Transforming Social Care: Independent Practice Innovations

1. Community Care Live16th May 2012 The independent social work practice A model for the future of adult social care? Hugh Constant – Social Care Institute for Excellence Graham Wilkin/David Rose – First Point Caroline Carr – Sensing Change

2. How it began • Announced by Andrew Lansley - November 2010 • Social Work Practices are organisations that are led by social workers but independent of the local authority • Following on from pilots in children’s social work

3. Aims of the project • To pilot Social Work Practices for adults and explore outcomes for • people who use services • social workers • other staff • value for money • To test the benefits of professionally led social enterprise as a means of delivery • To further the development of social work with adults

4. Social Work Practice Pilots

5. In the background • Evaluation • Developmental research • Support • Social Enterprise • Sponsor

6. Potential advantages • More responsive • Less bureaucracy • Fewer constraints • Better fit with personalisation • More innovation • Community links • More job satisfaction

7. Potential pitfalls • Ongoing dependence on local authority • Costs • Sustainability • Privatisation by the back door • Loss of local links

8. The Surrey Social Work Pilot Graham Wilkin – Surrey County Council

9. The Independent Social Work Pilot • Aims • More responsive • Greater involvement with users and carers • Value for money

10. FirstPoint Key stakeholders • Staff • Unison • Service users and carers • Surrey Deaf Forum • Surrey Hard of Hearing Forum

11. FirstPoint • An independent social work-led social enterprise Mission statement: A fresh specialist approach to access for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people by providing support in communication and social care; and promoting opportunities.

12. Awareness and Communication Strategy • Open, Inclusive and Accountable. • Formal Consultation • Legal Context • Business Plans • Governance • Liabilities

13. FirstPoint Key components • Social work • Interpreting service • Equipment service

14. Social work benefits • Greater freedom to make decisions • More inclusive of people who use services and carers • Greater accountability • More flexibility in working practice and improved responsiveness due to minimising the level of bureaucracy

15. Case study • Person A, a Deaf BSL user – visual communication only • Placed out of county • SKYPE online communication – allows for a quick response saving time, resources and money

16. Going Forward • Maintain the steering Board • Appointed Director • Commissioned service • Developing opportunities with Health • Income generation potential.

17. The future for Social Work Practice • Right to Challenge (Localism Bill) • Integration ? • Freedom to Innovate and create • Advance professional Identity and promotes further possibilities for the profession.

18. The future for Social Work Practice Thank You.

20. Who are SensingChange? 1st of 7 pilots to launch on 1st October 2011 Social Enterprise - company limited by guarantee Provide services to adults with sight and hearing loss or dual sensory loss in Suffolk 45 employees Not just a ‘social work’ practice Contract with SCC

21. Why did we become a pilot Specialist team SCC plans for divestment of services Plan A Opportunity from DOH Steering Group Set up within 7 months Seconded Staff

22. Governance • Managed by a Board of 6 Directors • Strategic direction and planning for the future • Ensure day to day operations run smoothly • Sensing Change carries out its legal duties as a registered company under company law – filing accounts, tax returns

23. Aims • Improve outcomes for customers • Increase job satisfaction for staff • Develop areas that could generate income • Become a sustainable business by the end of the pilot period

24. Advantages for customers • Direct referrals • Easier access to staff • Waiting times reduced • Developing business relationships • Publicity – raises awareness • Stigma of ‘social services’ removed – more likely to engage • Consultation exercise and user groups established • Use of social media

26. Advantages for staff • Allows more freedom, flexibility, creativity • Less bureaucracy, red tape! • Challenges ahead – but it feels good, positive • Exciting to be part of something that’s different – the sky’s the limit – history in the making • An opportunity to learn new skills – roles are less defined • More potential to follow interests • Achieving our challenges • Watching people flourish!

27. Challenges! • Culture Change – vital! • Creative and innovative team anyway – how do we find ways to improve • Sustainability post pilot – planning now – need to generate income • Securing long term contract – no going back • Learning curve is steep – sales and marketing, design and branding..V.A.T!! • Professional help comes at a cost • Time!

28. Social Worker Quote “Social Work is about listening to peoples issues and being with them when they are experiencing periods of change and uncertainty. This is an emotionally draining job. I feel supported in my role at Sensing Change as they value the social work qualification I have and see me as a professional, able to make my own professional judgements by using social work skills and the knowledge I have of law and policy. This is what I trained for”.