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.