Community Care Live 16 th May 2012 The

Community Care Live 16 th 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

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, KT 22

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, KT 22

First. Point Key stakeholders • Staff • Unison • Service users and carers – Surrey Deaf Forum – Surrey Hard of Hearing Forum Hard of Hearing, Deaf & Interpreting Services CIC Company No. 7847992 (Formerly Deaf Services Team & Surrey Interpreting Agency) FAIRMOUNT HOUSE, BULL HILL, LEATHERHEAD, KT 22

First. Point • 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. Hard of Hearing, Deaf & Interpreting Services CIC Company No. 7847992 (Formerly Deaf Services Team & Surrey Interpreting Agency) FAIRMOUNT HOUSE, BULL HILL, LEATHERHEAD, KT 22

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, KT 22

First. Point Key components • Social work • Interpreting service • Equipment service Hard of Hearing, Deaf & Interpreting Services CIC Company No. 7847992 (Formerly Deaf Services Team & Surrey Interpreting Agency) FAIRMOUNT HOUSE, BULL HILL, LEATHERHEAD, KT 22

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, KT 22

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, KT 22

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, KT 22

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, KT 22

The future for Social Work Practice Thank You. Hard of Hearing, Deaf & Interpreting Services CIC Company No. 7847992 (Formerly Deaf Services Team & Surrey Interpreting Agency) FAIRMOUNT HOUSE, BULL HILL, LEATHERHEAD, KT 22

Who are Sensing. Change? • 1 st of 7 pilots to launch on 1 st 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”.