A free event demonstrating how financial savings can be made throughout local government will take place on 14 January 2010 at the ICC in Birmingham.
Hosted by the West Midlands, East Midlands, and Yorkshire & Humber Regional and Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships (RIEPs), the interactive event is aimed at colleagues from county, unitary and metropolitan councils.
Delegates will be shown examples of how savings can be made in response to government demands for increased efficiencies.
Register here
Friday, 8 January 2010
Personal Assistants - Building capacity & quality
The JIP has commissioned a project to help build the capacity and quality of PAs in the region.
Personalisation of adult social care is resulting in significant numbers of people receiving direct payments and increasing demands for directly employed PAs.
The project will deliver:
• Legal advice and guidance on social care, employment, health and safety legislation, and the implications for councils' direct payment and safeguarding responsibilities
• An analysis of barriers to becoming (or remaining) a PA, and a strategy to overcome the barriers
• A specification for a PA register
• A business case for local authority investment in PA capacity building measures.
Project Sponsor, Mark Godfrey, Assistant Director of Adult Services at Coventry City Council, said: “it’s important that the project reflects the needs of those who employ personal assistants and those who work as PAs. Both groups are represented on the Project Board and, through a series of engagement sessions taking place in the New Year, we will make sure that we focus on the right issues.”
Project manager, Paul Johnston of Impact Change Solutions Ltd, said: “As we all strive to meet the target of 30% take-up of direct payments by March 2011, it’s important that the infrastructure is in place to support this growth without exposing councils to legal challenges and vulnerable service users to risk. The region recognises the importance of capacity building and a good quality PA workforce. Impact Change Solutions is delighted to facilitate this work.”
Engagement sessions for direct payment recipients and for PAs are planned for January 2010.
Contact Paul Johnston , telephone: 01670 528438 or 07847 318672, email: Paul.johnston@impactchange.co.uk
Personalisation of adult social care is resulting in significant numbers of people receiving direct payments and increasing demands for directly employed PAs.
The project will deliver:
• Legal advice and guidance on social care, employment, health and safety legislation, and the implications for councils' direct payment and safeguarding responsibilities
• An analysis of barriers to becoming (or remaining) a PA, and a strategy to overcome the barriers
• A specification for a PA register
• A business case for local authority investment in PA capacity building measures.
Project Sponsor, Mark Godfrey, Assistant Director of Adult Services at Coventry City Council, said: “it’s important that the project reflects the needs of those who employ personal assistants and those who work as PAs. Both groups are represented on the Project Board and, through a series of engagement sessions taking place in the New Year, we will make sure that we focus on the right issues.”
Project manager, Paul Johnston of Impact Change Solutions Ltd, said: “As we all strive to meet the target of 30% take-up of direct payments by March 2011, it’s important that the infrastructure is in place to support this growth without exposing councils to legal challenges and vulnerable service users to risk. The region recognises the importance of capacity building and a good quality PA workforce. Impact Change Solutions is delighted to facilitate this work.”
Engagement sessions for direct payment recipients and for PAs are planned for January 2010.
Contact Paul Johnston , telephone: 01670 528438 or 07847 318672, email: Paul.johnston@impactchange.co.uk
Gas leak gadget keeps elderly residents safe
Residents in sheltered accommodation in Sandwell could live more safely in their homes due to an innovative gas leak detection device.
STAY, Sandwell’s telecare service, has trialled a natural gas and carbon monoxide detecting system, which triggers an alarm and turns off the gas supply as soon as a leak is detected.
The system consists of a gas valve which is wired to a control box and inserted into pipes between the gas mains and cooker. A wireless gas detector is fitted near the cooker and communicates with the control box which is linked to the Community Alarms Monitoring Centre via a telephone line. When the detector senses escaping gas, the system is activated, sending an alert to the monitoring centre while simultaneously turning off the gas.
The borough aims to use the system more extensively when it becomes cheaper. For details telephone STAY on 0121 569 2758, or by fax on 0121 569 2753 or email telecare_team@sandwell.gov.uk.
Read more
STAY, Sandwell’s telecare service, has trialled a natural gas and carbon monoxide detecting system, which triggers an alarm and turns off the gas supply as soon as a leak is detected.
The system consists of a gas valve which is wired to a control box and inserted into pipes between the gas mains and cooker. A wireless gas detector is fitted near the cooker and communicates with the control box which is linked to the Community Alarms Monitoring Centre via a telephone line. When the detector senses escaping gas, the system is activated, sending an alert to the monitoring centre while simultaneously turning off the gas.
The borough aims to use the system more extensively when it becomes cheaper. For details telephone STAY on 0121 569 2758, or by fax on 0121 569 2753 or email telecare_team@sandwell.gov.uk.
Read more
Safeguarding on film
- The Social Care Institute for Excellence has three short videos about safeguarding on its website.
They are: - Safeguarding adults: preventing abuse through community cohesion, communication and good practice - The film shows how good communication with older people can improve safeguarding.
- Safeguarding adults: lessons from the murder of Steven Hoskin - Featuring lessons learned and subsequent changes in practice following the murder of Steven Hoskin.
- Safeguarding adults: an independent life after long-term abuse within the family - The film focuses on the story of Philip who suffered abuse in the family home for many years. Since he spoke out about the abuse, Philip has been supported to live a full and independent life.
To view films click here
Managing risks in safeguarding and personalisation
Local authorities in the region have identified potential risks that may arise with personalisation of adult care services and have made recommendations on how they might be managed.
In early 2009, JIP asked the authorities to develop a regional understanding of and a common approach to managing individual, organisational and programme risks.
The Risk Task and Finish Group were set up to handle the project, and have produced a detailed account of the experiences, and approaches adopted by councils in the region.
It reveals:
• risks identified are common to all
• personalisation is occurring at different rates across the region
• different processes, systems and circumstances have led to authorities developing their own responses.
One area highlighted as in need of urgent attention is safeguarding.
The task group proposes councils in the region:
• be less risk averse and make it possible for service users and carers to take more responsibility for keeping safe
• establish a robust safeguarding system that is easy to apply and addresses the specific challenges of personalisation
• raise awareness of risk for individuals receiving and supporting personalisation
• provide additional support to people lacking capacity to safeguard
• make information available to people wanting to insure against litigation
• provide sufficient information on employment issues for hiring PAs
• establish a set of agreed principles across the region that reflects collaborative work and still allows for local interpretation.
The group recommends that personalisation and safeguarding are not developed as ‘polarised agendas isolated from each other’.
For full details of the task group’s findings and recommendations contact Sandra Hudson, Department of Health West Midlands, telephone: 01213525040, email: sandra.hudson@dh.gsi.gov.uk
In early 2009, JIP asked the authorities to develop a regional understanding of and a common approach to managing individual, organisational and programme risks.
The Risk Task and Finish Group were set up to handle the project, and have produced a detailed account of the experiences, and approaches adopted by councils in the region.
It reveals:
• risks identified are common to all
• personalisation is occurring at different rates across the region
• different processes, systems and circumstances have led to authorities developing their own responses.
One area highlighted as in need of urgent attention is safeguarding.
The task group proposes councils in the region:
• be less risk averse and make it possible for service users and carers to take more responsibility for keeping safe
• establish a robust safeguarding system that is easy to apply and addresses the specific challenges of personalisation
• raise awareness of risk for individuals receiving and supporting personalisation
• provide additional support to people lacking capacity to safeguard
• make information available to people wanting to insure against litigation
• provide sufficient information on employment issues for hiring PAs
• establish a set of agreed principles across the region that reflects collaborative work and still allows for local interpretation.
The group recommends that personalisation and safeguarding are not developed as ‘polarised agendas isolated from each other’.
For full details of the task group’s findings and recommendations contact Sandra Hudson, Department of Health West Midlands, telephone: 01213525040, email: sandra.hudson@dh.gsi.gov.uk
Support package for safeguarding
Support for local councils and their partners with responsibility for safeguarding vulnerable adults is available from the Improvement and Development Agency for local government (IDeA).
Using the skills and expertise of officers, councillors and partners in the social care sector, the IDeA is offering:
• peer review of local adult safeguarding arrangements
• training and briefings for councillors and lead members
• a pool of accredited peers and sector specialists to deliver customised support to councils and their partners
• an online community of safeguarding networks to share knowledge and best practice
• national conferences.
The programme of support will be delivered in partnership with the Local Government Association, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, and the Social Care Institute for Excellence.
For details contact Louise Wright, Project Coordinator, email: louise.wright@idea.gov.uk, telephone: 020 7296 6693
Read more
Using the skills and expertise of officers, councillors and partners in the social care sector, the IDeA is offering:
• peer review of local adult safeguarding arrangements
• training and briefings for councillors and lead members
• a pool of accredited peers and sector specialists to deliver customised support to councils and their partners
• an online community of safeguarding networks to share knowledge and best practice
• national conferences.
The programme of support will be delivered in partnership with the Local Government Association, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, and the Social Care Institute for Excellence.
For details contact Louise Wright, Project Coordinator, email: louise.wright@idea.gov.uk, telephone: 020 7296 6693
Read more
Personalisation and safeguarding in Wolverhampton
An adult safeguarding DVD has been launched by Wolverhampton Safeguarding Adults Board at a workshop held to examine challenges and links between personalisation and safeguarding.
Participants included social workers, nurses, councillors, NHS and housing representatives.
The DVD will be used to raise awareness and for training purposes.
Other council initiatives include:
• contributions to regional work on safeguarding and personalisation through regional managers meetings
• working with doctors by displaying notices in GP surgeries, and acting as the main contact point for GPs and other health professionals seeking advice on safeguarding matters
• devising a set of Service User Standards for people on personal budgets
• producing a leaflet on “What to do if you are being abused”
• making regular contact with various user and partnership groups in the city
•finalising arrangements to work with VOICE UK and facilitate workshops for people with learning disabilities.
Read more
Participants included social workers, nurses, councillors, NHS and housing representatives.
The DVD will be used to raise awareness and for training purposes.
Other council initiatives include:
• contributions to regional work on safeguarding and personalisation through regional managers meetings
• working with doctors by displaying notices in GP surgeries, and acting as the main contact point for GPs and other health professionals seeking advice on safeguarding matters
• devising a set of Service User Standards for people on personal budgets
• producing a leaflet on “What to do if you are being abused”
• making regular contact with various user and partnership groups in the city
•finalising arrangements to work with VOICE UK and facilitate workshops for people with learning disabilities.
Read more
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