A new book examined how health and social care agencies worked together effectively to deliver services.
Source: Ros Carnwell and Alex Carson, Effective Practice in Health and Social Care, Open University Press (01280 823388)
Links: Summary
Date: 2004-Nov
The government published a national service framework for children, young people and maternity services, designed to ensure that all children and young people received health and social care services that were age-appropriate and accessible, and recognized their needs as different.
Source: National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Framework (pdf links) | Summary (pdf) | DH press release | HDA press release | Healthcare Commission press release | NHS Confederation press release | RCPsych press release | CSCI press release | ADSS press release | NYA press release | NCH press release | Guardian report | Community Care report
Date: 2004-Sep
The government began consultation on an ethics review of social care research, designed to ensure that the dignity, rights, safety and well-being of participants were the primary consideration in any research study. Four main options (or models) for a national social care ethics review system were set out; views were invited on the relative strength and weaknesses of each model, or ideas on possible alternatives.
Source: Jan Pahl, Ethics Review of Social Care Research: Options appraisal and guidelines, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Consultation document (pdf)
Date: 2004-Sep
The social care inspectorate said that thousands of people in England were being denied direct payments, as a result of local councils' poor attitudes, bureaucracy and lack of imagination. Councils spent 10 billion a year on social services, but only 13,000 people were receiving direct payments.
Source: Direct Payments: What are the barriers?, Commission for Social Care Inspection (0845 015 0120)
Links: Report (pdf) | CSCI press release | Guardian report | Community Care report
Date: 2004-Aug
A study explored the range of practice and experience in delivering direct payments in three local authorities. It found that a lack of understanding about direct payments was still widespread.
Source: Frances Hasler with Angela Stewart, Developing Direct Payments in the North East of England, Pavilion Publishing (01273 623222) for Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Links: JRF Findings 624
Date: 2004-Jun
An article examined the complexities involved in implementing direct payments. It suggested a number of factors that needed to be addressed to ensure that direct payments continued to be a 'progressive' strategy. These included reconciling the conflicting ideologies of individual choice and collective provision. (Direct payments enable individuals to purchase their own care rather than have directly provided services.)
Source: Helen Spandler, 'Friend or foe? Towards a critical assessment of direct payments', Critical Social Policy, Volume 24 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2004-May
The government published guidance aimed at raising standards in research on social care, and clarifying the responsibilities of all parties in the research process - researchers, health and social care agencies and research funders.
Source: The Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care: Implementation plan for social care, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Guidance (pdf)
Date: 2004-May
A report examined how 'culture' could affect integrated working in social care, what it meant, and what could be done about it. The report offered theoretical frameworks and practical examples in exploring the issue of culture, and discussed how interventions could overcome obstacles.
Source: Edward Peck and Alix Crawford, Culture in Partnerships: What do we mean by it and what can we do about it?, Integrated Care Network (01132 543804)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-May
A report provided a synthesis of six literature reviews on the impact of user participation on change and improvement in social care services.
Source: Sarah Carr, Has Service User Participation Made a Difference to Social Care Services?, Social Care Institute for Excellence (020 7089 6840)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2004-Apr
The Northern Ireland Executive set out its priorities for health and social care services in 2004-05. It set 50 individual targets - including shorter waiting times for hospital services, more community support for vulnerable people, and more accessible primary care services. But a children's group reportedly warned that not enough money was being spent on preventative care and support services.
Source: Priorities for Action 2004/05: Planning priorities and actions for the health and personal social services, Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety/Northern Ireland Executive (028 9052 8286) | Children Now, 24-30 March 2004
Links: Report (Word file) | NIE press release | Children Now article
Date: 2004-Mar
The Welsh Assembly decided to merge its health and social care departments. The new structure included directorates dealing with policy for older people and long-term care, and for children and families.
Source: Community Care report
Date: 2004-Mar