Councils join forces to solve adult social care management system needs

Leeds City Council is poised to enter into a innovative shared services partnership with a neighbouring local authority.

Council chiefs will be asked to approve plans that would see Leeds adult social care services adopting the current social care case management system, developed and owned by Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council, at their executive board meeting next week.

This pioneering move will provide social workers in Leeds with a highly efficient tool to collect, store and manage information about people who use social care services in the city. Adopting this intuitive and flexible system offers a cost effective solution for the council in the short term, and offers significant opportunities for both councils to work together, including the potential generation of revenue, in the future.

Calderdale has a proven track record of system development and the partnership will enable both cities to be on the front foot when responding to new national health and social care legislation.

By entering into a shared services agreement with Calderdale, both councils will be in a stronger position to meet the evolving health and social care agenda, which will see adult social care services working much closer with health services.

Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, executive board member responsible for adult social care said:
“Caring for the increasing number of older, vulnerable adults in our society is one of the biggest challenges facing local authorities across the country right now.

“We are acutely aware of the growing demand for our services, which requires us to deliver more with less resource. Joining forces with another council to deliver and develop a flexible client management system for adult social care in Leeds will have enormous benefits for both parties.

“This proposal represents a true shared service approach, which will provide us with an intuitive system to meet the current and known future requirements of front line adult social care staff.

“Calderdale has a proven track record in system development, and by embracing the principles of civic enterprise and entering into a partnership agreement with them, we will be able to work together to develop the system further at a reduced cost to both parties.”

From Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council Councillor Bob Metcalfe, cabinet member - adults, health and social care, and Councillor Bryan Smith, cabinet member - performance and resources said:
“Calderdale has invested in its own internally developed adult health and social care system in partnership with customers, practitioners and technical colleagues.

“This has enhanced our ability to provide a high quality efficient service that helps us to meet the needs of our customers.

“It is a valuable tool and one that we are pleased to share with our Leeds colleagues.”

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For media enquiries, please contact;
Claire Macklam, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 395 1578
Email: claire.macklam@leeds.gov.uk