Hutt plans social care excellence

Jane Hutt said the institute would be launched this summer

Plans to raise standards in social care by setting up a new body responsible have been unveiled.

Welsh health minister Jane Hutt and her Westminster counterpart John Hutton said the new Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) would be established to tackle variations in standards throughout England and Wales.

The institute is to be given a £2m budget to establish a knowledge base of effective practices in social care.

It will review methods to produce the database, which will be available to managers, practitioners and users of services.

Ms Hutt said: "We are committed to raising standards in Wales and welcome participating in extending knowledge about best practice in social care."

Raising standards

The project is a part of the government's continued drive to modernise social services and tackle variations in quality and standards of services which exist between authorities.

Mr Hutton said: "We are determined to raise standards in social care provision and tackle current variations in care across the country.

"Social services provide crucial support and care for many people across the country and the highest possible standards must be set in all areas at all times.

"The Social Care Institute of Excellence is key to achieving this goal.

"Establishing best practice and disseminating this effectively has been a stumbling block within social care.

"This has led to inconsistent levels of quality throughout the country."