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

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

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

Social Work Practice Pilots

In the background

Evaluation

Developmental research

Support

Social Enterprise

Sponsor

Potential advantages

More responsive Less bureaucracy Fewer constraints Better fit with personalisation More innovation Community links More job satisfaction

Potential pitfalls

Ongoing dependence on local authority Costs Sustainability Privatisation by the back door Loss of local links

Hard of Hearing, Deaf & Interpreting Services CIC Company No. 7847992 (Formerly Deaf Services Team & Surrey Interpreting Agency)FAIRMOUNT HOUSE, BULL HILL, LEATHERHEAD, KT22 7AH

The Surrey Social Work Pilot

Graham Wilkin – Surrey County Council

Hard of Hearing, Deaf & Interpreting Services CIC Company No. 7847992 (Formerly Deaf Services Team & Surrey Interpreting Agency)FAIRMOUNT HOUSE, BULL HILL, LEATHERHEAD, KT22 7AH

The Independent Social Work Pilot

Aims

• More responsive

• Greater involvement with users and carers

• Value for money

Hard of Hearing, Deaf & Interpreting Services CIC Company No. 7847992 (Formerly Deaf Services Team & Surrey Interpreting Agency)FAIRMOUNT HOUSE, BULL HILL, LEATHERHEAD, KT22 7AH

Key stakeholders

• Staff

• Unison

• Service users and carers– Surrey Deaf Forum– Surrey Hard of Hearing Forum

FirstPoint

Hard of Hearing, Deaf & Interpreting Services CIC Company No. 7847992 (Formerly Deaf Services Team & Surrey Interpreting Agency)FAIRMOUNT HOUSE, BULL HILL, LEATHERHEAD, KT22 7AH

• An independent social work-led social enterprise

FirstPoint

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.

Hard of Hearing, Deaf & Interpreting Services CIC Company No. 7847992 (Formerly Deaf Services Team & Surrey Interpreting Agency)FAIRMOUNT HOUSE, BULL HILL, LEATHERHEAD, KT22 7AH

Awareness and Communication Strategy

• Open, Inclusive and Accountable.

• Formal Consultation

• Legal Context

• Business Plans

• Governance

• Liabilities

Hard of Hearing, Deaf & Interpreting Services CIC Company No. 7847992 (Formerly Deaf Services Team & Surrey Interpreting Agency)FAIRMOUNT HOUSE, BULL HILL, LEATHERHEAD, KT22 7AH

Key components

• Social work

• Interpreting service

• Equipment service

FirstPoint

Hard of Hearing, Deaf & Interpreting Services CIC Company No. 7847992 (Formerly Deaf Services Team & Surrey Interpreting Agency)FAIRMOUNT HOUSE, BULL HILL, LEATHERHEAD, KT22 7AH

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

Hard of Hearing, Deaf & Interpreting Services CIC Company No. 7847992 (Formerly Deaf Services Team & Surrey Interpreting Agency)FAIRMOUNT HOUSE, BULL HILL, LEATHERHEAD, KT22 7AH

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

Hard of Hearing, Deaf & Interpreting Services CIC Company No. 7847992 (Formerly Deaf Services Team & Surrey Interpreting Agency)FAIRMOUNT HOUSE, BULL HILL, LEATHERHEAD, KT22 7AH

Going Forward

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

Hard of Hearing, Deaf & Interpreting Services CIC Company No. 7847992 (Formerly Deaf Services Team & Surrey Interpreting Agency)FAIRMOUNT HOUSE, BULL HILL, LEATHERHEAD, KT22 7AH

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.

Hard of Hearing, Deaf & Interpreting Services CIC Company No. 7847992 (Formerly Deaf Services Team & Surrey Interpreting Agency)FAIRMOUNT HOUSE, BULL HILL, LEATHERHEAD, KT22 7AH

Thank You.

The future for Social Work Practice

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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!

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”.