Growth and development.pdf

East Ayrshire8. The FutureIf the Council is to build on what has already been achieved in community care, priorityattention is likely to be required for the following developments:• a re-shaped out of hours service allowing greater flexibility with extended 24 hour cover; itis anticipated this will be in place by autumn 2002;• planning more and better targeted community-based services for older people in EastAyrshire, particularly at a time when their number is increasing;• developing and expanding local area co-ordination for adults and children with learningdisabilities within a set timescale;• formulating with partners, plans for progressive improvement of mental health servicesacross the communities of East Ayrshire; and• preparing a scheme for the progressive improvement of sensory impairment servicesacross the area.It would consolidate and enhance the improvements made in the education of looked afterchildren if the Council were to develop training and development opportunities for the socialwork and education staff who work with those children.To achieve the reality of an effective aftercare service for young people, the Council with itspartners, should implement within the next year the action plan which has been formulated.If the benefits of partnership in provision of criminal justice services are to be realised withinmeasurable time greater priority needs to be given to harmonising systems, procedures andpractice. The development of a common information system is vital to underpin thesedevelopments.The Council, with its criminal justice partners, should develop for early implementation a widerrange of community-based disposals.The significant difficulties in attracting social work staff, particularly for children’s services,demand special effort, and the Council could benefit from following the example of thoseauthorities who have established a sustained policy and practice of “growing their own” socialwork staff.In preparation for preparing a Race Equality Scheme, the Educational and Social ServicesDepartments would benefit from undertaking an audit of the needs of black and ethnicminorities using the Department’s services, particularly social work services.69