Social Services take rigorous approach to ensure value within tight resources

The Social Services Division is operating proactively and decisively in a well considered approach to ensure social care and support to those in greatest need can be sustained.

The Division has a multi-faceted comprehensive financial strategic approach to enable the Isle of Man to continue to deliver quality social care services when resources are reducing and need is increasing. Social Services have put this into action and will accelerate its implementation given the need for a swift response to the latest fiscal situation.

The approach involves:

• Implementing efficiency savings – eliminating waste and duplication, and devolving accountability for tight budget management

• Rationing and targeting – being more focussed on outcomes, highest need and clarity over eligibility for services

• Generating Income – including equity in charging for some services and working in partnership with the private and voluntary sector to draw in resources from outside

• Sharing the cost – with other agencies who provide specialist or mainstream services, which vulnerable people require in order to have a good quality of life

• Establishing a realistic budget – involving building budgets from basics to ascertain the true cost of the “must do” activities

• More cost effective service models – which are sustainable within limited budgets and prevent higher cost intervention later. A series of potential measures have been designed under each of these headings and the benefits and implications are being considered. Some are uncontroversial and straightforward and are being implemented immediately. Others require a significant and quite radical shift in the way that Social Services are delivered and will involve careful planning and explanation.

Director of Social Services Andrew Swithinbank said

“Our managers and staff have done an excellent job in creating sensible solutions to the challenges. It will be difficult but we are addressing the situation robustly so that wherever possible we minimize any negative impacts on those who use Social Services. We must move to a more cost effective way of providing care and support, enabling more people to receive care at home and in family settings. We will need to join forces with other departments, the private sector and voluntary and community organisations to make this approach work well”