Adult Social Care

Improvement East, along with the Department of Health, supports the Joint Improvement Partnership (JIP) to work across the East of England to improve adult social care. The JIP involves all 11 Directors of Adult Social Care in the region to work in an integrated way with the programme boards of the Strategic Health Authority (SHA) in order to maximise its impact across the region. The aim of the JIP is to:

• work in ways which deliver personalised support that is excellent value for money, of the best quality and more effectively delivered
• provide support in partnership with wider local government, health services and people who use services and their carers co-ordinate, challenge, support and accelerate the drive for transformation of adult social care

The JIP is guided by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) and is accountable to the parent bodies of the key partners. It is chaired by the regional ADASS chair, currently Harold Bodmer, from Norfolk County Council. Different Adult Social Care Directors across the region are leading the JIP work streams for the region. The workstreams for 2010 - 2011 are:

• Adult Safeguarding
• Continuing care
• Learning disability
• Organisation and performance
• Efficiency

In addition, Improvement East is supporting a 'cross-cutting' workstream which acts as a hub for all JIP activity in the region.

JIP projects

During the past two years a number of projects have been completed by the JIP. Evaluations for these projects are available below :

• Safeguarding
• Capacity and skills: part one
• Capacity and skills: part two
• Cross Cutting
• Dementia
• Learning Disabilities
• LSP, LAA, JSNA
• Organisation and Performance
• Carers

Additionally, a number of case studies have been produced to highlight the good work undertaken by the JIP. They are:

• Connected Care in Brandon
• Streamlining social care procurement
• Long term conditions audit 

To find out more on the work of the JIP, please visit the JIP website at or contact the JIP programme manager :

Dr Pauline Lane
pauline.lane@easterndc.org.uk
01206 287585

More information

The Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) have also produced a guide containing top tips for all members on improving outcomes and ensuring services are cost effective through better commissioning of adult social care.