Burstow unveils six new social work practice pilots

Care services minister Paul Burstow has given the green light for six councils to introduce independent teams of social workers in adult social services.

Birmingham City Council, Lambeth LBC, North East Lincolnshire NHS Care Trust Plus, Shropshire Council, Suffolk CC and Surrey CC will test different models of staff-run practices.

Back in October, LGC reported that ministers were keen to introduce adult social services of the models the previous government introduced for looked-after children.

Pending secondary legislation, the two-year pilots are due to start in the summer and will be overseen by the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE).

The pilots will see staff operating independently from local authority control and catering to specific groups of service users –  in Suffolk’s case adults who are deaf, visually impaired or who have dual sensory loss.

Mr Burstow said the pilots would free front-line social workers “to do what they do best: help people maintain their independence”.

“This shift in power will give people greater control over their care and support,” he said.

However he also announced plans to strengthen legislation on direct payments to make councils fully explain the options to people entitled to care and support, adding that the proposals would be consulted upon shortly.

The Department of Health said the pilots were backed by more than £1m of government funding and would reduce bureaucracy, allowing social workers to do their jobs effectively and freeing them to spend more time with those in their care.

Stephen Goulder, workforce director at SCIE, he was particularly pleased that the sites covered “such a diverse range of people, services and settings”.

“We look forward to adding to the evidence base about the role of social workers by sharing the findings with the sector,” he said.

Full details of the pilots’ target areas:

Birmingham – Full range of social work tasks for people with physical disabilities and long term conditions;

Lambeth LBC – All adults: either funding their own care or having needs below the Fair Access to Care Services threshold;

North East Lincolnshire – Older people, including those with mental health problems, and adults with physical, sensory or learning disabilities;

Shropshire: Older people, people with physical disabilities and learning disabilities;

Suffolk: Adults who are deaf, visually impaired or who have dual sensory loss; and

Surrey: Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing