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SSNW eNews
NUMBER 4 OCTOBER 2000
Big day in Bolton!
On Wednesday 11 October, Social Services North West welcomed members of the LGA Social Affairs and Health Executive
to a meeting in Bolton Town Hall. This visit was in response to an invitation earlier this year from SSNW Chair
Councillor Cliff Morris.
The morning saw the usual quarterly meeting, deferred from 15 September as a result of the fuel crisis. Then, after
a civic welcome from Councillor Alan Wilkinson, the Mayor of Bolton, the leader of the LGA delegation, Councillor
Rita Stringfellow of North Tyneside, opened an exhibition entitled 'Celebrating Excellence in the North West'.
For more details see page 4.
Website launched
Following this, a demonstration of the new website was given, then the site was officially inaugurated by a mouse-click
by Councillor Stringfellow.
Dialogue with the LGA
The afternoon meeting involved nearly 30 councillors from SSNW and the LGA, and involved presentations and debates
around the four key themes of Social Services North West for the current year. The meeting is fully reported on
pages 2 & 3, but here are some "quotable quotes":
"Social Services North West is clearly a vibrant organisation, with a commitment to high standards."
Rita Stringfellow, Chair of Social Affairs and Health Executive, LGA
"The NHS Plan heralds the most significant change in the service since 1948: the value of local government
must be brought to the table." Cliff Morris, Chair of Social Services North West
"Local Government must show its enthusiasm for joined-up working with the NHS, and quickly! We know what works
and what doesn't, and we can shape it." John Ransford, Head of Social Affairs, Health and Housing, LGA
"Social services are efficient and effective, but are under tremendous pressure. We must press for action
to recognise the needs and demands we face." Brian Strett, Deputy Chair of SSNW
"A lot more money has come through, across a wide range of programmes which will benefit the lives of our
service users. We can debate where the money is going, and the LGA will do all it can to represent your interests."
Rita Stringfellow, Chair of Social Affairs and Health Executive, LGA
Read a full report of the SSNW/LGA meeting at www.ssnw.org.uk/events/minslga1000.htm
Pages 2-3 Our four key themes...
...and our dialogue with the LGA
Working with the NHS
What we stand for
· We recognise the NHS as our principal partner in delivering high-quality care to vulnerable people
· We wish to work in partnership with NHS organisations locally and regionally to achieve the best possible
outcome for those needing services
· We believe progress will be best achieved through voluntary partnerships rather than enforced organisational
change
What we have done
· We have renewed the long-established dialogue with the NHS at regional level
· We responded to the Government's consultation on a 21st Century NHS
· We challenged, in letters to the Secretary of State and 62 North west MPs, the NHS Confederation's proposals
on commissioning social care for older people
· With the Regional Chair of the NHS, we have sent a strong joint message to all NHS and social services
organisations on the need for partnership working
What our experience tells us
· Extra resources allocated to the NHS to cope with such issues as winter capacity and intermediate care
are not always addressing the total health/social care system
· Rapid organisational change in the NHS is inhibiting its capacity to address both planning and operational
issues on a partnership basis
· The continuing care agreements reached in the early 1990s are in urgent need of review
· Planning the future of mental health services demands a partnership approach between health and social
care
· The NHS Plan is dominated by issues of acute care and the need to address the wider context of health
inequalities
What action we are pressing for
· In a spirit of partnership with the NHS, we will continue to urge that we are treated as equals in the
single health and social care system, regionally and locally
· We urge a recognition that the welcome additional Government resources should be allocated with the total
health and social care system in mind
· We reject enforced organisational change as a route to integrating health and social care
· We will press for a joint approach in key areas such as mental health and intermediate care
What we discussed with the LGA
Focussing on people's care is key, and deciding what works best. Local Government is driving the agenda, and in
many places partnerships are working well. We in local government are skilled at broad-ranging strategy and community
leadership. It is important to track down where money is in the system. We must make partnerships work and make
sure that all the finances (including Health) are used appropriately.
Performance Assessment & Quality
What we stand for
· We are committed to promoting good practice in the personal social services
· We wish to work closely with the SSI, 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 look for closer integration and consistency between the performance regimes of the NHS and social services
What we have done
· We have examined the new co-ordinated programme for the performance assessment of local social services
authorities
· We have studied the Chief Inspector's Annual Report and the Government's new Quality Strategy
· We have planned a conference to address the human relations issues arising from joint reviews, and the
new Training Organisation for the Personal Social Services
What our experience tells us
· There has been little priority given to investment in IT to support the new 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 wider Best Value developments
in LAs
· There is a lack of consistency in performance assessment and data collection between NHS and social services
What action we are pressing for
· We shall maintain dialogue with SSI and other inspecting bodies, to inform the further development of
performance assessment and the integration of the various strands
· 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
What we discussed with the LGA
Performance assessments are a means to an end and in time they should become more coherent and consistent. Too
much data has tended to be collected; there should be a limited quantity of data, relevant to benchmarking and
the management of comparative information. Performance assessment was essential for 'Best Value' issues. £600M
is spent each year on regulation, and there should be a measurable improvement in quality arising from this investment.
Quality Protects and Children Issues
What we stand for
· We aim for the highest possible quality of service to children in need and their families
· We support the Quality Protects initiative and related work to improve standards
· We believe that the human rights of children demand the appointment of a Children's Rights Commissioner
What we have done
· We have worked at regional level for 30 years to promote the care of children
· We have focussed particularly on fostering, seeking to promote co-operation in good practice across the
Region
· We promoted a conference on Sharing Initiatives in Foster Care in October 2000
· We are updating our directory of residential resources
· We have pressed the Secretary of State and 62 North West MPs on the need for a Children's Rights Commissioner
What our experience tells us
· Regionally, as well as locally and nationally, the number of children looked after continues to increase,
leading to great pressure on social services budgets
· The recruitment, development and retention of skilled child care staff is an increasing problem
· The commissioning of external placements is an ongoing problem for many authorities
What action we are pressing for
· We will continue to support member authorities in improving the standards of their children’s services
· We will continue to support the development of good practice in foster care
· We will hold a fundamental review of the role of SSNW in advising authorities on rates of payments to
foster carers
· We will continue to identify high quality residential resources of value to the region, and to examine
the possibility of joint action on commissioning
· We urge recognition of the financial pressure on authorities of meeting increased demand and expectations
of quality, in a context of staff and skill shortages
· We seek recognition of unresolved issues in relation to local authority secure accommodation
· We will continue to press for the appointment of a Children's Rights Commissioner
What we discussed with the LGA
The LGA shared SSNW's view on the Children's Rights Commissioner. Workforce issues are particularly to the fore
in children's services, and joint working and commissioning between authorities can be a way forward. More creative
thinking is needed around adoption and foster care. Adoption is to remain with local authorities, and the Minister
has promised new money for new duties in this area.
Financial Issues
What we stand for
· We acknowledge the need to use the resources available for social services economically, efficiently and
effectively
· We believe it to be our duty, however, to highlight the fact that, despite increased resources to local
government as a whole, many member authorities continue to face budget reductions beyond those which can be met
by efficiency savings
What we have done
· Jointly with the ADSS North West Branch, we have undertaken a survey of the financial situation in all
21 North West authorities
What our experience tells us
· The vast majority of authorities are spending above their Standard Spending Assessment for social services
· Nearly half of the authorities overspent their budgets in 1999-2000
· The majority of authorities overspent last year on children's services, reflecting a particular pressure
of need
· There is a high risk of overspend in many authorities in the current year also
· Specific grants whilst welcome and necessary create complications within the corporate process and can
subject mainstream budgets to increased pressure
· The long-term future of services currently funded by specific grants is a concern
· The efficiency gains expected by the Department of Health, Best Value and local corporate processes are
placing heavy demands on capacity to maintain services
What action we are pressing for
· We urge Central Government to recognise that financial pressures are still causing real cuts in vital
services
· We will stress that increased funding to the NHS must be matched with resources to address the consequences
for the social care system of increased NHS activity
· We will press for continued attention to the management of the specific grant regime
· We will highlight that achievement of efficiency savings can often conflict with the wider social objectives
of local authorities eg lower pay and conditions can conflict with social inclusion objectives
What we discussed with the LGA
The LGA regularly has robust talks with the Government and officials. Health can bring money in to help address
problems which we help them to identify. There is a lot more money in the public sector now: SureStart, social
inclusion, New Deal, training and employment have a positive impact on the quality of life of disadvantaged people.
Rita Stringfellow said things were a lot more positive now, but the LGA would still do all it could to represent
our interests and concerns.
Page 4: Our exhibition -
CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE
The SSNW/LGA meeting at Bolton on 11 October saw an exhibition of projects by members of Social Services North
West which have gained external awards or commendations. Full details of the projects are available at www.ssnw.org/events/celexhib.htm
or from the SSNW office, but the main projects are shown below.
Blackburn with Darwen:
Investors in People award; OFSTED Inspections of day nurseries
Bolton:
Multi-agency model of child on the DH Good Practice website; Investors in People Award; Charter Mark for the Community
Meals Service
Cumbria:
Community Care Award to Ambleside Carers Support Scheme; ISO 9002 awarded to three homes; Investors in People awarded
to Cumbria Care
Lancashire:
East Zone Learning Disability Service and Inspection Unit awarded Investors In People status. Charter Mark Awards
to: the Bankside Centre, Chorley; Crossways Day Centre, Leyland; Pendleton Brook Day Centre, Clitheroe; Leyland
Day Centre and Lakeland View
Manchester:
Investors in People status for four divisions; Charter Mark commendations for three services; Quality Protects
Management Action Plan commended by Government. Plain English Crystal Mark for leaflets
Oldham:
Training into Employment scheme selected to undertake Action Research for the Cambridge Enhancing Quality of Life
Project; Autism Accreditation by National Autistic Society
St Helens:
Innovations Award from the Community Hospitals Asscn for the St Helens Intermediate Community Care Scheme
Sefton:
Charter Mark for Chase Heys Resource Centre
Tameside:
NHS Beacon Status for the comprehensive work of its Mental Health Service; Investors In People status; Quality
Protects MAP commended by Government.
Wigan:
Investors in People status; Social Care Communications Award for the "Top Secret" file for children in
care.
Full details of the exhibits at the Celebrating Excellence exhibition are at
http://www.ssnw.org.uk/events/celexhib
THREE SUCCESSFUL CONFERENCES…
Social Services North West’s Autumn Conference programme got off to a flying start with three well-supported events
at Wrightington Hospital Conference Centre.
On 27 September, 'We're only human' was the joint event with the Emergency Planning Society, looking at
the lessons to be learned from the handling of past disasters. 50 delegates heard contributions from a Lockerbie
survivor and from police and social services perspectives.
6 October saw a consultation event on the theme of Sharing Initiatives in Foster Care Partnerships. Officers
from all but three member authorities were joined by councillors and foster carers from all over the North West
as over 60 delegates considered issues around mental health, education, support and payments. Opened by SSNW Chair
Councillor Cliff Morris, the event also heard from Dorothy Lewis of the Quality Protects team, and Pat Verity from
NFCA
The following week, an event organised by the Major Incident Management Co-ordinating Group examined the issues
of Dealing with Death, highlighting the example of the Paddington railway accident in October 1999. Some
55 delegates, from the police and NHS, emergency planning, British Red Cross and St John Ambulance as well as social
services departments, heard presentations from DI Graham Williams of the Metropolitan Police and Ruth Harrison,
a leading researcher and practitioner in the impact of sudden death on families. Their contributions, supplemented
by those from the twin brother of one victim and the sister of another, gave a powerful picture of how a good professional
approach with victims and relatives can aid the healing process.
… AND MORE TO COME!
Friday 24 November
SSNW and ADSS North West
PEOPLE NEED PEOPLE
Applying Human Resource Principles
A dissemination event covering the Joint Review report "People need People" and the TOPSS National Training
Strategy
Date to be arranged:
SSNW and NW Training and Development Team for Learning Disability Services
THE LEARNING DISABILITY WHITE PAPER and
NO SECRETS: Protecting Vulnerable Adults from Abuse
FULL DETAILS OF CONFERENCES ARE ON THE WEBSITE AT
www.ssnw.org.uk/events.htm
AND ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE SSNW OFFICE -
www.ssnw.org.uk/contact.htm or
Room 223, Social Services HQ
PO Box 162, East Cliff County Offices
Preston, Lancashire PR1 3EA
Tel: 01772 262451 Fax: 01772 262453
Website: www.ssnw.org.uk
Email: ssnw@btinternet.com
All this news was published first on SSNWeb - the website of Social Services North West - updated by every Monday
morning.
Make at least a weekly visit - for all the latest social care news and links to the key DH and LGA documents, as
well as all the news from Social Services North West itself.
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