social services

Joint area reviews 2007-08: report on outcomes

This report is based on evidence from joint area reviews (JARs) conducted in 73 local authority areas April 2007-July 2008. Key findings, recommendations and methodology are followed by sections on safeguarding; looked after children; children and young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities; additional, education and other investigations; and service management and capacity to improve. Annexes give an overview of JAR grades awarded since April 2007 under the new methodology and a full list of JARs since April 2007.

Personalisation briefing for commissioners

This briefing provides an overview of what personalisation means for commissioners of social care services. It highlights the main tasks for commissioners delivering personalisation as ensuring the right balance of investment and shaping the market. It also looks at necessary changes to contracting and procurement models, with a shift towards outcomes-focused and person-centred approaches. Two practice examples are included.

Health Action Planning and Health Facilitation for people with learning disabilities: good practice guidance

The purpose of this guidance is to describe and clarify good practice in health facilitation and health action planning and support localities to make progress on this and on reducing health inequalities experienced by people with learning disabilities. It builds on previous DH guidance and reflects the learning that has taken place since 2002 along with key recommendations of relevant recent reports and research. Short examples of good practice are included throughout.

Making it personal

Report advocating self-directed services as a means of transforming public services for the better. It contends that self-directed services can deliver personalised, lasting solutions to people's problems at lower cost and that they give people a real say in shaping the services they want.

Improving social work in Scotland

Report that describes how well social work services are performing and what people who use services think about them. The messages are clear; the majority of people of all ages who use services and their carers have valued them and think they have made positive differences to their lives. Staff who provide services are committed and look for ways to improve the services they offer to people.