Growth and development.pdf

FifeThe main focus is on staff retention. A comprehensive workforce strategy confirms theimportance of induction, individual learning, and health and safety for all staff. There are alsoexamples of job enhancement- piloting of specially trained homecare staff who can undertakesome of the work of auxiliary nurses, thus freeing up nurse time and reducing the number ofstaff going into clients’ homes.7. Modernising servicesFife has significant Asian and Chinese populations, and in addition the Council has a commitmentto support up to 100 families seeking asylum. Experience in working with different communitieshas promoted an awareness of the extensive work necessary to engage with and provideculturally sensitive services. A race equality strategy for health and social care was put in placelate in 2001. When implemented, the strategy should meet the requirements of a Race EqualityScheme.A developing framework of information systems embraces a range of corporate and socialwork service initiatives. Social work is participating in a Council-wide Modernising Governmentfunded project to address the information needs of older people. The existing social workinformation system will be replaced by the end of 2002 by a new system designed to serve thebusiness needs of different social work staff, particularly practitioners. The Council plans tohelp children and young people gain ICT skills. The eMPOWER project focuses on educational,recreational and therapeutic uses of IT.The new systems will interface with both health and education systems, although practical linkscan be established only when agreement is reached on information-sharing.8. The FutureJoint working is well established between social work, health and education, to promote theinterests of both adults and children. Wider practical benefits should follow, once the partiesconclude an agreement about information sharing.The Council and its health partners need to build on the progress to date and agree jointmanagement arrangements, the resource pot and arrangements for integrated servicemanagement, and a firm implementation plan.Similarly, they will want to agree outstanding aspects of the single shared assessment agenda,and agree an implementation plan for full application next April.To complement the progress made in improving the education of looked after children,the Council needs to:• secure full-time educational places for children in residential units;• prepare and issue a joint circular on educational targets and arrangements for monitoringprogress; and• adjust and align databases so that information can be shared.In operating its own criminal justice services, the Council has set itself a testing agenda forimprovement and should bring within a single implementation plan the extensive work requiredon information co-ordination, assessment of services and risk analysis.133