Thurrock Council's adult social care held up as an example to other authorities

STAFF from Leicester and Greenwich Councils visited Thurrock recently to observe the work that the council is doing to provide care to adults across the borough.

Social Services staff from Leicester City Council were keen to see how Thurrock Council has developed its outcome-based approach to adult social care, as Thurrock provides a home care service that helps clients to decide details of their care packages to suit them.

A number of staff from Greenwich Council also visited Thurrock Council on the recommendation of the Department of Health.

Greenwich Council’s Adults and Older People’s Services team are developing a customer contact centre for their services.

Thurrock Council have already set up a similar centre in partnership with Vertex, so the Greenwich team wanted to see the service in action and meet with staff.

Discussions also included Thurrock Council undertaking work on the new outcome-based care services.

Councillor Amanda Arnold, Thurrock’s £15,822.14 a year Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care said: “Thurrock is on the map for developing the government’s Putting People in Control agenda.

“The Council is aiming to transform all of its adult care services to this new way of working by January 2009. This is not required by law to be in place until 2010.”

She added: “This is a big move away from the way that services have been traditionally provided in Thurrock.

“Councils and government bodies have recognised what Thurrock have achieved.

“Key to this success is our close partnership working with Vertex and our care providers in Thurrock.”

£7.911.07 a year Councillor Anthony Fish, representing people with disabilities in Thurrock, said: “It’s great to see that Thurrock is providing leading services that other Councils want to learn from.

“The outcome-based approach is a great step forward for disabled people as it will mean they will be able to work with the Council to make decisions about their care.

“That way we are putting residents first and carrying out our duty.”