Shropshire Pilot should give control to staff and care users
Wednesday, April 20th, 2011
Care Services Minister Paul Burstow has announced that Shropshire has been chosen as one of 6 pilot areas in the country. The pilot(focusing on Older people, people with physical disabilities and learning disabilities) will see groups of frontline social care workers given more flexiblity to work with the people they support and their carers to improve their outcomes. Minister Paul Burstow has sent out a strong message to councils aimed at encouraging joint working across health and social care and making personalised care a reality. It is hoped that the Shropshire scheme will use and build on the lessons learned in the My Life My Choice scheme, and the work of the Pioneers, and utilise the expertise of those involved in that programme, particularly those with disabilities and their carers as they have much to give in terms of experiences and advice.
The pilots are due to begin in the Summer of this year and last for 2 years. The Social Work Practice pilots are organisations that are led by social workers but independent of local authorities. They will provide the social work services for specific groups of adults in their community and their carers. The Social Care Institute for Excellence will oversee the project on behalf of the Department of Health.
The scheme, backed by more than £1 million of Department of Health funding, will reduce bureaucracy, allowing social workers to do their jobs effectively and freeing them to spend more time with those in their care. It offers the potential to improve the lives of those receiving support by offering them more stability and continuity and will also enable social care workers to:
- Take decisions closer to those in their care, leading to a more responsive service.
- Feel empowered with more control over the day to day management of the practice.
- Enjoy their jobs more – staff satisfaction levels in the children’s Social Work Practice pilots have been high as staff feel empowered and part of the decision-making team.
- Build stronger links across communities and improve integration between health and social care.
Lets hope Shropshire utilises those who have already contributed so much to this agenda and re-engages with Pioneers to make the Shropshire pilot an exemplar in the UK
For full details of the scheme follow this link http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/MediaCentre/Pressreleases/DH_126011
It’s very good to see SDN supporting this very important issue. The excellent work already undertaken in the County should help us to become real pioneers in this Pilot Scheme.
As one of the Pioneers for Personal Budgets in Shropshire I find this most interesting-Shropshire is on the map!! I look forward to seeing how this Pilot develops in the County. From being a Pioneer I know there were several of us eager to assist those starting out on their journey in getting a Personal Budget. Help has been offered by Pioneers to assist with Self Assessment Questionnaires and Support Plans which lead onto the all important “agreed outcomes” and to pass on their skills and knowledge from lessons learnt and experience gained in getting our own personal budgets. What do fellow Pioneers think about Shropshire being chosen for this important Pilot? Please lets here from you. Thanks
Agree with you both, just hope Shropshire Council have people running this pilot who know that the Pioneers are out there and are a valuable resource. Why start with a blank sheet when there is already so much experience out there?
[...] set out its hopes for the way this might benefit those who wanted to take control of their care (here) and be at the centre of the decision making process about the care they receive. The scheme is [...]