The integration of adult health and social care represents the radical reform that is needed to improve care, particularly for older people, and to make better use of the substantial resources that we commit to adult health and social care.
The Integration of Adult Health and Social Care Bill will bring forward legislation to create Health and Social Care Partnerships, which will replace Community Health Partnerships and will be the joint and equal responsibility of Health Boards and Local Authorities.
The Bill will put in place:
- nationally agreed outcomes, which will apply across adult health and social care, and for which Health Boards and Local Authorities will be held jointly accountable
- a requirement on Health Boards and Local Authorities to integrate adult health and social care budgets
- a requirement on Partnerships to strengthen the role of clinicians and care professionals, along with the third and independent sectors, in the planning and delivery of services.
The Bill aims to ensure that adult health and social care budgets are used effectively to achieve quality and consistency, and to realise a shift in the balance of care from institutional to community based settings.
Partnerships will be jointly accountable to Ministers, Local Authorities, Health Board Chairs and the public for delivering the nationally agreed outcomes.