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MOVING FORWARD
Much has happened since I updated you in the previous Newsletter about the work being done on Changing Lives.
This newsletter focuses on developments over the last few months and the way ahead, and takes a look at some of the work being done across the sector.
In November last year the Concordat was signed with COSLA and is being followed up with the development of Single Outcome Agreements ( SOAs) for each local authority area. The Concordat sets out 15 national outcomes and 45 indicators providing the national context and will contribute to the delivery of this Government's overall purpose and 5 high level strategic objectives. SOAs will provide the local context for the development and delivery of local services.
These developments represent a significant shift in the relationship between national and local government. National government will focus on providing strategic direction, undertaking activities that can only be delivered at a national level and not micro-managing local activities. Local authorities will have greater flexibility and also greater responsibility, taking their own decisions on how to achieve the agreed outcomes and being answerable for these. This means increased local empowerment, in which local authorities, working with community planning partners, will have increased freedoms to affect change at the local level in support of improving outcomes across a range of public services, including social work services.
What does this mean for social work services? Clearly achievement of many of the national outcomes and indicators will depend on significant contribution from all involved in the development and delivery of social work and social care services. It will be for local discussion and action to determine how you will contribute to the delivery of these outcomes working with partners to ensure coordinated planning and delivery by all at a local level.
I'm very keen that our work at the centre has a focus on developing a workforce and support systems which are able to deliver good quality help and services for Scotland's people. In addition, engaging with citizens and putting people at the heart of services must be the basis of service design and delivery. We must listen to what people tell us they need to give them the best opportunities and outcomes, and seek to do our best to action that - after all we are impacting on people's lives. In a nutshell: the development of a confident, competent and valued workforce and building capacity for the delivery of personalised services.
Reflecting on the implications of this new context and work in progress, and in discussion with key stakeholders, we have agreed to focus on a number of key strategic pieces of work from the Change Programmes. _These will be delivered over the course of 2008 to help support local delivery, and there is more on these 'products' later in this newsletter, and a 'Next Steps' paper is available on the socialworkscotland website at www.socialworkscotland.org.uk/images/nextstepslarge.gif
Local ownership of this agenda has always been key - and in the new context in which we are operating this is even more relevant. We will continue to support you and put in place the frameworks and mechanisms to do so, however it is you - who shape, develop and actually engage with users - who must take this opportunity to challenge and influence policy and practice and help make a difference.
Practitioners coming together, such as in Local Practitioner Forums, help in providing a place for discussion and seeking solutions to local issues. While nationally there has been some support and encouragement in setting these up, for them to be effective and sustainable needs local ownership and engagement.
So we are working with bodies that can help reinforce and champion engagement at local level, including through Local Practitioner Fora. Discussions are ongoing with ADSW and COSLA on how we all can help deliver the aspirations of Changing Lives which the sector widely welcomed, but also contribute fully to the achievement of National Outcomes and the SOAs.
I know this whole agenda involves a significant culture change for individuals, for leaders and managers, for organisations, for all of us - and this doesn't happen overnight. But we need to continue to work to increase the momentum of change and further improvement at all levels and across all the agencies we work with.
All of us who seek to improve the lot of Scotland's people - and often those in greatest difficulties and with most needs - need you to take ownership of, and build on, the aspirations of Changing Lives and the work coming from the Change Programmes. We in government will provide the context, direction and support but it is only through your seizing the agenda that real and lasting change and improvement will be realised.
Adam Ingram,
Minister for Children and Early Years
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