Growth and development.pdf

North Lanarkshire7. Modernising servicesThere is a small but significant Asian population. The social work department provides funding,premises, advice and assistance to the Muslim Child and Family Alliance, which operates fromthe Alexander Resource Centre. Ethnic minorities are included in the carers’ strategy andconsideration of practice issues in children’s and mental health services. The department hasmoved to ensure that ethnic minority staff are recruited to the home care service. The West ofScotland Race Equality Council has assisted departments to identify issues for the preparationof the Race Equality Scheme, and the social work department has established a working groupto progress race equality.There are 800 PCs in 70 different locations including all residential homes and day carecentres. There is a programme of introducing case recording for all care groups, includingpiloting the use of voice recognition. Arrangements with Lanarkshire Health Trust for datatransfer for single shared assessments are being introduced in spring 2002.8. The FutureThe Council and its health partners should build on the positive progress made on jointworking in different aspects of community care.In particular, a costed strategy, based on a shared assessment of need, is required to advancechange involving all of the care agencies.Progress on taking forward the recommendations of Sensing Progress has been slow, andfurther attention is needed on developing services for people with a sensory impairment.The Council should continue its work on plans to implement the recommendations fromLearning with Care on the education of looked after children. In particular, aligning andadjusting databases so that information can be shared, and formulating a scheme for the jointprofessional development of staff dealing with looked after children.191