Recommendations for far-reaching changes in social care will be put before Wigan councillors this Wednesday (28th February).
Wigan Council is proposing to modernise home care provision, transferring some services to experienced independent sector providers and improving its own support to people with complex needs so that they can live as independently as possible.
The moves follow an independent improvement review by business consultants Deloitte MCS. Deloitte’s say “services are at risk of decline” unless the council invests more money in social care and adopts an eight point action plan to modernise services over the next three years.
All the recommendations have been adopted, including the ‘market testing’ of homecare provision, most of which is currently provided in-house.
Deloitte’s report states:
“Currently 80% of home care provision is in-house; this is out of step with most other authorities which have a much greater percentage ratio of external to internal care. The unit cost of in-house provision is considerably more expensive than external provision.”
At the same time, the council is looking to provide more intensive support, treatment and rehabilitation services to people with poor physical or mental health.
Director of Adult Services, Bernard Walker explains:
“Demographic changes and enormous financial pressures on social services mean that, unfortunately, the status quo isn’t an option.
“We have an ageing population and more people than ever are relying on us for their care needs. Some people’s needs are increasingly complex and expensive, and we have a duty to focus our energies on them to help them live as independently as they can.
“Wigan is one of the very last authorities to look to the independent sector for home care services, but rest assured protecting our staff and the people who receive our services will be paramount.
“We already have a number of tried, trusted and registered agencies who provide high quality support to vulnerable people in the community, and should any transfer take place, we aim to ensure a smooth transition, as we have in similar circumstances in the past.
“We also recognise the concerns of our staff and their union representatives, and any staff who might be transferred will be protected through the normal legal framework. We aim to keep all parties fully informed of developments.”
