Taskforce Report

Commenting on this week’s announcement of plans and funding for social work improvement, CLIC Sargent’s Director of Services, Dara de Burca said:

“As an employer of more than 80 specialist social workers, CLIC Sargent welcomes the intention to put in place a better developed social work workforce with a clearer structure for career progression that does not require skilled staff to move away from front-line field work.

Our social workers play a vital role in supporting children and young people with cancer and their families, providing practical and tailored support through a difficult and challenging time. They help parents and families cope with the emotional stresses and strains of caring for a child with a serious illness and can also help families deal with the demands of daily life, including care of siblings, work and financial commitments.

As an employer CLIC Sargent will be signing up to the new supervision and front line managers’ standards which already align well with our current expectations for experienced staff. Our area of work is skilled and specialist in meeting the needs of a group of families who are already in distress, and developing social work in a broader health based structure is an important element of understanding and meeting the needs of children and families. As a key voluntary sector employer of social workers, we look forward to being involved in the implementation of these plans.”

- ENDS -

For further media information please contact CLIC Sargent’s press office on 20 8752 2812 or 0117 314 8653 or out-of-hours on 08448 481 189

1.                  Editors Notes:

CLIC Sargent also supports the intention of broader standards for employers but it will be important to ensure voluntary sector employers funded by voluntary income are not unduly disadvantaged by the requirements of such standards. In particular, the voluntary sector must continue to be a part of the ongoing dialogue as plans are implemented to ensure that there is not a reduction in employment opportunities for qualified social workers in the voluntary sector.

2.                  CLIC Sargent is leading a major piece of work to improve the care and support that is delivered to children and people with cancer (aged 0 to 18), and their families, outside of hospital. This includes clinical care delivered in the community, as well as non clinical support such as emotional, financial and practical support.

CLIC Sargent’s report More Than My Illness recommends a new model of joined up service delivery for children and young people with cancer (and other complex health needs) that spans the health, education and social care sectors. It provides a toolkit for commissioners which will help them ensure that every child’s care and treatment is coordinated, and that they are able to safely leave hospital and spend more time at home during their treatment.  For more information see: http://www.clicsargent.org.uk/Whatwedo/Research/MoreThanMyIllness

3.                  More Than My Illness aims to support the full implementation of the NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) Guidance Improving Outcomes for Children and Young People with Cancer.

Every day ten families are told the devastating news that their child has cancer. CLIC Sargent acts as a lifeline keeping families together when the unimaginable happens. CLIC Sargent provides clinical, psychosocial, emotional and financial care and support to them and their families.  For more information about CLIC Sargent see: www.clicsargent.org.uk

4.                 
Note to Sub Editors: Please note that the name ‘CLIC Sargent’ should not be abbreviated to CLIC, and that the word ‘CLIC’ should always appear in capitals, as above top of page