Best Practice Social Care

Following the undercover investigation into care, Anthony Collins Solicitors has sponsored a report, commissioned by the VODG, a leading disability umbrella group in the UK, looking into best practice in social care and how this can be achieved.

Working in partnership with The Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG), leading law firm, Anthony Collins Solicitors, has sponsored a report entitled 'Another Way' highlighting good practice in adult social care, showing how peoples' lives can be transformed when a person centred approach to care is taken.

Commissioned by The Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG), the leading umbrella group of voluntary sector providers of social care services to adults with disabilities, the report has been produced following the revelation of appalling standards of care and institutional abuse in a BBC undercover documentary filmed at Winterbourne View residential care unit in Bristol earlier this year. The report's aim is to demonstrate that there is 'another way' to deliver social care in which good practice results in peoples' lives being transformed.

Anthony Collins Solicitors' work spans the whole health and social care sector from supporting individuals in need in the fields of community care, special education needs and mental health, to working with GPs and other providers of primary health care, through to public and private companies and many of the leading voluntary sector groups such as The Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG).

John Wearing, Partner responsible for Health & Social Care at Anthony Collins said: "Like everyone who watched the BBC Panorama programme in May, I was both shocked and appalled by what had happened. When the opportunity arose to sponsor the report, we were delighted to show our continued support in this sector. It demonstrates our passion for, and belief in, the need to treat everyone with dignity and respect and, above all, as individuals - we share these values with VODG and they underpin our whole business ethos."

The report focuses on redesigning care and support services in collaboration with individuals and their families to give them choice and control. Using case studies from MacIntyre, Affinity Trust, Deafblind UK, Positive Behaviour Support and the National Autistic Society the report demonstrates how such strategies can lead to real improvements in the lives of disabled people.

John Adams, General Secretary, VODG adds: "We are grateful for Anthony Collins' continued support and particularly in helping us to produce this report. They are a valued partner, delivering first class legal services to our members, complementing our own commitment to person centred services."

Concludes John Wearing: "Following the shock and anger of Winterbourne View, the focus is now turning toward the need for more effective governance. This, combined with the person centred approach, will ensure the key ingredients are there to deliver the standards of social care that everyone deserves."

For access to the report, visit the VODG website.