Kathryn Hudson

1
National Care ForumPolicy Development a risk
for social care?

• Kathryn Hudson
• National Director for Social Care
• May 2006

2

• Introduction
• Developing a policy
• The risks for social care
• Opportunities

3
Risk

• A chance or possibility of danger, loss,
  injury, or other adverse consequences
• Concise Oxford Dictionary
• Life is like that!

4
Developing a policy (1)

• Weve had one for a long time why change?
• Changes in governance
• Areas not covered
• A poor relation
• Serious resource issues
• Relationship with health

5
Developing a policy (2)

• The risks of doing nothing
• Loss of social care
• No support for people with particular needs
• The health model
• No service for people with low needs
• Loss of peoples contribution to society
• Increased demand

6
Developing a policy (3)

• The risks of doing something
• Cost
• A challenge to the NHS
• Division between DH and social care
• Raising issues re inequity
• New vision may not be accepted
• We may not be able to implement it
• Quality and innovation

7
Progress so far

• Independence, Well-being and Choice
• Consultation
• Our Health, Our Care Our Say
• Commitment to quality and innovation
• Implementation

8
Continued challenges

• Access, equity, integration
• Evidence base
• Resources
• Changing the culture
• Changes in NHS/DH

9
Opportunities

• Raising the profile of social care
• Integration
• Outcome measures/LAAs
• Developing policy together
• CSR 2007

10
A policy for risk

• We would welcome a more open debate about risk
  management and what it means, which would enable
  social care staff to operate within a more
  supportive framework while meeting the legitimate
  aspirations of the people who use their services
• Independence, Well-being and Choice (4.5)

11
A policy for risk

• Great support for the work
• A framework in which to do it
• A wider debate
• Partnerships for outcomes
• A considered policy
• A quality service

12
Policy developments a risk for social care?

• Risk or opportunities?
• The need for responsible leadership.