Changes to social care help council achieve £1m savings
TRANSFORMING adult social care is on the agenda for Neath Port Talbot councillors this week.
A new report will be discussed by members of the social care, health and housing cabinet board on Thursday regarding the Transforming Adult Social Care (TASC) Programme.
The programme aims to modernise and update services and is part of the council’s plan for improving the lives of all of the people who live in the county.
The report states: “This is a major transformation programme which could mean significant change in the way services for adults with care and support needs are planned and provided in future.”
The programme is also “critical to achievement of the further £1 million saving within the forward financial Plan for community care services in 2013/14.”
The cabinet members are recommended to agree on the programme management arrangements for the TASC programme.
This involves a programme board to be established which will be chaired by the director of social services health and housing, who is the senior responsible office (SRO) and is accountable for delivering the programme.
The head of community care and housing will be responsible for day to day management of the programme on behalf of the SRO.
A dedicated programme manager will also be appointed, reporting to the head of community care and housing.
The report outlines the five key areas of work that will be taken forward through the TASC programme.
These include the modernising of social work systems, learning disability service provision and the modernising older people’s service provision.
The development of a policy which is linked to the development of new respite services for older people as part of the Gwalia partnership and the development of a new respite service for adults with learning disabilities in Aberavon is also listed as an key focus.
A final key area for the council is also the need to “review and update the commissioning strategies for all adult service client groups.”
Improvements delivered by the TASC programme will include more people living independently and with support at home and in their own communities.
