Jeff Jerome made national director for social care transformation

Jeff Jerome has been appointed to lead the implementation of the government’s three-year personalisation programme, as the first national director for social care transformation.

Jerome, currently director of adult and community services at Richmond Council, west London, will be tasked with helping councils achieve a systemic shift in adult care towards user control, prevention and enhanced information and advice services.

He said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be given the challenge of helping colleagues transform local services, both for those receiving council-funded social care, and also for people who pay for and organise their own care.”

Putting People First

The post derives from the December 2007 Putting People First concordat, signed by government, council and sector leaders, which set out a three-year programme to personalise adult social care in England, backed by a £520m grant.

The appointment was made by a “consortium” of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, Local Government Association and Improvement and Development Agency. Backed and funded by the Department of Health, it is believed to be a unique instance of national government devolving responsibility for the implementation of a key policy to local government leaders.

Jerome will be expected to build a coherent programme of work to implement Putting People First, and to advise and support the Adass executive in implementing national and regional plans. He will also be expected to work with both other national social care bodies, including those representing providers, and the NHS, to take forward Putting People First.

Sector to take responsibility for delivery

The DH’s director general for social care, local government and care partnerships, David Behan, said: “The £520m social care reform grant is designed to support the sector to take responsibility for local delivery. Jeff Jerome will play an important role in delivering the vision at a local level.”

By 2011, all councils are expected to have achieved a “strategic shift” from crisis intervention to prevention, set up universal, joined-up information services for all users, including self-funders, and established a system of personal budgets for users.

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More information

Guidance for local authorities on the Putting People First agenda