PAPER E
 

SOCIAL SERVICES, HOUSING AND BENEFITS SELECT COMMITTEE –  15 APRIL 2004

 

RESULTS OF THE FOSTER CARER SATISFACTION SURVEY

 

REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES AND HOUSING

 

REASON FOR SELECT COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

 

To receive the results of a telephone satisfaction survey of Isle of Wight Approved Foster Carers regarding ‘out of hours’ support received from both the EDS and from the Fostering and Adoption Services Team (FAST).

 

 

ACTION REQUIRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE

 

To debate and make recommendations

 

 

BACKGROUND 

 

At the Select Committee of October 7th April 2003 the Select Committee received a report on the implementation of the Best Value Improvement Plan for the Emergency Duty Service, (EDS).  The EDS Manager stated his intention to test these improvements from a service user’s perspective by means of a telephone survey of a sample of EDS customers and via a postal satisfaction survey of Foster Carers.  Because of the limited response to the latter it was agreed that Foster Carers who obtained support out of hours should be surveyed. Members expressed the wish to receive a report on the results of this survey.  The methodology and outcomes of the survey can be found in the full report at Appendix 1.

 

RELEVANT PLANS, POLICIES, STRATEGIES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

 

Best Value Review of the Out of Hours Service (Now EDS), March 2001.  Best Value Improvement Plan 7th April 2003.  Interface Protocol SSI Inspection Standards for Local Authority Emergency Out of Hours Arrangements,    

 

CONSULTATION PROCESS

 

See Appendix 1.

 

FINANCIAL, LEGAL, CRIME AND DISORDER IMPLICATIONS

 

The subject of this report was undertaken at no additional cost to the EDS budget.

 

There are no direct implications for Crime and Disorder Act.

 

APPENDICES ATTACHED

 

Appendix 1.  Report of the Satisfaction Survey of IW Foster Carers, 2004.

 

 

 

 

BACKGROUND PAPERS USED IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS REPORT

 

The Best Value Review of the Out of Hours Service (Now EDS), March 2001 and the Best Value Improvement Plan 7th April 2003 have already been presented to the Select Committee.  SSI Inspection Standards formed part of the Best Value Review and can be viewed separately on the SSI Website:  http://www.doh.gov.uk/pdfs/stand12.pdf

 

Contact Points : 

Simon Smith, Manager Emergency Duty Service.  Tel: (82)3408 

email: [email protected]        

Prue Grimshaw, Acting Head of Children’s Services.  Tel: 520600

e-mail:  [email protected]

 

 

 

 

 

GORDON KENDALL

Portfolio Holder for Social Services and Housing