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Last Updated: 14/11/2024 11:14:37
Social Work Committee examines progress on balancing budget
Thursday, 20 June 2013 11:45
Councillors on Social Work Committee have examined the progress being made to bring Social Work department’s revenue budget into balance.
They looked at:
• The measures required to address the potential shortfall against the 2013/14 budget
• Improvements needed in business and financial arrangements
• Areas of service demand pressure which will need a revised approach to services and potential changes of policy.
Councillors agreed to:
• A number of measures to ensure that the Social Work budget is realistic and that spend can be contained within budget. This includes early intervention to reduce the cost of reactive care, a review of the impact of increasing demand to make sure policies are equitable and affordable, making sure joint resources are allocated effectively, looking at how services are commissioned, reviewing the approach to paid allowances and looking at the impact of the new legislation on self-directed support.
• Recommend to Policy and Resources Committee that the Corporate Budget Pressures funding should provide £258,000 to address the increase in the National care Homes Contract payments and £228,000 for the remaining potential shortfall in the Social Work budget
• Note that this approach needs savings of £1.170 million to be made through the Social Work Services Management Team and the Social Work Services Committee and that further savings options will be sought to help address the increasing need in our region
• Note the required improvements to Social Work business and financial arrangements to be progressed by Social Work Management team with corporate support
• Agree that the reports aimed at containing spending will be brought back to Committee within identified timescales.
Councillor Andy Ferguson said, “I don’t underestimate the task ahead for Social Work Services with a budget that has to respond to fluctuating need. However, they have strong support from the centre and are already identifying areas to improve. Committee members have made some vital decisions today to help Social Work move forwards. With an ageing population, early intervention and prevention are increasingly important. We must also ensure that our excellent frontline services have resources targeted to where they are most needed.”
In a separate report, councillors noted a shortfall of £653,000 in the 2012/13 budget (0.8% of the Social Work budget). This reflects the £700,000 that was put to one side for the Elderly Care/Early Intervention Change Fund for 2013/14.
They looked at:
• The measures required to address the potential shortfall against the 2013/14 budget
• Improvements needed in business and financial arrangements
• Areas of service demand pressure which will need a revised approach to services and potential changes of policy.
Councillors agreed to:
• A number of measures to ensure that the Social Work budget is realistic and that spend can be contained within budget. This includes early intervention to reduce the cost of reactive care, a review of the impact of increasing demand to make sure policies are equitable and affordable, making sure joint resources are allocated effectively, looking at how services are commissioned, reviewing the approach to paid allowances and looking at the impact of the new legislation on self-directed support.
• Recommend to Policy and Resources Committee that the Corporate Budget Pressures funding should provide £258,000 to address the increase in the National care Homes Contract payments and £228,000 for the remaining potential shortfall in the Social Work budget
• Note that this approach needs savings of £1.170 million to be made through the Social Work Services Management Team and the Social Work Services Committee and that further savings options will be sought to help address the increasing need in our region
• Note the required improvements to Social Work business and financial arrangements to be progressed by Social Work Management team with corporate support
• Agree that the reports aimed at containing spending will be brought back to Committee within identified timescales.
Councillor Andy Ferguson said, “I don’t underestimate the task ahead for Social Work Services with a budget that has to respond to fluctuating need. However, they have strong support from the centre and are already identifying areas to improve. Committee members have made some vital decisions today to help Social Work move forwards. With an ageing population, early intervention and prevention are increasingly important. We must also ensure that our excellent frontline services have resources targeted to where they are most needed.”
In a separate report, councillors noted a shortfall of £653,000 in the 2012/13 budget (0.8% of the Social Work budget). This reflects the £700,000 that was put to one side for the Elderly Care/Early Intervention Change Fund for 2013/14.
Page last updated: 20/05/2022
