Whole Systems
"Care is not one size fits all."
What do we mean by 'whole systems?'
Whole systems means:
- recognising the benefit of the wider picture of
community planning that understands and knows the needs
of the local community
- recognising and maximising the contribution that
can be made by partners through providing a range of
services both within and beyond the traditional
boundaries of health, housing and social care
- looking at things that impact, one upon the
other
Key components of a Whole Systems approach are:
Why are 'whole systems' important?
They allow the broadest range of skills, experience,
knowledge and expertise to come together to deliver better
services. They recognise the inter-relationships between
different activities, whether within or outwith
organisational boundaries.
Where partners act unilaterally, decisions made in one
area can often have an (adverse) impact on care delivery in
another area. Conversely, partners working together can
create, and take, opportunities to view issues "in the
round."
How can we implement whole systems
approaches?
Joint Future aims to assist this broader perspective of
joint working by alerting partners to the interdependencies
that exist between different aspects of care provision and
assisting them to evaluate their overall performance,
taking those interactions into account.
When will this be implemented?
Formally, it has already begun with JPIAF 10. It will
develop and extend as appropriate.