FRIDAY, 15 JANUARY, 2016

IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Make sure you have your say on Health and Social Care Integration in Perth and Kinross

Local people have until Monday, 25 January 2016 to share their views on an important milestone in the integration of health and social care in Perth and Kinross.

Community-based adult health and social care services are being integrated in Perth and Kinross from April 2016. Integration will see NHS Tayside staff and Perth & Kinross Council social care staff working closely together along with partners in the Third Sector to deliver quality, sustainable care and services which will improve outcomes for people who use these services and their families.

Our aim is to work together to improve health and well-being outcomes of everyone, particularly for those who have complex needs. We need to make sure people with long-term conditions and disabilities, many of whom are older people get the joined-up and seamless support and care they need to live safely and independently in their own homes for as long as possible.

An important step in integration is the agreement of the Draft Strategic and Joint Commissioning Plan. A draft plan has been drawn up that sets out how health and social care services will work together to meet people’s needs now and into the future.

The Draft Strategic and Joint Commissioning Plan outlines:

ü Our aims for the future of local health and social care services

ü What services will be included in health and social care integration

ü How we will work and deliver services locally

ü Our vision and principles for the new Health and Social Care Partnership

ü Our strategic priorities.

Public consultation on the Draft Strategic and Joint Commissioning Plan is now being held to gather the views of service users and their families, members of the public, elected representatives, health and social care providers and staff from across public, third and independent sectors.

This is your opportunity to help shape the Plan by having your say on how health and care services for adults are delivered in your local area.

You can complete an online survey about the Draft Strategic and Joint Commissioning Plan by visiting the Perth & Kinross Council or NHS Tayside integration web pages. The full draft plan is available to read on these pages, as well as a summary document that will provide you with an overview.

The consultation closing date is January 25 2016.

Please use these links to take part in the consultation, and to find out more about Health and Social Care Integration:

http://www.pkc.gov.uk/integration

http://www.nhstayside.scot.nhs.uk/OurServicesA-Z/HealthandSocialCareIntegration/index.htm

You can request a hard copy of any of the consultation documents, or copies in alternative formats, by calling 01738 476166 or emailing HCCInfo@pkc.gov.uk

Notes to Editors:

• The integration of health and social care is the Scottish Government’s ambitious programme of reform to improve care and support for those who use health and social care services.

• The aim of the new legislation is to improve the health and wellbeing of the growing numbers of people in Scotland who have complex care requirements. They will benefit from better, joined-up care, better anticipatory and preventative care and a greater emphasis on community-based care.

• Integration is all about improving people’s lives, caring for the whole person and making sure that those working in health and social care are equipped to make best use of their collective skills and resources to improve outcomes for people and their families.

• Health Boards and Local Authorities will be required to establish integrated partnership arrangements. In Angus, Dundee and Perth &Kinross, the local authorities and NHS Tayside have all chosen the Body Corporate model of integration which is the delegation of functions and resources by Health Boards and Local Authorities to an Integrated Joint Board.

• An integrated budget will be established in each Integration Authority to support delivery of integrated functions.

• Each Integration Authority will put in place a joint strategic commissioning plan for functions and budgets under its control which will be widely consulted upon.

• In Angus, Dundee and Perth & Kinross, three Chief Officers have been appointed by the integrated partnership to provide a single point of management for the integrated budget and integrated service delivery. The Chief Officers in Tayside are:

Angus - Vicky Irons, Dundee - David Lynch, Perth & Kinross - Robert Packham

• The responsibility for integrated services and the budgets in the three localities will be delegated to each of the Integration Joint Boards in Angus, Dundee and Perth & Kinross by 1 April 2016.

• The new Partnership will have executive powers and will use a single budget to deliver all health and social care services. All staff will continue to be employed by their existing employer.

Contact:

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740138