Efficiency teams to drive improvements to adult social care

October 25, 2004 in Workforce

New Care Services Efficiency Delivery Teams are set to visit
councils this week in a bid to improve the quality of services for
vulnerable adults and deliver efficiency gains back to frontline
services, Stephen Ladyman has announced, writes Clare
Jerrom.

The CSED programme was established following recommendations by
the Gershon Independent Review of Public Sector Efficiency.

The teams visiting the councils this week will focus in how care
services for adults are commissioned and delivered by local
councils and will work with councils to look at new ways of
configuring, procuring and delivering care services to ensure
efficiency gains.

Working with service users and providers, the NHS and councils,
the teams will ensure a transparent process and will share examples
of best practice.

The CSED teams will also explore how social services can learn
from other sectors of industry.

The health minister said the move was part of a drive to release
£6.45 billion across local government over the next three
years. “It is not about cuts but about long-term investment
in high quality frontline services.”

“However there will be no one size fits all solutions,
councils and the programme teams will work together to put in place
systems that are tailored to suit local service needs,” he
added.

The programme will contribute to the development of the new
vision for adult social care. The Department of Health will be
publishing a green paper on the vision in this current
parliamentary session.

Ladyman also confirmed that seven Department of Health
programmes will be brought together in a dedicated care services
improvement partnership which would be part of the Social Care
Institute of Excellence, as previously reported by Community
Care.

The minister said: “We need to do more to help health and
social care to work in partnership for the benefit of those who use
services and their families.”

The seven programmes are:-

* Change for Children
* Health and Social Care Change Agent Team
* Integrated Care Network
* Integrating Community Equipment Services
* National Institute for Mental Health in England
* National Child and Adolescent Mental Health Support
Services
* Valuing People Support Team