18/05/04 - Cumbria Care stays within the County Council

Today, Cumbria County Council’s Cabinet agreed to recommend to full council that Cumbria Care, the Council’s in-house social care provider stays as part of the Council.  After a modernisation programme that resulted in Cumbria Care moving from financial loss to profit, the organisation has been retained.

The modernisation programme, which began in Spring 2003, led to a major review of social services commissioning, Procurement, management arrangements, business capabilities and efficiency savings.  This modernisation programme has led to a number of high profile achievements in disability and mental health services, Home Care and Older adult residential care.

Leader of the Council Rex Toft, says,

“There is a strong focus on the quality of service provision, the development of services and performance management.  Cumbria Care’s transformation is a tribute to the hard work of staff and their reaction to the organisations difficulties.  We ain to build on this success.

We are never complacent and are well aware of the further developments needed for Cumbria Care to prosper long term.  We are committed to the promotion of independence for older adults.  This relies on the provision of more innovative home care delivery.  We propose to set up a cross party working group to look at the longer term development of the business.”

The Cabinet also agreed the setting up of a cross party working group to develop a 5 – 10 year business plan for Cumbria Care.   The working group’s terms of reference are to be agreed with leaders of all political groups at a later date.