Free masterclass - Health and wellbeing, a new agenda for an ageing society

With an eye on forthcoming changes to the NHS, this masterclass looks at the role local authorities can play in improving results for older people.

Organised by Local Government Improvement and Development (LGID), the free masterclass takes place on 8 December 2010, at the Midland Hotel in Manchester.

It covers:

• role of public health and health and wellbeing board
• joint commissioning between GP consortia and local authorities
• improving efficiency while protecting outcomes
• engagement of older citizens in identifying needs and planning local services.

For reservations contact Jane Pattullo, telephone: 020 8660 1769, email: lgid@event- x.com .
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Impact of funding squeeze on social care

A discussion paper called "The impact of a tightening fiscal situation on social care for older people" has been published by the Personal Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU

The main purpose of the paper is to assess the effects of reduction in funding for care, in a climate of fiscal constraints and likely cuts to social care funding.
See  www.pssru.ac.uk

Telecare and Telehealth Conference

The National Telecare and Telehealth Conference 2010 will take place at the Hilton London Metropole Hotel, from 15 to 17 November.

Hosted by the Telecare Services Association, organisers promise to give you facts, information and ideas to take home and put into action.

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Top tools for independence and wellbeing

Details of tools and support available to help local authorities draw up plans for promoting the independence and wellbeing of older people, is available free of charge from Local Government Improvement and Development (LGID).

Available as a PDF, information has been compiled as part of LGID’s Ageing Well programme. It includes diagnostic tools and improvement options for designing bespoke programmes to assist independence and wellbeing of older citizens.

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Dementia mentors talk straight from the horse’s mouth

Individuals with experience of dementia are being urged to share their knowledge by joining an online mentoring website, as part of the DH Living Well with Dementia scheme.

The department has teamed up with Horsesmouth, a free informal mentoring website, to build the biggest network of online dementia mentors in the country.

Membership is open to sufferers, family members, social and healthcare professionals.

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Health money to be spent on reablement

Money taken from the NHS budget during the comprehensive spending review and given to adult social care is to be spent on reablement services.

The announcement was made by Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, at this year’s annual National Children and Adult Services Conference.

Funding totalling £1 billion will go towards post hospital care and helping people to regain their independence when they return home.

The secretary also announced plans for establishing Health and Wellbeing Boards to ensure individuals receive a seamless service from the NHS and social services.

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Social workers to be given independence

Adult social care workers will be invited to set up independent practices following plans announced by Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, at this year’s National Children and Adult Services Conference.

The scheme already exists in children’s services. Under new measures social workers in adult care will be able to set up their own organisations and contract their services to local authorities.

Pilot projects will be set up to test feasibility of the proposals. The main thrust of the scheme is to:

• give social workers more control over their work

• allow them to spend more time with individuals they care for

• reduce the amount of bureaucracy they deal with

• be more creative with the way they use finances and other resources

• increase job satisfaction.

A letter inviting councils to submit expressions of interest to form Social Work Practices will be posted on the DH website. Councils submitting the most promising proposals will be asked to draw up more detailed plans. Details of councils selected for the pilot scheme will be announced early in the new year.

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