SCIE news and events
In this section:
Latest news
SCIE supports NICE expansion
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has welcomed the expansion of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to further spread knowledge and evidence, outlined in the Darzi NHS Review High quality care for all.
- See media release for details.
New tool to assess participation in people management practice
A new audit offers social care and health providers the opportunity to carry out a free assessment of how they involve people in the way they run services. The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE), the organisation responsible for advancing good practice in the social care workforce, has launched the participation audit on its People Management website – a collection of resources, forums and audits that encourage managers to assess practice, voice concerns and share ideas.
- See media release for details.
SCIE welcomes dementia consultation launch
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has welcomed the launch of the dementia strategy consultation announced today by Ivan Lewis. Chief executive of SCIE, Julie Jones, said: “This ambitious and far-reaching consultation shows the Government’s clear commitment to addressing the needs of the growing numbers of people with dementia and their carers.
- See media release for details.
Assess, understand and support - SCIE responds to National Carers’ Strategy
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has reiterated the importance of carers assessments in its response to the National Carers Strategy launched today. Chair of SCIE, Allan Bowman, said: “The strategy should be commended for recognising that supporting carers is an issue for us all – not just social care and health.
- See media release for details.
SCIE appoints new lead on older people
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has stepped up its work on services for older people by appointing a new lead on the subject. Annie Stevenson, Senior Policy Advisor at Help the Aged, has joined SCIE on secondment to help the organisation strengthen its work on care services for older people – particularly with the independent sector.
- See media release for details.
Enriching relationships in care provision - SCIE’s response to CSCI report on dementia care
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has welcomed the CSCI’s focus on interaction with people with dementia in their new report published today. Responding to the report, Chief Executive of SCIE, Julie Jones, said: “As well as dealing with this profound and irreversible condition, people with dementia often experience disconnection with those around them which can lead family, friends and paid care workers to misunderstand and exclude.
- See media release for details.
SCIE welcomes national dignity tour
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has welcomed the National Dignity Tour launched today by the Department for Health (DH).
- See media release for details.
SCIE announces new strategic plan
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has outlined its organisational priorities for the next three years. In 2008 to 2011, SCIE will develop a new framework for identifying and disseminating good and innovative practice in social care provision, as well as strengthening the support it offers via national and regional networks. As part of this, SCIE will develop a tailored work programme for every region of England, as well as within Wales and Northern Ireland.
- See media release for details.
We need a better understanding of poverty, parenting and social exclusion says SCIE
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has published a new training resource that helps people working in social care to understand the link between poverty, parenting and social exclusion. Living in poverty can exclude people from life chances that others take for granted. It makes parenting a greater challenge and can impair the health and development of children. Families living in poverty are the group most likely to come into contact with children and families services, often involuntarily.
- See media release for details.
Assessing innovation is essential to care and support debate
Responding to the Government’s announcement of a debate on the future shape of care and support services, Allan Bowman, chair of the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE), said: “Strengthening the evidence about what really supports people’s independence is essential to this debate. SCIE agrees that, despite colossal efforts by social care workers, the current system is unsustainable. We are therefore developing a new method that will help to gather knowledge about innovative and promising approaches, not just about what has worked in the past".
- See media release for details.
More support is needed for children of prisoners
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) is calling for local authorities and central government to do more to help children of prisoners maintain contact with their parents.
In a new report, SCIE outlines findings from practice across the UK and makes specific recommendations for statutory and voluntary children services, local safeguarding children’s boards, prison services, Sure Start children’s centres, health and education and central government.
- See media release for details.
Advice from older people about hospital stays
A new booklet from the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) offers advice to older people on what to expect when entering, staying in and leaving hospital. 'Helping you through a hospital stay: Advice from older people' is based on the experiences of older people who have stayed in hospital and then returned to their homes. SCIE worked with an advisory group of older people to find out what information they felt would be useful for others in a similar position. Age Concern and the Alzheimer’s Society were also involved with the development.
- See media release for details.
Creative commissioning will support better mental health advocacy for African and Caribbean men
A creative approach to commissioning is needed to ensure that African and Caribbean men receive appropriate mental health advocacy services, says the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE). A report published by SCIE last year revealed serious gaps in the provision of advocacy support services for African and Caribbean men - despite their over representation in the mental health system. New SCIE guidance launched today gives commissioners and providers information about how to fill these gaps by promoting cultural sensitivity, responding to diversity and understanding the local needs of an area.
- See media release for details.
Promoting dignity within the law: new advice for health and social care workers
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has launched a new guide, commissioned by the Department of Health, to help practitioners and commissioners of health and social care services understand the way legislation protects people’s rights to be treated with dignity.
- See media release for details.
Quality care management for all: SCIE’s response to CSCI report
The 'State of social care' report highlights the need for well-informed services and structures across the public and independent sectors, says the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE). Commenting on the launch of the CSCI report, Chair of SCIE, Allan Bowman, said: "This timely report shows the complexities involved in providing the most appropriate social care services to everyone in need. It gives a clear message that some local authority structures do not support the preventative services that enable people to remain independent for longer. We welcome the announcement of a review on eligibility criteria, and we will encourage our partners and networks to ensure that people who use services get their voices heard.
- See media release for details.
Confidence in care – SCIE’s response to the Caring Choices report
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) supports the publication of the Caring Choices report: The future of care funding: Time for a change, published today. As part of the coalition facilitating the consultation, SCIE has supported the national debate on funding for long-term care, with a particular interest in the implications for older people, the social care workforce and unpaid carers. The organisation argues that any new funding model must improve confidence in the care system and be communicated carefully.
- See media release for details.
Social work is central – SCIE’s response to the Children’s plan
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) is urging Government to use the expertise of social workers to realise the aims set out in the Children’s plan launched today. SCIE welcomes the opportunity for schools to develop accessible information facilities that utilise social workers to offer advice to parents and teachers. The organisation is keen to support these aims by bringing together evidence from previous ‘community school’ schemes to explain what practice works, how it works and how it can be replicated.
- See media release for details.
Putting people first – a landmark agreement says SCIE
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has committed to the shared vision for adult social care in England outlined in the ministerial concordat 'Putting people first'. The agreement cements SCIE’s role as the national organisation responsible for identifying, promoting and disseminating good practice in social care.
- See media release for details.
No excuse for poor quality of care for people with learning disabilities
"There is no excuse for the poor quality of care for people with learning disabilities revealed in today’s Healthcare Commission report,” said Allan Bowman, chair of the Social Care Institute for Excellence.
- See media release for details.
SCIE seeks to work with top performers in social services
Responding to the news that the performance of social services for adults has improved for the fifth successive year, Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) chair, Allan Bowman said: “People who use social services will be pleased to see this steady overall improvement – and in particular the increase in the number of councils being rated as excellent. The Social Care Institute for Excellence is keen to work with these top performers to identify and share their best practice with the wider social care sector. We will be contacting those who have moved up to a three-star rating to learn more about the improvements they have made.
- See media release for details.
Diverse Boards are possible and productive
Commenting on the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisation’s report into charity governance, Allan Bowman, chair of the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) said: “SCIE knows from experience that having a Board which represents a diverse range of stakeholders has a real impact on service provision. We have gone to great lengths to strengthen our own Board – and our advisory group, the Partners’ Council – by ensuring effective representation from people who use, commission, manage and deliver social care services. This breadth of knowledge and experience gives us a real insight into what to improve and how to improve it.
- See media release for details.
Greater awareness of ‘deafblind’ impairment can prevent problems for older people
More awareness of how to identify and support dual sensory impairment could help older people live independently for longer, according to a new research briefing from the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE).
- See media release for details.
Lead, involve and commit – new research on organisational change and improvement
Social care and health service leaders need to show both innovation and a real commitment to involvement to initiate and sustain change and improvement, according to two new reports launched.
- See media release for details.
A good year for the Social Care Institute for Excellence
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has enjoyed its most significant year of development since it began in 2001. From March 2006 to 2007, SCIE has considerably increased its communication and dissemination functions to reach more people in the social care sector. This has resulted in a 45 per cent increase in website visitors, a 53 per cent increase in media coverage and a significant rise in recognition.
- See media release for details.
Social Care Institute for Excellence responds to CSR announcement
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) calls for effective joint working across health and social care following the Chancellor's Comprehensive Spending Review announced yesterday.
- See media release for details.
Research finds obstacles to delivering rural social care
People in rural areas may be less well served by social care and health services, according to an overview of research by the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE). The research shows that social care services in rural areas generally don't provide the same level of service as those in towns and cities. Older people in rural areas are likely to be receiving lower levels of supportive services such as domiciliary care and meals on wheels than those in urban areas.
- See media release for details.
Media contact
Annie Goss | Communications Officer | T: 020 7089 7117 | M: 07739 458 192 | Email: annie.goss@scie.org.uk
