Today the Government published its plans for adult social care services - A Vision for Adult Social Care: Capable Communities and Active Citizens (1). Alongside the Social Care Vision, the Department of Health has also launched a consultation on Transparency in outcomes: a framework for adult social care(2) - a new strategic approach to quality and outcomes in adult social care.
The vision sets the context for the future development of social care services. It is the first step, followed by the Law Commission’s work on reforming the legal framework next spring and the Commission on Funding of Care and Support next summer, towards the White Paper on care and support at the end of 2011. This will set out plans to establish a modern and financially sustainable framework for care and support, and the requirements for new legislation.
Plans for service reform were outlined in the social care consortium's Partnership Agreement, Think Local, Act Personal (3) launched at the National Children’s and Adult Services conference on 4 November 2010. Led by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services and the Local Government Group on behalf of 21 social care organisations, it describes the next steps for councils to personalise services and provide more comprehensive information for people who need advice on care and support services. In addition to this, the consortium has also produced a number of best practice guides. 4,5,6,7,8 and 9
1 - A Vision for Adult Social Care: Capable Communities and Active Citizens http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/@ps/documents/digitalasset/dh_121667.pdf
2 - Transparency in outcomes: a framework for adult social care http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_121509 3 - Think Local, Act Personal http://www.puttingpeoplefirst.org.uk/_library/PPF/NCAS/Partnership_Agreement_final_29_October_2010.pdf
The best practice documents:
4 -Practical approaches to improving the lives of disabled and older people by building stronger communities http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/@ps/documents/digitalasset/dh_121668.pdf
5 - Practical approaches to market and provider development http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/@ps/documents/digitalasset/dh_121670.pdf
6 - Practical approaches to co-production http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/@ps/documents/digitalasset/dh_121669.pdf
7 - Practical approaches to safeguarding and personalisation http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/@ps/documents/digitalasset/dh_121671.pdf
8 - Personal Budgets - Checking the Results http://www.puttingpeoplefirst.org.uk/_library/PPF/NCAS/personal_budgets_checking_the_results_final_29_October_2010.pdf
9 - Enabling risk, ensuring safety - self-directed support and personal budgets http://www.scie.org.uk/publications/reports/report36/files/report36.pdf