Friday 19th December 3pm

Transforming Social Care Programme

Stakeholder Reference Group

Representatives on the board were from voluntary sector organisations, local health trusts, council officers from social services departments, councillors on relevant boards and Partnership boards. I was invited to be part of this group as I chair the Carers Partnership Board. The purpose of this group was to provide input and disseminate information about the progress of the Transforming Social Care programme in Sutton.

 

Discussion took place around the need to change attitudes to social care provision both amongst staff and users. Rachael McLeod, representing the Sutton Carers Centre and I highlighted the need to make carers’ assessments an integral part of the programme and we received the assurance that the term ‘users and carers’ would be used throughout.

 

There was also discussion around users managing personal budgets and I enquired whether a credit card type system might be a potential solution. Apparently this system has been used elsewhere and information about its operation and success will be sought.

 

It was agreed that the group should be chaired by a third party organisation rather than a council officer and I am pleased that Rachael was asked to take on this role, demonstrating the commitment of the group to carers as well as service users.