SOUTHERN HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES COUNCIL

Programme of Work 2003/04

1 Introduction
2 Work Programme 2003/04
3 Programme Theme
4 Resources
5 Ongoing Projects
6 New Projects
7 Support Services
8 Complaints
9 Visiting And Inspecion Of Facilities
10 Reactive Work
11 Regional Initiatives
12 Press And Promotion
13 Policy Development And Representation
14 Information

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 The Southern Health and Social Services Council has a duty under Paragraph 15(2) of the Health and Social Services Councils Regulations 1991 to draw up, in conjunction with the Southern Health and Social Services Board, a programme of work it proposes to undertake in the proceeding year. The content of the programme will be considered at a joint meeting between the Council and the Board to be held on 10 June 2003.

1.2 The Health and Social Services Councils were established in 1991 as independent statutory consumer organisations with responsibility for representing the public's views and interests and reviewing the work of health and social services. In the wake of significant changes to the arrangements for representing the interests of the public and service users in GB the consultation document ‘Developing Better Services’ issued by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) in 2002 proposed replacing the four Councils with a single regional body. A further round of consultations on the issue of Health and Personal Social Services (HPSS) structures is anticipated. The work of the Council during 2003/04 therefore takes place in the context of uncertainty about the future lifetime of the organisation, and the need to engage the public and service users in the debate on how their interests can best be represented in the future.

1.3 In its response to ‘Developing Better Services’ the Council supported the proposal for a strong regional body to represent the interests of patients and service users but argued for the need for additional local mechanisms for representing service users. It is anticipated that the opportunity to debate these issues further will be afforded by the publication of a second consultation paper later in the year. In drawing up its work programme for 2003/04 the Council is conscious of the need to have the flexibility to respond if and when the document is issued. It is essential that the Councils are in a position to provide leadership in the debate on the future for public participation in the HPSS.

Next page

Southern Health and Social Services Council, Quaker Buildings, High Street, Lurgan, Co. Armagh, BT66 8BB
Telephone: (028) 3834 9900  Fax: (028) 3834 9858 -  Minicom: (028) 3834 6488
Freephone: 0800 917 0222 © 2006.
Site Designed and Maintained by Areema Limited