In November 2007, the Government published the agreement “Putting People First” in which it laid out its vision for transforming social care in England. The paper has the full support of a range of Cabinet Ministers and heads of various health and social care organisations who have all signed up to make sure the vision becomes reality.

The aim of the transforming social care agenda is to give people more choice and control over how they live their lives which means they have greater independence and helps them to feel less isolated. Under the new way of working, social care will be very different. Currently, the social worker or care manager arranges the necessary care services for an individual. However, under the new way of working the individual will be given money (a Personal Budget) instead of services to meet their needs and outcomes.

The Department of Health has set the following key aims for the changes to social care:

To help us make these changes work well for people, the Government has given the Council a social care grant which is paid over three years (2009 – 2011).

On the Island, the transformation of social care is a strategic priority for the IW Council and we are working with a range of people, including service users and carers, organisations, staff groups and providers to create a shared vision and to look at how this will be delivered on the Island. Our focus is on what the Island wants and needs.

To help ensure these changes happen and work well, there is a project team and working groups which carry out the tasks that need to happen. This work is overseen by the Transforming Social Care Board which is made up of people from different departments in the Council and health, as well as providers and voluntary organisations.

In the document, Putting People First, the Government has said that Council’s need to make the changes by 2011. Here on the Island, we have already started to make changes. One of the main steps has been to introduce a Personal Budgets pilot.