A survey examined the management of care-leaving services in Wales.
Source: Management of Care Leaving Services Survey, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Date: 2005-Dec
The Northern Ireland Executive announced reforms to the structure of health and social services in Northern Ireland. A Strategic Health and Social Services Authority would replace the four existing Boards; and 18 Trusts to be reduced to five by April 2007.
Source: Press release 22 November 2005, Northern Ireland Executive (028 9052 0500)
Links: NIE press release
Date: 2005-Nov
A report set out a new approach for the delivery of local health and adult social care. It emphasized the importance of local partnership working, to make services more responsive and adaptable to local needs.
Source: The Future of Health and Adult Social Care: A partnership approach for well-being, Local Government Association (020 7664 3000) and eight other organizations
Links: Report | LGA press release
Date: 2005-Nov
The first national framework of standards was published for good practice in the development of safeguarding adults work throughout England.
Source: Safeguarding Adults: A National framework of standards for good practice and outcomes in adult protection work, Association of Directors of Social Services (020 8741 8147) and other organizations
Links: Framework (pdf) | ADSS press release
Date: 2005-Oct
A report looked at the difficulties users of social services faced in being paid for their contribution to reviewing, planning and developing services, and the difficulties payments caused with the benefits system.
Source: Michael Turner and Peter Beresford, Contributing on Equal Terms: Service user involvement and the benefits system, Social Care Institute for Excellence (020 7089 6840)
Links: Report (pdf) | SCIE press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Oct
An article summarized the range of policies that had promoted health and social care partnerships since 1997. It examined the evidence that partnerships constituted either an effective method of service planning and delivery or a distinctive 'Third Way' mode of governance.
Source: Caroline Glendinning, Bernard Dowling and Martin Powell, 'Partnerships between health and social care under 'New Labour': smoke without fire? A review of policy and evidence', Evidence & Policy, Volume 1 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Sep
A series of articles examined management issues in the National Health Service - including performance measurement, decentralizing health services, and the relationship between health and social care.
Source: Public Money and Management, Volume 25 Issue 4
Links: Table of contents
Date: 2005-Sep
A set of discussion paper examined how the social care sector could respond to the needs of black and minority ethnic populations.
Source: Jabeer Butt, Bharti Patel and Ossie Stuart, Race Equality Discussion Papers, Social Care Institute for Excellence (020 7089 6840)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jun
An article highlighted the ageing of the social care management workforce. It raised issues concerning work pressures, gender profiles, and succession planning.
Source: Greta Bradley, 'Movers and stayers in care management in adult services', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 35 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Jun
An article said that initiatives such as direct payments suggested the need to re-appraise the role of care co-ordinators, and might require a significant shift in the focus of their practice. Although tensions inherent in their role might make this shift difficult, it could lead to opportunities for putting into practice ideas about user empowerment which should be central to their practice.
Source: Helen Spandler and Nicola Vick, 'Enabling access to direct payments: An exploration of care co-ordinators decision-making practices', Journal of Mental Health, Volume 14 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-May
An article drew on the experience of working with service users and carers in one systematic review to examine the barriers to participation, and the components of effective involvement. It suggested that quality standards could be identified for service user and carer involvement in systematic reviews, which would benefit policy and practice development.
Source: Suzy Braye and Michael Preston-Shoot, 'Emerging from out of the shadows? Service user and carer involvement in systematic reviews', Evidence & Policy, Volume 1 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-May
A government report made recommendations designed to reduce the bureaucracy associated with direct payments in the provision of social care.
Source: Making a Difference: Direct Payments, Cabinet Office (020 7261 8527) and Department of Health
Links: Report (pdf) | Cabinet Office press release
Date: 2005-Apr
The government began consultation on proposals to create a new centralized vetting and barring scheme for people working with children or vulnerable adults, in the light of vetting failures identified by the Bichard Inquiry.
Source: Making Safeguarding Everybody's Business: A post-Bichard vetting scheme, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Consultation document
Date: 2005-Apr
A report by a committee of Welsh Assembly members examined the interface between health and social care, and made recommendations for improvements.
Source: Report of Review of the Interface between Health and Social Care, Health and Social Services Committee/National Assembly for Wales (029 2089 8148)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Mar
A literature review explored what adult service users wanted from their social care services. The review also compared the aspirations of adult service users with the consultation framework for children's services set out in the Green Paper Every Child Matters.
Source: Bob Hudson, Melissa Dearey, Caroline Glendinning, A New Vision for Adult Social Care: Scoping service users views, Social Policy Research Unit/University of York (01904 433608)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2005-Feb