Archived decisions
Hampshire County Council
Executive Member for Social Care
20 February 2004
National Service Framework for Older People - Re-confirmation of Elected Council Member Champion for Older People
Report of the Director of Social Services
Contact: Claire Foreman ext 7127
1. Summary
1.1 The following decision is sought:
That the appointment of Councillor Susan Glasspool in the role of Older People's champion is reconfirmed. The appointment should run until the Annual Meeting of Council in May 2005.
2. Reason
2.1 This decision supports Aim Number One of the Corporate Strategy (Maximising Life Opportunities) by contributing to the Cabinet Priority for Older People. This is because the Older People's Champion is appointed to use her influence to stand up for the interests of older people.
2.2 The National Service Framework for Older People (NSF) was published by the Department of Health in March 2001. It sets out national standards and models of care across health and social services for all older people, whether they live at home, in residential care, or are being cared for in hospital. The NSF introduced the concept of champions for older people. In general champions are people with a desire to improve older people's services and are willing to work together and use their influence to promote the interests of older people. There are four types of champion: elected council members, NHS non-executive directors, clinical or practice champions and older people's representatives.
2.3 Elected council members lead for older people across their council. They aim to ensure that older people become and remain a priority within the council and support implementation of the NSF and the wider older people's programme. They help to ensure that older people are involved in developing services and work with colleagues on the council on promoting an active healthy life. They challenge age discrimination within council services where it exists.
2.4 Councillor Mrs Susan Glasspool was appointed the County Council's Older People's champion in December 2001. Since then she has established the Older People's Working Group, with representatives from departments across the county council. This group mapped services across the county council for older people and provided the basis for the Older People's Cabinet Priority Group, which has gone on to develop a work programme of improvements for services for older people, and on which she also sits. Cllr Mrs Glasspool is the Cabinet Sponsor for Older People as a Cabinet priority. Further, as Cabinet lead on Equalities she has made a useful contribution to equalities issues regarding older people, especially age discrimination. Cllr Mrs Glasspool has regular briefings from the Older People's Social Services Management Team. She is also a trustee of Age Concern Hampshire.
2.5 Through this work Cllr Mrs Glasspool's role in the implementation of the NSF has been invaluable. Reconfirmation of her as Older People's Champion will enable her to build on and continue this work. An important highlight will be the visit of Professor Ian Philp, the National Clinical Director of Older People's Services, in May 2004.
3. Other options considered and rejected
Not applicable
4. Conflicts of interest declared by the decision maker or other Executive member consulted
Not applicable
5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee
Not applicable
6. Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent
Not applicable
Approved by: .................................. Date of decision: ..............
Councillor Felicity Hindson