A research study by the Institute of Public Care, 'Gain without Pain', is reviewed. The study shows how the voluntary sector can offer innovative ways of meeting three challenges facing social care: increasing demand; decreasing funds; and changing expectations. It uses ten case studies, each one showing a different way of offering innovative delivery of services, to promote the benefits of commissioning the voluntary sector to provide services. Practice implications for commissioners, support planners and brokers, and voluntary organisations are provided.
A research study by the Institute of Public Care, 'Gain without Pain', is reviewed. The study shows how the voluntary sector can offer innovative ways of meeting three challenges facing social care: increasing demand; decreasing funds; and changing expectations. It uses ten case studies, each one showing a different way of offering innovative delivery of services, to promote the benefits of commissioning the voluntary sector to provide services. Practice implications for commissioners, support planners and brokers, and voluntary organisations are provided.
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, physical disabilities, social care provision, voluntary organisations, voluntary sector, commissioning, disabilities;
Payment-by-results programmes are currently being trialled in children's centres to help centres better target families children in need. However, concerns exist that those children most at risk are the most difficult to reach. This article examines the effectiveness of children's centres at reducing the number of children in care or on child protection plans. It highlights the benefits of voluntary sector involvement due to the lack of stigma attached to these services and also their experience of working with a restricted budget. It also raises some concerns that any payment-by-results pilot are measuring genuine outcomes that make a difference to children.
Payment-by-results programmes are currently being trialled in children's centres to help centres better target families children in need. However, concerns exist that those children most at risk are the most difficult to reach. This article examines the effectiveness of children's centres at reducing the number of children in care or on child protection plans. It highlights the benefits of voluntary sector involvement due to the lack of stigma attached to these services and also their experience of working with a restricted budget. It also raises some concerns that any payment-by-results pilot are measuring genuine outcomes that make a difference to children.
Subject terms:
social workers, voluntary organisations, voluntary sector, vulnerable children, children in need, childrens centres, early intervention;
The green paper on special educational needs and disability, 'Support and aspiration: a new approach to special educational needs (SEN) and disability' suggests greater use of the voluntary sector. Four possible roles are identified: providing families with information on the assessment process; advocacy; supporting families and putting together family support packages. The author, from the charity Contact a Family, looks at how these roles would fit with voluntary sector.
The green paper on special educational needs and disability, 'Support and aspiration: a new approach to special educational needs (SEN) and disability' suggests greater use of the voluntary sector. Four possible roles are identified: providing families with information on the assessment process; advocacy; supporting families and putting together family support packages. The author, from the charity Contact a Family, looks at how these roles would fit with voluntary sector.
Subject terms:
special educational needs, voluntary sector, advocacy, assessment, families;
The government's Big Society ethos demands greater use of both voluntary and private adoption and foster agencies. However, budget cuts are resulting in councils bringing services back in-house as they find it is cheaper. The challenges facing local authorities are discussed. The article also highlights the success of a partnership model between Harrow Council and Coram for their adoption service.
The government's Big Society ethos demands greater use of both voluntary and private adoption and foster agencies. However, budget cuts are resulting in councils bringing services back in-house as they find it is cheaper. The challenges facing local authorities are discussed. The article also highlights the success of a partnership model between Harrow Council and Coram for their adoption service.
More social care professionals are working outside councils. Personalisation, spending cuts and the Big Society are all likely to contribute to this trend. This article looks at five different models of employment: the private sector, local authority trading companies, co-operatives, personal assistants and social enterprises.
More social care professionals are working outside councils. Personalisation, spending cuts and the Big Society are all likely to contribute to this trend. This article looks at five different models of employment: the private sector, local authority trading companies, co-operatives, personal assistants and social enterprises.
Subject terms:
personal assistants, private sector, social care professionals, social care staff, social enterprises, voluntary sector, employment;
The private sector has largely replaced councils services. With more outsourcing planned, the impact of outsourcing on the quality of care is debated. The situation in England, Scotland and Wales is also contrasted to that in Northern Ireland, where public sector services still dominate.
The private sector has largely replaced councils services. With more outsourcing planned, the impact of outsourcing on the quality of care is debated. The situation in England, Scotland and Wales is also contrasted to that in Northern Ireland, where public sector services still dominate.
Subject terms:
private sector, quality assurance, social care provision, voluntary sector;
This updated on delivering personalisation in adult social care looks at developments in personal budgets and the implications for social care in the independent sector, voluntary sector and user-led groups.
This updated on delivering personalisation in adult social care looks at developments in personal budgets and the implications for social care in the independent sector, voluntary sector and user-led groups.
Subject terms:
personal budgets, personalisation, private sector, voluntary sector, adult social care;
Over the years there has been a constant message from central government to local government that young people in care should be involved in decision making. This has prompted A National Voice to instigate and pilot the Lilac (Lifelong Improvement for Looked After Children) project with five volunteer organisations and two local authorities three years ago. They now have lottery funding to roll it out nationally.
Over the years there has been a constant message from central government to local government that young people in care should be involved in decision making. This has prompted A National Voice to instigate and pilot the Lilac (Lifelong Improvement for Looked After Children) project with five volunteer organisations and two local authorities three years ago. They now have lottery funding to roll it out nationally.
Subject terms:
joint working, leaving care, local authorities, looked after children, voluntary sector, young people, decision making, empowerment;
The current economic crisis is likely to have a long-term impact on the provision of social care and other public services. The author argues that the current climate could present opportunities for greater joint working between private, voluntary and public sectors. In turn, creating partnerships with the private and voluntary sectors could also help achieve the goals of personalisation. The article also contains a short case study of the Watford New Hope Trust project, which develops projects to support homeless people in Hertfordshire and receives funding from a wide variety of organisations.
The current economic crisis is likely to have a long-term impact on the provision of social care and other public services. The author argues that the current climate could present opportunities for greater joint working between private, voluntary and public sectors. In turn, creating partnerships with the private and voluntary sectors could also help achieve the goals of personalisation. The article also contains a short case study of the Watford New Hope Trust project, which develops projects to support homeless people in Hertfordshire and receives funding from a wide variety of organisations.
Subject terms:
joint working, private sector, public sector, social care, social care provision, voluntary sector, financing;
Individual budgets only work if there is a choice of services for the client to buy. Warrington Council has been encouraging providers to develop services for clients. They have also tried to improve the information flow between users and service providers.
Individual budgets only work if there is a choice of services for the client to buy. Warrington Council has been encouraging providers to develop services for clients. They have also tried to improve the information flow between users and service providers.
Subject terms:
personal budgets, social care provision, user participation, voluntary sector;