PAPER B1
Committee: SOCIAL SERVICES, HOUSING AND BENEFITS SELECT COMMITTEE
Date:6 MARCH 2002
Title:THE REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SOCIAL SERVICES INSPECTORATE ON BEST VALUE REVIEWS OF OUT OF HOURS SERVICES, CARE MANAGEMENT AND COMMISSIONING
REPORT OF THE STRATEGIC DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES & HOUSING
1. SUMMARY/PURPOSE
The Department of Health Social Services Inspectorate have inspected the Best Value Reviews undertaken by the Directorate in 2000/01 and will present their findings to the Social Services & Housing Select Committee on the 6th of March 2002. The reports will be published and made available on the Department of Health and Isle of Wight Council Internet websites. Hard copies of the Inspection of Best Value Reviews are attached to the agenda for Members of the Select Committee only. They can also be accessed on http://wightnet2000.iow.gov.uk/councillors/papers.
2.BACKGROUND
2.1The Reviews of Care Management and Commissioning (Appendix 1) and of Out of Hours (Appendix 11) services are part of the five-year programme of Best Value review to be undertaken by all Directorates. Following consideration by members at Social Services & Housing Select Committee and at the Council Executive Committee in 2001, the Department of Health visited the Isle of Wight to inspect the findings of the review and to report on the quality of service and likelihood that the reviews would lead to improvement in the services covered by each review.
2.2The Inspectors report that Care Management and Commissioning for adults is a ‘fair’ service, and that the review is very likely to lead to improvement. The inspectors also found that the Out of Hours Service was a ‘good’ service, and that the review is very likely to lead to service improvement.
2.3The Inspectors also made a number of recommendations for improvements in the services reviewed.
∙Recommendations were made with regard to Care Management and Commissioning including the development of new approaches to commissioning, greater involvement of Members in service reviews, and improving access to services. In response, these recommendations have been, or are being actioned.
∙With regard to the Out of Hours review, the Inspectors recommended changes to action planning and monitoring arrangements, and an affirmation of how the out of hours services support Council objectives. A general recommendation also suggested that the Council should improve support to managers implementing Best Value action plans. In response, the Council has recently appointed a manager who will improve the implementation of the Out of Hours review improvement plan and contribute to a re-alignment of the service as agreed by the Council Executive Committee. The Directorate is not however in a position to fund any extra support for managers implementing Best Value Improvement Plans than that already provided.
3.OUTCOME OF CONSULTATIONS
3.1The Best Value reviews involved extensive consultation, followed by independent consultation undertaken by the Social Services Inspectorate during their investigation and local fieldwork.
4.FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
4.1None. The financial implications of the Best Value Reviews have already been presented to and agreed by Members.
5.LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
5.1None
6 RECOMMENDATIONS
6.1THAT the presentation and reports of the Social Services Inspectorate be noted for information and comment.
BACKGROUND PAPERS
The Social Services Inspectorate Reports for Care Management and Commissioning and Out of Hours Services are submitted for background information.
Contact Point: Martin Johnson, ☎ 520600
C WADDICOR
Strategic Director of Social Services & Housing