Government has started mapping out patterns of social need in the Isle of Man to help it plan services and target resources in the future.
Its first ‘Joint Strategic Needs Assessment’ (JSNA) indicates levels of relative deprivation in terms of: income; employment; health and disability; education, skills and training; barriers to housing and services; crime; and living environment.
The initiative has brought together officers from various Departments who have collated information from across Government and the third sector to identify areas of deprivation.
The JSNA process will be ongoing, as the exercise of producing the first report has identified significant gaps in the available data and other matters that require further work.
In his foreword to the report Minister Chris Robertshaw MHK, chair of the Social Policy and Children’s Committee of the Council of Ministers, describes the first JSNA as ‘an important step towards a comprehensive understanding of social need in communities throughout the Island.’
Mr Robertshaw writes:
‘The exercise of conducting the first JSNA has highlighted some significant gaps in the available data and other issues that require further work. The map of social issues will be developed and clarified as that work progresses.
‘With a growing economy and relatively low unemployment, the Isle of Man is fortunate compared with many other places. However, like other countries we face a colossal challenge, an exponential increase in demand for services that is set to overwhelm our finite public resources.
‘One of the ways that we can respond to that challenge is by working collectively across Government and the third sector to establish an accurate, objective picture of patterns of need to guide the planning of priority services for the future.
‘The JSNA process will help in the identification and protection of the vulnerable, and ensure that resources are used fairly and effectively by being targeted to where they can do the most good.’
The JSNA report is on the Government website at: iom-government-joint-strategic-needs-assessment-2014.pdf
