Islington Council this week hosted a visit from an eight strong social care delegation from Iceland. The visitors were on a fact-finding mission to see why Islington's social care services are rated three star - the highest rating by the Government's Commission for Social Care Inspection.<br><br>The senior social care professionals and local councillors from the City of Reykjavik spent the day looking at Islington's first class social care provision at several locations across the borough.<br><br>Cllr John Gilbert, Islington Council's Executive Member for Care and Social Health said:<br><br>"I'm delighted to welcome the Icelandic delegation to Islington. <br><br>"Islington is a renouned leader in social work innovation offering people more choice, value and support to live independent lives for longer - so we were really pleased they chose to come here and look at our our best practice.<br><br>"There are social services challenges we share with our visitors - for example dealing with a growing elderly population with complex and different needs. I know they take away many good ideas with them."<br><br>At Alsen Day Centre, Durham Road, N7, the delegation met some of the 60 elderly people - some with physical disabilities - who take advantage of a range of recreational, educational and therapeutic care services.<br><br>Jorunn Frimannsdottir, Chairman of the Reykjavik Welfare Council said: "Like Islington, we also believe living independent lives is a priority. So it was good to see how the council uses homecare and day centres to support people to live in their own homes for as long a possible while keeping them stimulated and active.<br><br>"In Islington, the partnership between the council and the health service is strongly integrated and that is a model we would like to replicate in Iceland."<br><br>ENDS<br>
Page Last Updated: 17 December 2009