desire for a more active role for Social Services North West in the future. This should involve not only a formal annual work programme and more effective use of SSNW staff resources, but also an appropriate and effective political profile for what is, after all, an organisation for political representatives of social services authorities. The view was strongly and almost universally put forward that unless this clear political role could be sharply identified and developed in the months ahead, the whole future of the organisation should be questioned.
3.2 The following four issues emerged as those supported by a high proportion of member authorities:
- Interface with the NHS regionally, especially re issues of reconfiguration of services, and mental health
- Performance Assessment – developing a regional perspective on how the complex new arrangements are developing, and offering a constructive critique
- Quality Protects, especially in relation to corporate parenting and certain specific aspects of developing high-quality services for children
- Financial issues, including use of special grants and charging policies.
3.3 A number of other issues attracted support from a smaller number of authorities, including:
- Children’s agency budgets
- Foster care
- Community/continuing/intermediate care
- Human resource issues, including recruitment, retention and training
- Asylum seekers
- Homeless young people
- Neighbourhood renewal/Community regeneration/Social inclusion
3.4 In addition to the above, there was support for continuing the organisation’s long-standing work in the field of major incident management, and for retaining capacity to respond to any new and urgent issues which arise. In progressing all of these issues, the continuing support of Directors and staff of member authorities was considered essential, with the expectation that time and effort invested should be at least balanced by the benefits gained by authorities.
3.5 The March 2000 report had also outlined various actions to be taken to raise the profile of Social Services North West:
- Quarterly newsletter
- Conference Programme
- Liaison with NWRO, NHSE / SSI
- Liaison with LGA
- Liaison with NWDA
- Website
- Media strategy
- Progress has been made on most of the above issues during the past year. The opportunity was taken in preparation for this review to conduct a survey of councillors who are represenatatives or deputy representatives on Social Services North West, and also of Directors and/or a senior colleague involved in supporting members at SSNW meetings. The number of responses has been limited but the following feedback can be given from the 14 forms returned:
- Quarterly meetings: 11 found the meetings and the papers 'useful', the remaining three saying they were 'not very useful'.
- Conference Programme: 3 considered this 'very useful' and another 6 'useful'. The others did not reply, presumably having had no direct experience of conferences.
- Work Programme - Priority Areas (see para 3.2): 9 considered these 'very appropriate' and the other 5 'appropriate'
- Work Programme - Additional areas (see para 3.3): 6 considered these 'very appropriate'; 7 'appropriate' and one 'not very appropriate'
- Lobbying of Ministers: 7 said 'very appropriate' and 7 'appropriate'
- Meetings with Chair of NHS Executive North West: 8 considered these 'very appropriate' and the other 6 'appropriate'
- Liaison with the LGA (including the joint meeting in October 2000): 8 considered this 'very appropriate', 5 'appropriate' and 1 'not very appropriate'
- Working with the TOPSS England North West Regional Training Forum: 5 considered this 'very appropriate' and the remaining 9 ' appropriate'
- Liaison with the NWDA: 6 said this was 'very appropriate'; 5 'appropriate' and one 'not very appropriate'
- Liaison with the North West Regional Assembly: 5 said this was 'very appropriate'; 6 'appropriate' and one 'not very appropriate'
- SSNW Newsletter - paper version: 4 described this as 'very useful and 9 as 'useful'. One said it was not very useful
- SSNW Newsletter - email version: 2 described this as 'very useful', 7 as useful and 2 as 'not very useful'
- SSNW Website: 7 respondents had 'never visited' the site; one had 'visited once' and 6 had 'visited 2-10 times'. 5 respondents found each of the components of the site 'useful'; one 'very useful' and one 'not very useful'.
- Work Programme Priorities - respondents were asked to ring each issue which they thought should be continued into next year. The four existing issues and the two possible additional issues attracted the following 'scores' out of a possible 13 (one respondent did not select any priorities)
- Working with the NHS: 11
- Performance Assessment and Quality: 6
- Quality Protects and Children's Issues: 9
- Financial Issues: 9 (some responses specifically highlighted charging policies)
- Human Resources (recruitment, retention, training): 9
- Learning Disability (White Paper implementation): 8
3.7 Within the small sample of members and officers who have replied, there appears to be a good level of support for most of Social Services North West's work priorities and activities. However, in view of the limited response to the questionnaire, and the fact that the full 2001-02 membership of Social Services North West will not be in attendance at this meeting, it may be appropriate to regard this report as a basis for further discussion and feedback within the meeting. Thereafter, firm proposals for a Work Programme for 2001-02 could be presented to the next meeting in September for final debate and approval.
- Recommendations
4.1 That the feedback from consultation on the past year's
Annual Work Programme be noted.
4.2 That members offer further views to assist in evaluating the past year's activity.
4.3 That proposals for the Annual Work Programme for 2001-02 be presented to the next meeting.
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