New information technology care projects get funds

Six projects to help councils improve the quality of social care
through the better use of information were launched last week by
health minister Jacqui Smith.

Projects from Hammersmith and Fulham, Leeds, Newham, Tameside,
Cambridgeshire, and Hillingdon councils were chosen from 55
proposals submitted last year to the Department of Health as part
of the Information for Social Care initiative, which aims to
provide an information management framework for social services
departments.

The projects include the setting up of a secure electronic link
between council and health services in Hammersmith and Fulham and
the development of a risk model for social care in Newham.

Leeds will work on the potential of customer relations
management technology to support a integrated assessment and
records process in a multi-agency setting.

Tameside will begin the development of performance management,
process improvement and care pathway audit models.

Funding of £500,000 has been allocated to the projects, and
Smith promised an extra £50 million over the next three years
to underpin the developments.

“The main aim of these projects is to demonstrate innovative
ways of using information and information technology to improve
effectiveness and quality in social care,” said Smith. “By
involving the users, the projects will also show us how best to
share information across organisational boundaries, especially
between the health and social care fields.”