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SOCIAL SERVICES NORTH WEST (NWASSA)
MEETING ON 15 DECEMBER 2000 AT BLACKPOOL
REPORT OF THE CO-ORDINATOR
PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT AND THE QUALITY STRATEGY
1. Matter for Consideration:
To report the response made to the Government Green Paper 'A Quality Strategy for Social Care', and an approach
from the Head of Joint Reviews; and to consider whether to promote a conference on performance assessment issues.
2. Introduction:
The last meeting considered two documents concerning the Government's pursuit of quality in social services: 'Modern
Social Services - a commitment to people', the 9th Annual Report of the Chief Inspector of Social Services, and
the Government's Green Paper 'A Quality Strategy for Social Care'. It also agreed a Policy Briefing Paper on Performance
Assessment and the Quality Strategy, called for a response from Social Services North West to the Green Paper,
and agreed to support two conferences connected to the performance assessment and quality agenda. The first of
these, 'People Need People', was held on 24 November and is reported elsewhere in this agenda. The second is scheduled
for Spring 2001 and members are asked to indicate the content which would be most helpful to include.
3. Information:
3.1 The Policy Briefing Paper agreed in October identified the following issues about members' experiences in the
field of performance assessment and quality:
· There has been little priority given to investment in information technology to support the development of the information/performance culture
· The cultural change required of local authorities will take time to complete
· Statistical indicators are important, but cannot be the sole yardstick for evaluating an authority's performance
· There is, as yet, incomplete integration of performance assessment with Best Value developments in the wider local authority
· There is a lack of consistency in performance assessment and data collection between NHS organisations and social services authorities
3.2 It was decided to press for the following actions:
· We shall maintain dialogue with the Social Services Inspectorate and other inspecting bodies, to inform the further development of performance assessment and the integration of the various strands into a single overall system
· We shall seek a dialogue with the Joint Review Team, in order to work for compatibility between Joint Reviews and other inspection methodologies
· We shall press SSI and the North West RO of the NHS to address the continuing inconsistencies between the services in relation to performance assessment
· We shall support the LGA in opening up debate about the development of inspection regimes across local government
3.3 Drawing on views expressed, the Chair, Councillor Cliff Morris, sent a response to the Quality Green Paper
on behalf of Social Services North West to the Department of Health in time for the deadline. A copy is attached
as the appendix to this report.
3.4 Formal dialogue with the Social Services Inspectorate and with the North West Region of the NHS Executive is
maintained through periodic formal meetings at member level, and by informal officer contact between these. As
reported elsewhere in this agenda, the next of these is to be held on 6 February 2001. It may well be appropriate
to involve one or both of these bodies in any plans for a conference in the Spring.
3.5 We received an approach from the new Director of Joint Reviews, John Bolton, who had come across our newsletter
and noted our intention to open a dialogue with the Joint Review Team. He indicated that he was more than willing
for this, and sent a copy of a current consultation document on how judgements are arrived at, to which responses
are invited by the end of the year. Members are asked to support a formal response to this on behalf of Social
Services North West after consultation across the region. It may also be appropriate to invite John Bolton to the
Spring conference.
4. Conclusion:
Social Services North West has clarified its position on performance assessment and quality issues and has registered
its views with the LGA, the Department of Health and the Joint Review Team. This process can be continued, and
our own understanding increased, by a conference for members and relevant officers to examine further their respective
roles in this field. Members are asked for their views as to the content of such an event which they would find
particularly helpful.
5. Recommendation:
5.1 That the report be noted
5.2 That the response to the Quality Strategy paper be endorsed
5.3 That a response be made to the Director of Joint reviews on the Consultation on Judgements.
5.4 That a further conference be arranged on performance assessment and quality issues, as they affect councillors
carrying responsibility for the personal social services.
APPENDIX
RESPONSE OF THE CHAIR OF SOCIAL SERVICES NORTH WEST
TO THE GREEN PAPER ON QUALITY STRATEGY
20 November 2000
Kasey Chan
Department of Health
Area 608, Wellington House
133-155 Waterloo Road
London SE1 8UG
Dear Kasey Chan,
Social Services North West welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Department of Health's publication 'A Quality
Strategy for Social Care'. Social Services North West is the member-level body representing local authorities with
social services responsibilities in the North West of England, and 19 of the 22 such authorities are in membership.
Performance Assessment and Quality is one of our four key issues in the current year, and we are on record as welcoming
the Quality Strategy. We are already committed to making our services as good as they can be, and we will work
with the Government and others to make them even better. We will work closely with the Social
Services Inspectorate, Audit Commission and other relevant bodies to secure improved standards. We seek an approach
to evaluating local authority performance which is realistic, and co-ordinated amongst the various responsible
agencies. We also look for closer integration and consistency between the performance regimes of NHS organisations
and the personal social services
In the Quality Strategy, the Government is setting a formidable agenda, but we share its objectives of ensuring
a better deal for those who use our services. Our staff are our most important asset in making this happen, and
we support a better deal for them in training and development for their vital roles. There is also much to be thought
through about the accountability of councillors and directors for driving up quality.
Concerning Section 1 of the report, we welcome the proposed formation of the Social Care Institute for Excellence,
though we have no strong views on the organisational form it should take. We do believe in the key objective of
disseminating research findings to the field in an authoritative and usable form, and believe that electronic communication
offers better potential than ever before for reaching the field in a speedy and user-friendly fashion. Local authorities
are still, however, finding it extremely hard to identify the funds which will provide an adequate investment in
hardware and software to give the staff the access they need. The Department has provided extensive earmarked funds
to the NHS for this purpose: only if similar provision is made for the personal social services can the full potential
of SCIE be realised.
Regarding Section 2 of the document, we accept the responsibilities of officers and members of social services
authorities for securing the delivery of excellent services at the local level. We acknowledge the specific responsibilities
of councillors as set out in the document. In this context, Social Services North West forms an effective vehicle
for sharing good practice and stimulating development amongst member authorities. We are in regular dialogue with
the Social Services Inspectorate, the Audit Commission and the North West Regional Office of the NHS Executive,
about how we can best work together to discharge our respective responsibilities for improving service quality.
We accept in general terms the key components of a quality service as set out in the document, and want to see
adequate measures developed for ensuring the accountability of staff, Director and elected members for delivering
this. Such provisions need to place Director and member responsibility firmly within the wider local government
context, and in close partnership with the NHS and voluntary, community and user groups. Only in this way will
the social services contribution to overall quality of life be realised.
In relation to Section 3, we have already agreed that a skilled and competent workforce is the key to quality service.
We have made this a high priority and are hosting a conference this week for member authorities to address the
issues in detail. We are also proud to have been invited to administer the first of TOPSS England's Regional Training
Forums here in the North West. We accept the need, set out in the document, to address the particular training
needs of social workers and managers, but would stress that these issues should be addressed in a 'whole workforce'
context, rather than in isolation. We do welcome, however, the Government's recent announcement of extra resources
to support social workers to become qualified, and we agree that lifelong learning must be the emphasis if we are
to ensure that our workforce is at all times fit for its heavy responsibilities.
In conclusion, I can assure Ministers that Social Services North West will continue to work with its members to
examine the Quality Strategy in detail, and to identify how we can help, both regionally and locally, to achieve
the objectives we all share. We look for a partnership involving central and local government, the NHS and the
educational institutions to bring this about. Achieving excellence is never easy, particularly when resources remain
tight, but the people who need our services deserve no less.
Yours sincerely,
Councillor Cliff Morris
Chair, Social Services North West
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