Search results for ‘Publisher:"social services research group"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 10 of 35
A blue print for a person centred system of assessment and support planning
- Author:
- SALSBERG Colin
- Journal article citation:
- Research Policy and Planning, 32(3), 2016/17, pp.151-167.
- Publisher:
- Social Services Research Group
This paper describes the results of a two year collaboration between the author, acting in a consultancy role, and an English council that wanted to personalise its mainstream assessment and support planning system for adults. Convinced of the importance of personalisation for both ethical and pragmatic reasons, but not the accepted strategies to achieve it, the council sought a new approach. The project involved intensive work with all interests, bringing together ideas from published material with the local experience of service users, carers, practitioners, finance, IT and legal colleagues to arrive at a practical agenda for change. The starting premise was that resource led practice was the source of depersonalised supports, and that such practice was the inevitable consequence of the policy environment within which practice takes place. A new environment would have to be created. The council ultimately resolved not to implement a key element of the new environment which was particularly sensitive in legal and political terms. However, this was not before a comprehensive, deliverable ‘blue print’ for a person centred system was developed. The blue print is offered as a contribution to the search for a sustainable future for social care. This article outlines its development and provisions. (Publisher abstract)
Home care services for older people: findings from a national survey of social care commissioners
- Authors:
- HUGHES Jane, CHESTER Helen, CHALLIS David
- Journal article citation:
- Research Policy and Planning, 30(1), 2013, pp.51-64.
- Publisher:
- Social Services Research Group
This paper explores local authority commissioning and contracting arrangements for home care, staff training opportunities and the range of services provided for older people utilising data from a national postal survey with a 74 per cent response rate. Local authority provision focused on intermediate care services. Joint commissioning of this with health was common but less likely for specialist mental health services. Most home care was commissioned from and provided by independent sector providers with contractual requirements identified as a means of influencing and monitoring training opportunities. A range of services were provided for users, additional to personal care. Local authority training was sometimes available to independent providers, focused on statutory requirements rather than user needs. Implications for the development of high quality services are discussed in terms of user need, service flexibility and training for staff providing direct care. It is suggested that within the commissioning process key drivers of the development of more personalised high quality home care services are: regular dialogue with service providers; greater health and social care involvement in a joint commissioning process; alignment of contracting arrangements to reflect service outcomes; and specification of training requirements within the setting and monitoring of home care contracts. (Publisher abstract)
Toward a new eligibility framework that serves the interests of both service users and councils
- Author:
- SLASBERG Colin
- Journal article citation:
- Research Policy and Planning, 29(1), 2011, pp.45-59.
- Publisher:
- Social Services Research Group
The Dilnot Commission has called for an overhaul of the eligibility and assessment framework for adult social care. Any framework should ensure that the rationing of resources is carried out in a way that is fair, transparent and effective. However, continuing belief in some key, but flawed, concepts creates a risk that a review will perpetuate the worst, and not the best, aspects of current and past policies. This would condemn social care to continued confusion, unfairness and lack of transparency. This paper argues that if a review were to build from the best of what has so far been attempted, and accept the lessons of what has not worked, an approach can be created that enables the best possible realisation of the vision for social care for the greatest number of service users within existing funding, with the best hope in the longer term of bringing about a closer match of needs and funding. The paper discusses: the extent to which the current eligibility framework has failed and the reasons why; the vision of what an eligibility framework should achieve; the innovations required to deliver this vision; the resource allocation process and prioritisation of needs; and what needs to be in place to deliver the proposed approach.
Working together in adult safeguarding: findings from a survey of local authorities in England and Wales
- Authors:
- HUSSEIN Shereen, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Research Policy and Planning, 27(3), 2009, pp.163-176.
- Publisher:
- Social Services Research Group
At a time of policy review of adult safeguarding in England and Wales, this article provides an in-depth analysis of perceptions and dynamics of multi-agency working in adult protection and explores whether perceptions of its strengths and challenges vary in relation to the composition and decision-making processes of Adult Protection Committees (APCs). The findings are drawn from a survey of local authorities that took place during 2004-2005 as part of a wider study. Fully completed questionnaires were received from 123 local authorities. The findings look at how perceptions of local authority representatives differ according to how the APCs in their areas are constituted, how they are led, which agencies are members of the committees, and the dynamics of the decision-making processes. Analysis of the results enabled aspects of multi-agency working to be scrutinised. Three key points emerged: working with the NHS is not simply a matter of crossing health and social care divides; broad membership seems to help with developing local strategy; and sharing information and expertise become significantly more of a problem when the private sector is involved. The results highlight the complexities of multi-agency working, the areas of tension for those with responsibilities for implementing it at local levels, and the challenges arising from the compositions of APCs.
Ambition, confidence and risk: holding nerve in difficult times
- Author:
- COZENS Andrew
- Journal article citation:
- Research Policy and Planning, 27(2), 2009, pp.107-112.
- Publisher:
- Social Services Research Group
These are challenging times for children’s services and adult social care in England. The political climate is changing and the recession has brought into sharp focus questions about the evidence of impact from unprecedented investment, particularly in children’s services. There is a tide of public concern about how children are kept safe and about how long-term care is currently funded. This paper explores how the ambition for, and confidence in, these services can be sustained during political and economic turbulence.
Personalisation and the future of adult social care: the views of Hampshire residents, submitted to the Hampshire County Council Commission of Inquiry
- Author:
- DITTRICH Rachel
- Journal article citation:
- Research Policy and Planning, 27(1), 2009, pp.3-16.
- Publisher:
- Social Services Research Group
In order to help determine its approach to the personalisation agenda, Hampshire County Council created a Commission of Inquiry. The Inquiry aimed to find out people's experiences of social care in relation to the personalisation agenda, their ideas on the way forward and their views on how care should be paid for in the future. This article identifies key messages submitted in response by Hampshire residents and local organisations. It highlights issues that need to be dealt with to meet the personalisation agenda including: paternalism; the relevancy of current services; provider fears; regulation; partnership; the lack of preventive services; lack of information and advice. The article reveals the diversity of views on how care should be funded. It concludes that local authorities should be mindful of the importance of engaging all stakeholders in partnership at the beginning of the process to take forward the agenda.
In the know: Knowledge Transfer Partnerships - encouraging the development of an evidence-informed approach to practice through successful partnership between a University and a local authority
- Author:
- McEWEN Jess
- Journal article citation:
- Research Policy and Planning, 25(2/3), 2007, pp.117-128.
- Publisher:
- Social Services Research Group
Wakefield Metropolitan District Council Family Services and the University of York are taking part in a two year collaborative Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project, the aim of which is to encourage a culture of evidence-informed practice and continual improvement within Wakefield MDC's Family Services as part of the Directorate's performance management framework, and to ensure that the Research Governance Framework in Health and Social Care is fully implemented. This article outlines the key aims and objectives of the project, and explores the benefits of the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships as a model for knowledge exchange. It will also describe the completion of the initial stages of the project, which include an RGF benchmarking project and the development of a communication and engagement strategy aimed at increasing awareness of the potential value of research and evidence-informed practice.
Does practice learning assist the recruitment and retention of staff
- Authors:
- PARKER Jonathan, DOEL Mark, WHITFIELD John
- Journal article citation:
- Research Policy and Planning, 24(3), 2006, pp.179-195.
- Publisher:
- Social Services Research Group
This a paper describes a study funded by the Practice Learning Taskforce to consider the links between practice learning and the recruitment and retention of social work staff within councils with Social Services Responsibilities (CSSRs). The paper focuses on CSSRs in England, although the findings may have relevance with other parts of the UK. The findings confirmed prior anecdotal evidence that practice learning increases the pool of potential employees and is linked to the recruitment of staff where CSSR's provide a supported approach to practice learning and teaching, especially where learning is seen as reciprocal process engaged in by the team hosting the placement as well as by he student. When practice learning is conceptualised as a central and satisfying team activity opportunities for staff retention are increased. Data quality remains a serious issues, and lack of data hampers the development of evidence-based approaches to workforce planning.
Using research findings to change agency culture and practice
- Author:
- BRADLEY Greta
- Journal article citation:
- Research Policy and Planning, 24(3), 2006, pp.135-148.
- Publisher:
- Social Services Research Group
This article focuses on findings from a qualitative study examining the induction and supervision of a range of staff engaged in family and child care work in two children’s services in the north of England. The consistent view of respondents was that they preferred to be approached by line mangers in ways that were person centred. Links are made between this approach and the underpinning values of a learning organisation. The way in which authorities respond to induction and supervision may have implications for wider strategies aimed at improving recruitment and retention.
Extending access to short breaks for disabled children from black families: a case study of research into practice
- Author:
- FLYNN Ronny
- Journal article citation:
- Research Policy and Planning, 24(2), 2006, pp.61-71.
- Publisher:
- Social Services Research Group
In 2001, as part of its programme of work on disability and ethnicity, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) commissioned a review of research and practice on access to short breaks by Black disabled children and families. The review showed that there was still much to be done to improve access. JRF then funded a development project located at the national organisation for family based short break care Shared Care Network. This project employed two workers who helped implement some of the recommendations from the review in four local authorities. This article outlines the background and findings from the review, and describes the process and outcomes of the development project. As the article focuses on barriers to access and the process of organisational change needed to remove them, its recommendations apply to many other aspects of service provision for Black disabled children and families.