Service Improvement Plan 2005/6 – 2007/8 Summary Version

This summary sets out what we are planning to do over the coming years. It also identifies some of the key actions that we have improved upon recently.
We are committed to continuous improvement in all our service areas and to providing best value services to everyone who needs them in North Lanarkshire.

Jim Dickie Director of Social Work North Lanarkshire Council

Harry McGuigan Convenor, Social Work Committee  North Lanarkshire Council

North Lanarkshire - about the council
North Lanarkshire Council's mission statement is: "To maximise the benefits of North Lanarkshire's location creating prosperity, achieving social justice and meeting local needs by providing best value quality services."

In our Corporate Plan, the vision for the future of the area and its communities is laid out, stating that North Lanarkshire will be a council which:

• serves and involves its communities;
• acts strategically and leads partnership working;
• embraces social inclusion with equal opportunities for all;
• exploits opportunities for economic and environmental regeneration;
• acts corporately to provide best value services;
• operates to the highest standards, is open, transparent and accountable;
• values people, treats them with dignity and respect and meets their needs; and
• is forward thinking and strives to be the best in all that it does.

North Lanarkshire will be a place where everyone enjoys access to:

• good quality housing;
• a pleasant safe environment;
• the very best employment, education and training opportunities;
• responsive, caring and co-ordinated support and health services; and
• attractive and varied leisure and cultural facilities.

We will demonstrate commitment to the principles of quality and choice, supporting people and their carers to lead normal lives within local communities. We will strive to promote equal opportunities and ensure fair access to our services

We recognise staff as our greatest asset. We will invest in staff development and training to improve social work services.

What does social work do?
We provide and purchase a wide range of services to meet the needs of the residents of North Lanarkshire. Our main activities are:

• assessing needs and making care arrangements;
• providing and purchasing community care, child care and criminal justice services, in partnership with other departments and external agencies;
• acting as lead agency in community care and criminal justice planning and supporting the North Lanarkshire Partnership Integrated Children's Services Plan;
• monitoring standards of care in services which are purchased and contracted for;
• providing and funding information and advice services;
• discharging our responsibility to promote social welfare with particular emphasis on social inclusion; and
• consulting with users and carers to give them a say how our services are planned and delivered.

Social inclusion
A major aim of the Community Plan (2005-8) is to promote social inclusion. We recognise that poverty, discrimination and inequality cause many of the problems experienced by the people we work with. We want to help people overcome these disadvantages and have the opportunity to reach their full potential as citizens.

In the last year, our approach has led to a growing number of disabled people living independent lives in the community with help from supported living providers and access to better day opportunities and supported employment. We have also been active in training staff in fuel poverty issues.