Expanding thinking about the market-place and linking up with you2choose..........
I’m spending a lot of time in Worcestershire at the moment with my colleagues from self direct; we are working with the social work teams there to help them to ‘think outside the box’ (can someone please suggest a new phrase to replace this old expression!) We hear from different parts of the country that social workers and care managers are finding it difficult to think beyond traditional health and social care services when they are helping people to put together their support plans. Many support plans are ending up looking like the old care plans.
We are determined to help people think about expanding the social and health market-place beyond traditional services to include mainstream activities and organisations.
The department of health wants personalisation to include social capital and universal services but getting social workers to stretch their thinking beyond traditional services in some parts of the country is proving a challenge. I’ve got to say in Worcestershire they are really starting to switch on to this new way of thinking and working – watch this space!
Last week I had a break from Worcestershire and attended the Big Event, in Control’s 3rd annual convention, I was there on our self direct market stand with my fellow director Keith Wyatt. This year it was held in Liverpool and bigger and busier than ever. It was great to see lots of old friends there, to meet new people and to see the great variety of organisations now involved in delivering this new agenda.
you2choose had a stand at the Big Event; you2choose is an new innovative website designed to connect people and services. We really like the look of you2choose; it’s easy to use, already has thousands of listings of organisations and is already a must visit website. We have decided to partner up with you2choose and work with them to develop and grow the website even further. We think this is already an important tool to help people access new ways to find support and activities and the guys at you2choose really want to hear from people with real life experience about how to develop the website in the future to make it even more useful and easier to use. Our associates are already on the case!
It’s been a really busy month so far and I’m looking forward to taking some time to reflect over the Easter break and come back refreshed and ready to spring back into action.
On 30th July, 2010 Christine Clarke said...
Hi Don,
It was great to meet up with you whilst you were working in Worcestershire. Thank you for sending your book. I was thrilled to be your first paying customer.
Jules and I think the book is great and a real useful addition to our resources.
Best wishes
Chris