"Every Child Matters"

Hailed as the biggest child reform in children’s services this decade, its aim is to improve outcomes for all children and their families.  SSNW members agreed that to develop a considered response to the green paper another meeting would be needed to discuss the issues in more depth and to formulate SSNW’s response in time for the 1 December deadline.  This has been set up for Thursday 20 November at the Wrightington Hotel and Country Club, near Wigan (see also item on Developing Political Leadership and Scrutiny below).

The green paper proposes that each council appoints a councillor responsible for children’s services, and a children’s director to bring together education and social services, as well as improving co-ordination with the NHS and other agencies.

The green paper recognizes that child protection  cannot be separated from the overall aim of improving children’s lives. The Government  intends to reduce the number of children who do not gain by supporting  parents and carers, early intervention and effective protection, accountability and integration and workforce reform. Outcomes are likely to be a particular focus.

The ADSS welcomes the green paper in terms of leadership and raising profiles of children’s services, and SSNW has for a number of years lobbied for an independent children’s commissioner for England as proposed in the green paper!  The commissioner will act as a champion for children at every level of government, and the role will involve protecting the rights and well being of children, as well as representing their views to government.

Developing Political Leadership and Scrutiny in Social Care

The principle of developing a partnership with the IDeA to introduce an added value programme of support and development for Executive and Scrutiny members has been strongly supported by SSNW members.  During the debate, it was clear that members needed more time to consult on and consider the proposals, it was suggested that time at the forthcoming seminar on the green paper could be allocated to a more in depth discussion on the proposals.

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Continued concerns over financial pressure have prompted SSNW to write to Secretary of State for Health, Dr John Reid MP.  Nationally and locally there is still considerable pressure on key services, with both older people’s and children’s services predicted to head for substantial over spends in 2002/03 according to the LGA/ADSS/ Treasurers survey earlier this year.  This revealed that nationally funding shortfalls in children’s services resulted in authorities diverting money from other services.

 There is a major issue around fees for the independent and private sector, providers costs for training and developing higher standards are also increasing, (thus putting pressure on the issue of whether to raise council taxes), added resources are needed but have not been forthcoming.  According to the survey, the situation in the North West is substantially similar to that of the country as a whole.

There is also growing concern that private nursing homes are seeing the new money—which the Government has proposed be made available to cover the cost of reimbursement for delayed discharges—as a source of extra finance for themselves.  It appears that a number of local authorities have been asked for increased fees or “golden hello’s” to take on new clients from social services.  This in addition to the possibility that the cost of reimbursement could still be above that being budgeted, means a considerable further increase on the financial pressures being faced by many local authorities.

The danger is that authorities will not be able to increase capacity in existing services, or create new intermediate care services, as the money is likely to be fully absorbed as a result of the above factors.  Members wish to be reassured by the Minister that the best efforts of social services to provide an adequate service for older people, will not be undermined.

A Vision for Children - Quality Protects

The QP Reference Group brought together key regional influencers for a  ‘visioning day’ to consider mainstreaming the many initiatives that are at various stages of development.  Discussions are ongoing about establishing a Children’s Regional Partnership, using a similar model to Local Strategic Partnerships.  SSNW has formerly supported this ADSS initiative at the September committee meeting in Oldham.

North West Performance

According to the latest Social Services Inspectorates annual report, there were significant variations in performance from one authority to another in the region.  Overall the Region enjoys lower vacancy rates amongst staff than the rest of the county. But there are serious problems of recruitment and retention in children’s services.

New Executive Group

As agreed at the last meeting, we have established SSNW’s Executive group which encompasses the Chair (Councillor Ken Keith) and Vice Chair (Councillor Jim Middleton), plus in future, representatives of the minority parties Councillor Jeremy Chowings and Councillor Chris Holtom.  There have been two meetings since the main committee meeting and it is anticipated that such meetings will continue, with a similar format from now on.  It has already proved to be a helpful and useful forum and should contribute to SSNW’s profile.

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“Tackling Health Inequalities: A Programme for Action” published by the Government and a Draft Action Plan, published by Government Office North West and related to their ‘Investment for Health’ document, has been circulated to member authorities for a social services perspective on the document.  The GONW would like responses returned to it’s Manchester office by 31 October 2003.  For more information contact www.go-nw.gov.uk .  A key message is that health improvements cannot be built from the top down, we need to set up good examples locally and learn from what works.

The Government publication ‘Tackling Health Inequalities’ provides guidance to local authorities that wish to include a target on health inequalities in their Local Public Services Agreement (LPSA).  It is particularly useful for those authorities with the poorest life expectancy and /or rates of infant mortality, (of which there are several in the North West).

This publication also provides the North West with a once in a lifetime opportunity to line up the organised efforts of society at national, regional and local levels and secure a step change in programmes to improve the health of the North West population.

The North West is well placed to experience significant improvements and policies are required to be put in place which improves the health of many.  Such a vision for health needs to relate to wider strategies. for regeneration and substainability and the reduction of inequalities.   Consequently the development of regional partnerships to improve health need to be reinforced.

Valuing People North West Website - Has anyone seen it?

Launched in January 2003 VPNW website attracted nearly 2000 visits in the first four months, since then only 700 or so additional visits have been made.  Where is everybody!

This is a valuable resource for people with a learning disability, their families and those who support them.  It is about people’s right to an ordinary life in the community.

The website is a joint project between the Department of Health Valuing People Support Team, the NW Training and Development Team and SSNW.  There may well be a case for a rethink about the site and if you have some fresh ideas they would be much appreciated.  For this purpose and to say what you think of the site so far, a Questionnaire has been devised.  Ideas being considered already include a   regular chat room session with the needs for information, advice and ‘experts’ and a bulletin board facility. 

But YOUR help is needed so that contacts for people with learning disabilities can be met. So please go to the internet and take a look at www.vpnw.org.uk 

"My Life, My Choice, My Way"
The Story of Karen and Kelly's Direct Payments

In September, Oldham hosted the latest Committee meeting of Social Services North West.  A very well received presentation ‘My Life, My Choice, My Way’ was given by Bev Maybury, Karen Saville and Kelly, which focused on the story of two women, Karen who has Autism and Kelly who has learning difficulties and their innovative Direct Payment Plan.  Copies of the presentation were sent out to all members and their authorities.

Page 4: News from Social Services North West

A booklet will be sent to you in the next few weeks with contact details of all the members of Social Services North West.  This will help you to contact each other, to share ideas of good practice and any other ideas that you may have.  We hope you will find it useful.

New Team Member:

We welcome Julie Kay on board as the new administrator for SSNW.  Julie took up the post in August 2003 and has already made a positive contribution to the team.