JIP e-bulletin No.21 April 2011

Welcome to our April issue of the JIP e-bulletin, which brings you details of our priorities for the next two years.

We’ve decided to concentrate our support on initiatives that help improve efficiency, and drive up quality and performance in adult social care. We’ll be reorganising the partnership to help us do this and position ourselves as the much needed link between councils and the NHS.

The DH West Midlands programme of support for Putting People First has also come to an end.  We’d like thank our colleagues in the department for the direction and support they have given to us over the last few years.  They have contributed significantly to transforming adult social care in the region – their legacy report is below. 

Finally, we are always keen to hear about your developments and initiatives. The bulletin is the main way of sharing information and good practice– as can be seen in stories from councils in the Update section of the bulletin.  Please send your contributions to Cathie Louis at cathrinalouis@btinternet.com, telephone 0790 8875533. 

Deadline for the next issue is Friday 6 May 2011.

Andrea Pope-Smith
Chair
Joint Improvement Partnership,
Director of Adults and Communities
Dudley MBC

Personalisation, productivity and efficiency

Published by the Social Care Institute for Excellence, this report focuses on the potential for personalisation, particularly self directed support and personal budgets, to result in cost efficiencies and improved productivity as well as improved care and support.

Download

Safeguarding Children & Adults Congress 2011

Date:     24-25 May 2011
Venue:  Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Westbourne Road, Birmingham
Cost:     See delegates rates     

This event brings together the main players in the safeguarding arena for in-depth discussion, best practice sharing and networking.

Dr Sheila Fish, Senior Research Analyst will be running a workshop examining the practicalities of monitoring and promoting learning around the safeguarding of both adults and children.

For further information please visit the Safeguarding Congress website.

Community Care Live 2011

Date:         18-19 May 2011
Venue:      Business Design Centre, Islington, London
Cost:         Free

This year’s event will help you navigate current policy changes and showcase practice excellence that is really making a positive difference to the workforce and service users, at a time of financial constraint.

Visit the SCIE stand to speak to SCIE staff and pick up copies of all our latest resources. For further information about this event visit the Community Care Live website.

Ageing Well Masterclass: building social capital with older people

Date:         24 May 2011
Venue:      Hyatt regency, Birmingham
Cost:         Free

The Ageing Well programme supports local authorities to develop good places to grow older. This masterclass explores the practical options for harnessing the capacity of local communities, particularly within the context of a reducing public sector.

It looks at:

• working with communities and the voluntary sector to support the development of local services
• the asset-based community development approach and its practical application
• intergenerational working
• examples of alternative models of support for older people.

Contact: Jane Pattulo, telephone: 020 8660 1769, email: lgid@event-x.com

New sector-wide partnership for transforming adult social care

The new Think Local Act Personal Partnership takes over from Putting People First (PPF) the three year programme that ended on the 31 March this year.

The partnership consists of 30 national and umbrella organisations, representing a range of interests in personalisation and community based support. 

Its work will include advising and influencing government, and will focus on six priority areas: personalisaton and personal budgets; developing cost effective and efficient solutions; developing the service provider market and workforce; building community capacity; improving information to the public and highlighting the importance of coproduction.

A work programme will be developed over the coming months. Tools and materials previously held on the PPF website can now be found on the Think Local Act Personal site, which is hosted and maintained by the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE).

Read more

Neurology partnership for Staffordshire

Officers from Staffordshire County Council have joined the recently formed Regional Neurological Alliance for the county.

Set up in January this year, the alliance gives a united voice to people affected by any of the 57 neurological conditions affecting the body’s nervous system. 

It will seek to influence decisions about services that meet their needs, and push for integration of services to ensure quality and a holistic approach.

Chair of the Staffordshire Regional Neuro Alliance, John Morgan says:  “I am privileged to be leading an impressive group who are committed to making a difference to the lives of the many living with miserable neurological conditions,and their carers and friends. We believe that we can only do this by forming effective partnerships with decision makers and providers based on mutual understanding open communication and realistic shared goals.”