This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Joint working approach to delivery of health services
24/05/2002
Frontline community care staff such as nurses, home care
workers, occupational therapists, social workers, care
assistants and physiotherapists will be properly supported
and consulted as joint health and social care services
develop, Deputy Health Minister Frank McAveety confirmed
today.
Mr McAveety was speaking as he announced the start of a
consultation on the report from the Integrated Human
Resource Working Group. Chaired by Peter Bates of NHS
Tayside, the report looks at the issues facing staff such
as training, development, terms and conditions as joint
services are developed.
The joint working or 'Joint Future' approach to the
delivery of community care services, has arisen as a result
of the new Health and Community Care (Scotland) Act. This
provided new powers which allow NHS boards and local
authorities to work together with other agencies - ensuring
patients and their carers have easier access to appropriate
services, avoid duplication
of assessment, and help people move through the
system more quickly.
Deputy Minister for Health, Frank McAveety said:
"This report has clearly shown that the 'Joint Future'
approach needs to be rooted in partnership if improvements
to community care services are to be achieved and
sustained. That is why we are consulting on the findings of
this report, making sure that staff are involved and have a
full say in any change to their working conditions.
"Successfully delivering improved, jointly-delivered
community care services will require close working between
the Scottish Executive, local government, the NHS and other
agencies.
"The working group has developed a framework for this to
be taken forward and adapted to meet local needs. This will
mean that services can be developed according to local
priorities and help ensure that training requirements are
met and that the workforce is fully involved in any
further decision making.
"I want to welcome the contribution and commitment shown
by all staff to this report. Practical guidance and
recommendations have been made for all who deliver health
and community care services. I want to see this work
continue during the consultation period.
"Together with colleagues elsewhere in government, I
will ensure that all appropriate bodies are given the
opportunity over the coming weeks to let the Executive have
their comments regarding the content of this important
document."
Joint working is already providing benefits for care
services throughout Scotland. Rapid response teams have
been set up to look at the problem of delayed discharges.
The introduction of single shared assessments means that
patients can now receive care without having to provide
duplicate information to a number of health and social work
bodies.
The report offers guidance for staff, NHS boards and
local authorities in meeting requirements set out by the
introduction of the Health and Community Care (Scotland)
Act in April 2002. These requirements, which must be
implemented by April 2003 include:
- the development of joint training and development
plans for staff by local authorities and health boards
- the establishment of joint staff forums to ensure
there is an agreed approach and plan for dealing with
issues such as pay and terms and conditions of service
It is this guidance that is now being put out to
consultation.
The consultation on the Integrated Working Group's,
report will run until 28 June 2002.
The Integrated Working Group was set up by former health
minister Susan Deacon in May 2001 as a result of
recommendations contained in the report of the Joint Future
Group, and was chaired by Peter Bates, chair of NHS
Tayside. The Joint Future Group report said that more
should be done to identify the issues facing staff as joint
services develop.
The report of the Integrated HR Working Group has been
developed jointly by representatives from local
authorities, trade unions and professional organisations,
NHS Scotland, the Scottish Executive and the voluntary
sector. The Group undertook 13 workshops around Scotland,
involving around 1,100 members of staff and their Report
will now go out for wider consultation.
Membership of the group was drawn from managers, senior
trade union organisers and human resource specialists from
NHS Scotland and local government backgrounds.