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Local government

Social care

UNISON supports more than 300,000 members working in social care services - for employers in the statutory, private and voluntary sectors.

We campaign for the best possible deal for employees and for the highest standards of care for service users. We support key parts of the government reform agenda but we believe that services are grossly underfunded and that the views of those who deliver the services are too often ignored.

UNISON is working hard to ensure members can give the best possible service to the public. We are lobbying, campaigning and negotiating for:

  • Major resource investment to ensure successful change.
  • An end to the "name and shame" culture.
  • Better pay, conditions and training opportunities for social workers.
  • A reform process where the views of those who do the work are treated with respect

    The key committee where the views of UNISON's social care workers are represented is the national social services forum. Each UNISON region appoints a rep to attend that committee. It provides advice to the national service group executive and guides our responses to government consultation documents.

    Personalisation of Social Care

    The personalisation agenda is now being implemented in stages by all local authorities. The government has launched a toolkit to assist authorities to transform their social services, including the social care workforce, in the next 3 years. UNISON is building a campaign to raise concerns over future roles in social services delivery in the transition to personal budgets which have emerged from our recent survey on personalisation.

    Direct Payments - Employment issues

    Two recent research reports explore the employment issues in the current implementation of direct Payments in England and Scotland. Both research reports highlight the concerns about good employment practices by those in receipt of direct payments and employing personal assistants.

    UNISON opposes private social work practices

    The Government plans to develop private social work practices by establishing pilot practices. The Children and Young Persons Bill will give the Government the powers to set up the pilots. The pilot authorities are to be selected by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) this Autumn 2008.

    Top honour for Conwy Council back care adviser

    (23/06/08) Award acknowledges importance of the role of trainer within the home care service

    Home Care Stewards/Contacts Network

    (05/03/08) This circular is a request for branches to identify and provide details of home care workers that would like to be included on a new stewards/contacts list. A6799.doc

    Briefing on Health and Social Care Bill House of Commons Second Reading

    (26/11/07) UNISON supports the Government’s emphasis in the Health and Social Care Bill on the importance of public protection. But we do have concerns. Read our briefing for MP's here and our joint union briefing here.

    Approved Social Workers - give us your views on the draft Mental Health Act Code of Practice

    (26/11/07) The Department of Health have issued a revised draft of the Code of Practice for consultation, and we would like your views to input into our response.

    UNISON Briefing on Children and Young Persons Bill for House of Lords Second Reading

    (26/11/07) UNISON believes that the Bill offers an opportunity for the Government to work with local authorities and the trade unions to identify ways of improving working conditions, managing workloads and freeing up social workers and other staff to focus on direct work with children, in the way that it has done with the local government and school workforce unions in relation to teachers. However, we have some concerns about the models that have been suggested by the Government as a means of achieving these aims, which you can read here.

    New regulator for Health and Adult Social Care in England

    The Government’s plans to set up a new health and adult social care regulator for England through a merger of the existing Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) and the Healthcare Commission (HCC).

    Research on Direct Payments

    A new UK wide study has been carried out into direct payments in social care. It contains important detail on how schemes are operating, including on pay and conditions for personal assistants, but draws dubious conclusions about staff resistance to expansion of direct payments.

    Review of the Social Work profession- UNISON response

    (27/06/07) UNISON has responded to the General Social Care Council consultation on defining the role and tasks of social work in England.

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  • CONTACT DETAILS
    • For urgent help and advice at work to go Help at Work
    • The UNISON national secretary for local government is Heather Wakefield.
    UNISON Local government
    1 Mabledon Place
    London WC1H 9AJ
    localgovernment@unison.co.uk

    Strike for fair pay
    Recent documents

    ISA - staff side principles

    The following principles have been drawn up in partnership by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP), GMB, Royal College of Midwives (RCM) Royal College of Nursing (RCN), National Union of Teachers (NUT), Society of Radiographers, UNISON and Unite. They relate to the introduction of the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA). All of the organisations support the principle of safe and effective public protection, and our principles seek to reflect this, but also identify areas of concern surrounding the approach and implementation of the ISA scheme.
    Link to a PDF document on this siteISA - staff side principles

    Social Care seminar

    Branches are invited to send members working in social care to a national seminar being held in Manchester on Wednesday 19th and Thursday 20th November 2008. Branches are asked to ensure that registration forms are returned by Friday 03 October 2008.
    Link to a PDF document on this siteSocial Care seminar

    Probation pay bulletin 5

    Talks are continuing in the probation pay dispute. We hope to be able to move forward by 24 September
    Link to a PDF document on this siteProbation pay bulletin 5

    Probation Pay Bulletin 4

    UNISON and NAPO held further pay talks on the 21st August with Probation Employers.
    Link to a PDF document on this siteProbation Pay Bulletin 4

    UNISON, 1 Mabledon Place, London WC1H 9AJ. Telephone: 0845 355 0845.
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