WISMS website

It’s been well over a month since the launch of the website and I am pleased to report that the feedback in relation to the site has been overwhelmingly positive.  Thanks to everyone who has contributed thus far and offered advice on how to improve the site, the numbers logging in thus far has meant we can already be 'googled'.

Since my last blog, we have had the usual seasonal pressures to contend with to ensure that waiting times are kept to target and prescriptions are issued correctly to all clients throughout the holiday period.  This is always a mammoth task and I am always impressed with how well the administration staff throughout WISMS cope at this time.

Well done to the DIP Team, who not only kept all their clinics open to support the cell teams, but also designed a seasonal poster with help from DIP clients reminding service users of the importance of keeping safe and reducing the risk of overdose over the holiday period. 

Many of the WISMS teams will be aware of the changes that have taken place since the merger of East and West Wakefield PCTs.  The most significant change to affect WISMS is the appointment of a new Director of Public Health.

Dr Mike Robinson replaces Val Barker; many of you know and love Val.  For as many years as I can remember Val has been a champion of substance misuse issues a major supporter of the Integrated Service with a genuine interest in the needs of our service users. 

We will all miss Val's knowledge and expertise in this role and wish her well in her new appointment as Director of Public Health Training with University of Leeds.  Val will continue to offer support to WISMS as it develops its plans as an emerging social enterprise and this will be a great boost to our plans.

The changes to the Primary Care Trust mean a much clearer division between its commissioning and the provider functions.

At the present time I am involved in discussions to determine which directorate of the PCT (Public Health or Operations) will be the best one to host our provider services.  I will keep you posted on the outcome of these.  The good news is that the PCT continues to offer its full support of the move to social enterprise as part of its overall commitment to growing the third sector and promoting provider choice.

Regardless of our eventual directorate home, I will be continuing to work with you and Wakefield District PCT to ensure that the needs of service users and the WISMS workforce are met.

The New Year brings with it the annual round of budget review and treatment planning.  Senior managers throughout WISMS will be considering their plans for the forthcoming year and identifying priorities for development.

Whilst we are not anticipating cuts in the overall budget, we are not going to be getting any new investment and this will mean much tighter budgetary controls this year.  The message therefore is consolidation of established core business so we can sustain our excellent achievements to date against targets whilst continuing to progress our newer areas of development.

With the Health Care Commission focussing on harm reduction this year, we will want to improve our performance in the area of screening and vaccination against blood borne viruses and realise some of the recommendations from our survey into local needle exchange and Confidential Enquiry into Drug Related Deaths in 2006

Finally, I could not complete this blog without updating you on progress of the road to social enterprise.

Our pathfinder application to the Department of Health was one of 24 from this region and we will learn who has been successful by the end of January 2007.

The West Yorkshire Social Enterprise Link will work with the Strategic Health Authority in Yorkshire and Humber to support all applications regardless of whether or not they are successful as a national pilot site. 

This means that we will be continuing to develop our business plans and work with our legal advisors so that the model of incorporation is the best trading model for the welfare of our staff and the services we seek to deliver.

At the request of the Senior Management Team of WISMS I have produced briefing entitled ‘frequently asked questions about the WISMS social enterprise’ document.  This is available from team leaders and service managers in addition to the website. 

The appointment of a new admin manager to WISMS and a move of offices at Grosvenor House mean that there will be a reception area focussed on the activities of WISMS.org.uk on the first floor.  This will be where our partnerships and enterprise activities and communications between stakeholders will be based.  It will also act as the centre for the clinical and operational rotas for WISMS and the hub of the website. 

Our Web Designer will be conducting training on mastering the web and adding and updating content, so if you want to get trained so your team is well represented on the site or you wish to use the web to innovate then contact me or your team leader. 

As always any queries unanswered by this blog or the social enterprise briefing feel free to email me directly.

Once again my best wishes to you all for a successful and innovative New Year.

Linda