News
Social care needs well informed services and structures
6 February 2008
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) in a response to the
report, The State of Social Care in England by the Commission for
Social Care Inspection (CSCI), says that the report highlights the need
for well-informed services and structures across the public and
independent sectors.
Chair of SCIE, Allan Bowman, said: "This timely report shows the
complexities involved in providing the most appropriate social care
services to everyone in need. It gives a clear message that some local
authority structures do not support the preventative services that
enable people to remain independent for longer. We welcome the
announcement of a review on eligibility criteria, and we will encourage
our partners and networks to ensure that people who use services get
their voices heard.
"When people with care needs are not eligible for state support, they
must still be offered a high level of service and a comprehensive
explanation of their choices and next steps. Our work demonstrates the
importance of providing accessible information that can empower people
to make informed choices about their lives and the lives of their
families. Local authorities should be confident in signposting people to
other suitable, good quality services in their area. It is the
responsibility of all social care organisations to develop a strong and
well-informed independent sector that is capable of exceeding minimum
standards and achieving excellence. Ensuring that all independent sector
providers have access to good practice information is a major priority
for SCIE."
"SCIE’s work promoting the Carers Equal Opportunities Act stresses
the importance of offering all informal carers an assessment of their
needs. The examples in this report compound our evidence and will
support the development of the carers' strategy later this year.
"The good news is that services are continuing to improve for people
within the formal care system. Practitioners should be proud of this
achievement and work to share their knowledge of good practice with
others working in social care."
SCIE says that, as one of the agencies who signed the ministerial
concordat 'Putting People First', and the organisation responsible for
advancing good practice and innovation, it is working to identify the
most effective and sustainable for commissioning and managing services
as direct payments and individual budgets change the way social care
delivers its work.
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