The Adult Care Strategic Planning Group is responsible for preparing plans setting out objectives and outcomes to improve and develop services for disabled adults. These plans help to ensure that the services continue to meet the changing needs and expectations of service users.

Plans include those written for the government explaining how we are tackling national targets, objectives and also joint plans written with other statutory agencies (particularly with health bodies). The plans also set out how we will work closely with partners and users and carers to achieve our objectives.

The group is responsible for :

• production of the annual service plan for Adult Care and Commissioning
• implementing new policies and procedures and providing training and information to staff
• liasing closely with the Information Officer to ensure that clear and accessible information is provided to the public on policies and procedures
• the Adult Care and Community Manual which sets out these policies and procedures; it is available to all staff via the intranet. 
• the management of specific projects and initiatives and various grants
• undertaking regular consultation on behalf of the department, with staff, with users and carers, with health colleagues from a range of health bodies, and with voluntary and private sector organisations
• Direct payments
• Carers strategy and grant

The group works closely with the Management Information and Systems Team (MIST), the Performance manager and other managers to map needs, to support improved performance, meet set targets and keep within budgetary  limits.

Who's Who

Pam Richards (Strategic Planning Manager) - manages the team and is responsible for the annual service plan. She also has responsibility for planning services for older people and for continuing health care within Social Services. She is the lead for emergency planning within Social and Housing Services.

Yvonne Bonifas (Planning Officer) - is the department’s lead on carers and manages the Carers Grant. She is also responsible for maintaining the Adult and Community Care Manual which sets out policy and procedures for adult care. Yvonne liases with the MIST to maintain data quality and to ensure that the client record system reflects current procedures. She is the lead on the Single Assessment Process and is project manager for the Electronic Social Care Record.

Claire Cope is the direct payments officer and works to develop and expand the take up of direct payments. Claire provides information, and training to service users and staff. This service is also provided to the Children and Families Service.. Currently Claire is seconded to be Project Manager for the Individual Budgets Pilot Project.

Ben Dallimore is the administrative assistant who provides support to the direct payments officer and general support to the senior management team.

Susannah Watson is a social worker seconded to the Individual Budgets Pilot Project.

Dawn Gillard is seconded to the post of Strategic Planning Officer to cover for Claire Cope and is currently responsible for Direct Payments.

Melanie Hodgson is the Information Officer for Social & Housing Services and is responsible for anything that relates to public information, including leaflets and the website.

Lucie Cooper is group administrator and provides support to Pam and the Individual Budgets Project.