Goals & Policy Detail - Social Services

BACK TO MAIN GOALS & POLICY DETAIL

This is what you say:

When we really need help we want it given simply and thoughtfully.

What's wrong with things as they are?

Getting support from social services can be unnecessarily complicated and take too long.
Too many mistakes have been made, leading to harm where there should have been help.
There is a lack of coordination and communication between departments.
There is not enough front-line support and too many bureaucrats.
Too often, public servants seem obstructive rather than giving positive help
Millions of pounds are being lost in social security fraud

UKpopdems will make sure that people genuinely in need of support and help can access it simply and effectively, so we'll:

Reduce back-line bureaucracy and increase front-line resources active in the field.
Improve communication by bringing social services departments together in teams that can cover broad areas of support.
Give community officers a proactive role in identifying when help is required and coordinating support.
Measure public services on the quality of support and solution outcomes. Encourage public feedback.
Gradually increase practical and material support in place of cash.
Ensure cases are followed-up directly by community officers and social service teams
Simplify form filling and reduce means testing
Link social security, community officers and the Inland Revenue to prevent and detect fraud

What will this do for the British People?

When you really need help, you will receive it.
Your feedback on the quality of help you get will be listened to.
You will get to know your community officers who will be pro-active in the community, identifying and coordinating the help you need
You will find that mistakes due to lack of communication will be lessened.
You can be sure social security fraud will be detected and reduced
If you need help, getting it will be simpler and less humiliating
You will be aware of more front-line social service staff and fewer bureaucrats

Companion notes to the policy

We see social workers more active in the field, where their clients are, and less in the office or call centres. Bureaucracy will gradually lessen so that 80% are front-line workers.
Many people in need suffer through communication breakdowns. We will bring small, multi-skilled teams together for an area and enforce client centric case discipline.
Community officers will play a key role in identifying people who need support, and linking to appropriate agencies to ensure help is made available, as well as playing a part in case follow-up
Because social workers will be increasingly in the field, people in need will be visited directly to ascertain appropriate responses, simplifying paperwork.
Public services generally will be measured on informing people what can be done and how it can be done, rather than what cannot be done.
Social security fraud costs millions. Social service activity in the field, close case follow-up and community officer knowledge of the community will gradually reduce fraud.

NEXT POLICY >>