Informing Social Care A Consultation Document
The vision to reform and revitalise the health and social care services in Wales is set out in the NHS Plan ‘Improving Health Care in Wales’ and the social services White Paper ‘Building for the Future’. The importance of information and information systems to social care services was set out in the Guidance Document ‘Performance Management: A Strategy for Social Services in Wales’. Latterly the strategy for health was set out in the document ‘Informing Healthcare’.
Most recently the Report of the Project Team advised by Derek Wanless ‘The Review of Health and Social Care in Wales’ recognised the central part that information has to play in how resources can be translated into reform and improved performance in health and social care services. Improved management in the view of the Project Team is essential to raise standards across the board and this is founded upon on reliable and rounded performance information. For many this means an overhaul of information systems.
"Informing Social Care" sets out the contribution that information systems will make towards the improvement of performance in social services. As such it establishes the e-government agenda for social work and social care in Wales. It is a strategy that aims to ensure that service users, children and adults alike, carers and the public have the information necessary to make informed choices and decisions about their own care as well as being able to influence the shape of the social care services generally. It also aims to ensure that social care professionals with responsibilities to deliver effective services and social care managers with responsibilities to use resources both effectively and efficiently have the required information on which to base their decisions. Finally, it recognises that new information systems for social care must recognise the closer working relationships that are now part of effective working arrangements, particularly with health care and education providers.
Against each of the challenges identified in this consultation document is set (1) an objective not only for the Assembly Government but also the local authorities and their partners and (2) some consultation points. The former provides a framework against which overall progress towards the information management culture can be assessed and the latter focal points for responses to the document.
Most recently the Report of the Project Team advised by Derek Wanless ‘The Review of Health and Social Care in Wales’ recognised the central part that information has to play in how resources can be translated into reform and improved performance in health and social care services. Improved management in the view of the Project Team is essential to raise standards across the board and this is founded upon on reliable and rounded performance information. For many this means an overhaul of information systems.
"Informing Social Care" sets out the contribution that information systems will make towards the improvement of performance in social services. As such it establishes the e-government agenda for social work and social care in Wales. It is a strategy that aims to ensure that service users, children and adults alike, carers and the public have the information necessary to make informed choices and decisions about their own care as well as being able to influence the shape of the social care services generally. It also aims to ensure that social care professionals with responsibilities to deliver effective services and social care managers with responsibilities to use resources both effectively and efficiently have the required information on which to base their decisions. Finally, it recognises that new information systems for social care must recognise the closer working relationships that are now part of effective working arrangements, particularly with health care and education providers.
Against each of the challenges identified in this consultation document is set (1) an objective not only for the Assembly Government but also the local authorities and their partners and (2) some consultation points. The former provides a framework against which overall progress towards the information management culture can be assessed and the latter focal points for responses to the document.