Welfare Reform on the Web (October 2002): Social Care - UK
ANOTHER FINE MESS
D Clode
Community Care, July 11th-17th 2002, p.30-32
The government's plans to punish local authorities in England for bed-blocking are under fire from healthcare professionals and local government alike. Article considers the proposals and the likely outcome.
AT CROSS PURPOSES
P Stephenson
Health Service Journal, vol. 112, Aug 15th 2002, p. 11-12
Argues that government proposals to fine local authorities for delayed discharges with the money going to the acute trust will seriously damage relations between the services. There is no adequate reciprocal penalty on acute trusts to deter them from discharging patients prematurely. The proposal not to pay them for readmissions is not a strong enough deterrent if they are under pressure to free up beds. There is also no guarantee that money received in fines will be spent on elderly care. It is argued that the fines should instead be paid to primary care trusts to improve community care.
A CHARGE TOO FAR
C Glendinning
Community Care, July 11th-17th 2002, p. 34-36
The introduction of penalties for local authorities who fail to prevent delayed discharges, and corresponding incentives for hospitals, does not take account of the complexity of care services on the ground. The author uses experience in Sweden as example.
MANAGING PROJECTS IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
V Martin
London: Routledge, 2002
Illustrating how to use project management techniques to ensure success, this book can contribute to service development in health and social care. It examines key issues such as budgets, time, feasibility, planning/scheduling, implementation and evaluation.
MAXIMUM DISCRETION?
N Valios
Community Care, July 18th-24th 2002, p. 32-33
The increase in joint working means more information-sharing between agencies concerning personal details of service users. To ensure all parties are comfortable with this, professionals need to be fully aware of data protection protocols.
POLICE CHECK DELAYS BUILD BACKLOGS IN RECRUITMENT AND FOSTERING
D Hayes
Community Care, July 18th-24th 2002, p. 20-21
The voluntary sector has reacted with dismay to the Criminal Records Bureau's failure to meet its targets, pointing the effects it has on their work. The CRB, an executive agency of the Home Office set up in partnership with Capita, was established in April to carry out checks on those working with, or caring for, children or vulnerable people. However care organisations are reporting long waiting times for checks to be completed.
REPORT SHOWS EXTENT OF CONCERN OVER QUALITY OF WELSH SOCIAL SERVICES
A Dobson
Community Care, July 18th-24th 2002, p. 8
A new Audit Commission report has warned that inspections in Wales have revealed a disappointing picture of social services. It reveals that no services inspected to date have been judged to be serving most people well.
A SERIOUS BUSINESS
L Timms
Professional Social Work, Aug 2002, p. 8-9
Discusses the new draft rules for registration of social workers published by the Social Care Councils.
WORKERS OF THE WORLD
A U Sale
Community Care, July 18th-24th 2002, p. 34-35
As councils increasingly come to rely on foreign workers to solve the recruitment crisis in social care, article finds out how social workers who have moved to the UK view working conditions and cultures here.