ALMO to merge with social care department
A London arm’s-length management organisation is to merge with the in-house adult social care services department of its parent council.
Barnet Homes would form part of a new arm’s-length body known as a local authority trading company alongside adult social services.
The council, which approved the plans earlier this week, said its LATC would be the fourth to be created and the first to include an ALMO.
It expects the move to give social care service users more control over their personal budgets, and freedom to decide which services they want to receive. It will also allow the housing services provided by the ALMO to be more closely integrated with social care.
Tracey Lees, chief executive of Barnet Homes, said: ‘This is an exciting venture that’s entirely new for ALMOs, and it’s evidence of the strength and adaptability of the ALMO model.
‘Our delivery of good quality services to tenants and leaseholders will be unaffected by these plans.’
Under the plans social care services would share a chief executive with the ALMO, and use ALMO staff who are already in post. The LATC would be governed by a board of directors appointed by the council. The changes are expected to go through later this year.
