Growth and development.pdf

8. The FutureAfter the best value review and the redevelopment of the home care service the Council has asound basis for planning and implementing progressive improvement of home care to meetingthe developing needs and numbers of older people.The Council should follow up the progress already made in learning disability services bydetermining the criteria for introducing direct payments.The effectiveness of the integrated mental health teams would be enhanced by closer workinglinks with education services.In order to enable single shared assessment to work to its full potential for service users, theCouncil and its health partners should establish arrangements to allow assessors to accessresources directly across agency boundaries.Agreed information requirements and information-sharing protocols are crucial to developingjoint services. The Council and its partners should agree and implement protocols – particularlyfor different aspects of community care – as soon as practicable.Training and support for social work staff expected to use IT systems is essential if the benefitsof using new technology are to be secured for improvements in services.To ensure further progress is made in improving the education of looked after children, thecouncil should:• ensure there is a standard format for all care plans, based on assessments which includesuitable educational targets;• link information systems so that information can be shared;• put in place quality assurance systems;• complete audits of educational environments; and• finalise a joint social work and education policy for looked after and accommodatedchildren.126