COUNTY COUNCIL - CABINET - 16.5.02

SOCIAL CARE INFORMATION STRATEGY - SYSTEMS REPLACEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

1. The Leader has approved the purchase and development over the next 4 years of a new social care information system at a cost of £5.2 million. The new system along with additional staffing requirements, will be funded from unsupported credit approval from central government, a Department of Health Information for Social Care grant, and from the Social Services' budget. After a detailed evaluation process, the contract for supply of the new system and the development of additional functions to meet the County Council's particular requirements was awarded to Anite Public Sector. It will replace a number of existing long-serving computer systems.

2. The new system is expected to be fully operational by 2005 and is needed to ensure the Social Services Department can better meet the increasing demands for an improved, modern and more efficient service for both service users and staff, as well as complying with new e-government requirements, including keeping electronic records for all clients by 2004. It will run on the County Council's IT2000 platform, thus progressing the movement of systems off the mainframe computer. It will be integrated with the County Council's human resources financial and office systems and allow information sharing with health and other partner agencies, subject to appropriate security arrangements. The new system will allow social workers to access all client information from any Social Services Computer. This will be particularly invaluable in emergency situations or out of hours.

3. Implementation of the new system is to be introduced over 3 phases. The Children and Family sector have been given priority as they are least well supported by current systems. As a result they will be the first client group to benefit. Implementation of functions to support care management for adults and older people will follow. Related developments currently being reviewed are systems to support Home Care, Mental Health, Education (Children With Special Educational Needs) and Supporting People. Decisions on these will be made by the Leader at the appropriate time.

T.K. THORNBER, CBE

Chairman

4IR120402