In November 1998 the Government announced a new ₤3 billion programme to reform social services in a White Paper Modernising Social Services. The Paper proposes ways of making sure local councils, the NHS, voluntary bodies and commercial providers work together to deliver improvements, which include:
· promoting chances for people to live independent, fulfilling lives
· improving the protection of vulnerable people
· raising the standards of services
The White Paper introduces plans for:
· a commission for care standards, an independent watchdog for each English region to regulate services whether they are provided in people's own homes, through organisations such as fostering agencies or in residential homws
· new national standards of performance for local authorities and annual reports an what councils have achieved or not achieved
· children's rights officers to inspect children's homes
· the General Social Council, whose job will be to ensure the proper regulation and training of all the social care workforce