Birmingham chosen for social work practice pilot

Birmingham City Council has won its bid to test a different approach to delivering adult social care under the government’s Social Work Practices scheme, which seeks to devolve services from local authority control.

Birmingham plans to set up an arms length social enterprise, in partnership with user led organisations, with the purpose of testing a different approach to assessment and planning support.

This will involve:

• a period of rehabilitation/enablement overseen by occupational therapists and physiotherapists
• an ‘expert patient course’ under the direction of a GP to ensure self-management of medical conditions
• user led advice surgeries, and the creation of peer support networks
• advice on work or volunteering
• reviews of benefits and finances
• access to telecare and telehealth equipment and services
• a review of existing social care packages and exploring of alternatives

The pilot will create new opportunities for people with disabilities to become more active and independent.

Cabinet Member for Adults and communities, Cllr Sue Anderson, said:

“I am excited about the development of this pilot in Birmingham as it will provide a new landscape for promoting and building the networks needed to support people in their own communities.

“Social work teams will be attached to user-led organisations and enablement services, so that an enhanced offer can be made to people with disabilities. This will help social workers to work far more closely with individuals, in the heart of communities they live in.”


Visit: http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/