1. Trish Haines Chief Executive Reading Borough Council
Welcome to Reading
Trish Haines
Chief Executive
Reading Borough Council
I am one of a growing number of Chief Execs from a Social Services Background
Key skills required of modern CX very different from traditional skill set:
pre WWII – mainly lawyers
post war – more accountants
1960s/70s – town planners
1990/2000s – partnership and community leaderships skills
Move from local government as service provider to community leader and key partner builds on the essence of social services work.
Looking for common agendas:
negotiation by influence
pooling resources to achieve more
crossing organisational boundaries to focus on customers

2. National Priorities – Joining it up Locally
Government policy still largely developed in Department silos
Key current policy issues:
Every Child Matters/school improvement
Safer Communities/anti social behaviour
More efficient and enabling public services
Partnership working to join up local service delivery
More and better quality housing
1. More of a move to develop coherent policies across government departments e.g. children's agenda, but still problematic
2. Engaging marginalised communities:
Black and ethnic minorities
Under-skilled/unemployed adults
Asylum seekers
Areas of deprivation
3. Social Services has a role in each of these, often a leading role. Yet too often SSDs see themselves as ‘different’ from corporate work, because of focus on differences rather than areas of common interest.

3. Social Services benefit from local joined up working
Promoting independence as part of Housing & Transport Strategies
Youth offending as part of Crime/ASB and Youth Services
Education/LSC/Economic Development initiatives support NEET’s
Improved education is best safeguard for C&YP
Stronger communities can better support needy individuals
If we are seriously committed to improving the quality of life for SS users, OP, C&YP, people with disabilities, then we need to see service users not just as individuals, but also how their needs sit in a broader service context and joining with others to provide a more holistic approach e.g.:
Very sheltered housing as part of Housing Needs Assessment. Subsidised fares as part of Transport Strategy.
Youth Offending as part of crime and ASB initiatives and Youth Services
NEET’s as part of education/economic development projects for C&YP/adults
Improved education outcomes as the best safeguard for C&YP
Work in local areas to enhance community capacity – so they can cope with individuals higher level needs
Transport policy supports needs of OP and disabled

4. Conclusion
See Social Services not as separate/different from the rest of public services
Look for common agendas with others, not differences
Build on existing experience in Social Services:
Partnerships with Health
Move towards ‘enabling provision’
private/voluntary sector partnerships
See Children’s Services developments as a positive
don’t let adult/children’s barriers emerge