Hunter underlines councils’ key role

Councils will continue to play a vital role as different forms of
social care emerge, but do not need to hold the purse strings to
deliver, the incoming president of the Association of Directors of
Social Services was due to say this week.

Tony Hunter, director of social services at Liverpool Council, was
expected to say that local authorities needed access to funding.
But, even when they did not have access, it was important that they
were in the driving seat.

The comments were to be made in his address to the National Social
Services conference in Newcastle.

He was also planning to urge social care leaders to retain a focus
on people’s experiences and outcomes, arguing that pressure to
improve star ratings and performance assessment scores was no
excuse for not doing so.

Hunter also plans to campaign for legislation to create a duty of
well-being for service users.

l See feature, page 32, and the latest conference news at
www.community care.co.uk