National expert joins Shropshire’s social care and health leads to address adult social care challenges

A leading adult social care expert led a seminar at Shirehall in Shrewsbury yesterday (Thursday 3 March 2016), to highlight best practice and transformative practice occurring in the country’s social care sector.

(l-tr) Lee Chapman, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for adults; Professor John Bolton; Andy Begley, Shropshire Council’s interim director of adult services.

Professor John Bolton, national consultant in adult social care, presented a seminar to key council officers, councillors and partners across the social care and health sector.

Professor Bolton has led the work for the Local Government Association on the Adult Social Care Efficiency Programme, and was previously the director of strategic finance for social care at the Department of Health.

Professor Bolton’s presentation focused on the pressures of adult social care and how these are being addressed both nationally, regionally and locally. Professor Bolton’s presentation also highlighted best practice and transformative practice occurring in social care across the county, including the innovative work of Shropshire’s adult social care transformation programme.

The seminar also set the context of Shropshire’s key challenge on what is the true cost of living longer, and how are we going to pay for it.

Lee Chapman, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for adults, said:

“I am delighted and honored that Professor Bolton came along to present what was an extremely enlightening, innovative and valuable presentation.

“This event was a real opportunity for all leads in social care and health to come together to understand Shropshire’s unique issues, and to look at how we are meeting these challenges at a time of increasing demographic pressures and decreasing resources.”

Professor Bolton also provided an external review of Shropshire’s adult social care operation, and responded to questions around Shropshire’s approach.

Andy Begley, Shropshire Council’s interim director of adult services, added:

“We are really pleased that our seminar was such a success and it was great to see so many delegates from across the social care and health sector attending

“A lot of work is being done in this area and by looking at the work that Professor Bolton and others are doing to transform and improve adult social care, it is clear there are a lot of positive changes in the pipeline which will benefit our most vulnerable residents and workforce across the county.”

Further information

About Professor John Bolton

Professor John Bolton is an independent consultant in social care and was previously the director of strategic finance for social care at the Department of Health.

Professor Bolton has led the work for the Local Government Association on the Adult Social Care Efficiency Programme and recently set up his own consultancy, JRFB Ltd. John is also a visiting Professor at the Institute of Public Care at Oxford Brookes.

Professor Bolton has also chaired the Department of Health’s transforming adult social care programme board and led on the implementation of the “Putting People First” agenda to personalise care; was the author of the influential paper “Use of Resources in Adult Social Care”; and has worked extensively on financing and efficient use of resources in adult social care.