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All our lives: social care in England - 2002-2003
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Document type:Inspection Report
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Author:Social Services Inspectorate, Joint Reviews of Social Services, National Care Standards Commission
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Published date:25 March 2004
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Primary audience:Professionals
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Product number:34682
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Gateway reference:2004
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Pages:62
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Copyright holder:Crown
This report considers the performance and quality of social care services in England in the year 2002-03. It provides an overview of how far social care services are responsive to the needs, and promote the rights, of the people who use them. It also highlights some of the key issues and challenges faced by those committed to improvement in the sector. The main evidence used in this report is the findings of the inspection, performance assessment, review and regulatory work of three agencies: the Social Services Inspectorate (SSI), the SSI/Audit Commission Joint Review Team (Joint Reviews), and the National Care Standards Commission.
Preface
This is a time of significant change for social care. Change inevitably creates uncertainty - whatever interest we have in ensuring good quality public services or whatever role we may play in delivering them. But change also offers opportunities and brings new challenges - to remind ourselves of what we're trying to do, reflect on how we've been doing and consider how we can improve.
From 1 April 2004 the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) will be the single independent inspectorate for social care with a primary function to promote improvements in social care. In announcing his intention to create the Commission, the Secretary of State for Health specified that CSCI will 'publish an annual report to Parliament on national progress on social care and an analysis of where resources have been used'.
It was with this in mind that, in setting up the new Commission, the Department of Health commissioned us - the three bodies, whose social care functions will transfer to the new organisation - to produce a single report, providing a joint commentary on the performance of social services and social care in 2002-03. We were pleased to do this, drawing together our knowledge in one place for the first time, and to demonstrate how working in partnership is vital to delivering good results.
In approaching this task, we decided to focus on what we share in common - a commitment to promoting the rights of people who use social care services and to making a difference to their lives. People who need these services, indeed the public in general, have a right to know how they are performing and how well agencies are working together in their interests.
We have written this overview in such a way that it will be relevant and accessible to a wide public audience. Its starting point is the perspective of people who use social care services and their voices feature strongly throughout.
| Susan Mead Director SSI/Audit Commission Joint Review Team | Averil Nottage Acting Chief Inspector Social Services Inspectorate | Ron Kerr Chief Executive National Care Standards Commission |
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