Scheme of Integration 2022 Consultation

Overview

The Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014 introduced a statutory duty for NHS Boards and Local Authorities to integrate the planning and delivery of health and social care services.  It required the creation of Integration Authorities.  The aim was to ensure that:

• Health and social care services should be firmly integrated around the needs of individuals, their carers and other family members.
• Health and social care services should be characterised by strong and consistent clinical and care professional leadership.
• The providers of services should be held to account jointly and effectively for improved delivery.
• Services should be underpinned by flexible, sustainable financial mechanisms that give priority to the needs of the people they serve, rather than the organisations through which they are delivered.

Integration aims to improve people's lives by ensuring better care and support are available for people who live with long-term conditions and disabilities, many of whom are older people.  It also aims to ensure that services are provided in a seamless and co-ordinated way. 

Whilst the Act sets out the technical requirements for integration the spirit of what is to be achieved is for users of health and social care services to expect to be:-

• listened to
• involved in deciding upon the care they receive
• an active participant in how it is delivered

This will mean better outcomes for people, helping them enjoy better health and wellbeing in their homes and communities.

The Scottish Borders Scheme of Integration is a legally binding agreement between the NHS Borders and Scottish Borders Council

 The Scheme of Integration:-

• Must include the delegation of a minimum set of services prescribed in legislation
• Must cover a range of matters identified in regulations
  • Engagement of stakeholders
  • Clinical and care governance arrangements
  • Workforce and organisational development
  • Data sharing
  • Financial management
  • Dispute resolution
  • Local arrangements for the Integration Joint Board
  • Local arrangements for operational delivery
  • Liability arrangements
  • Complaints handling
• Be reviewed, revised and publicly consulted upon every 5 years

In line with the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014 and given the current pandemic pressures placed on both health and social care services as well as awaiting the final recommendations from the National Care Service consultation, a light touch review of the Scottish Borders Scheme of Integration is being taken forward on behalf of NHS Borders and Scottish Borders Council.

This review can note anything that requires further work between the partners and set out plans for the completion of that work at a later date (within the following 12 months).  In the meantime, the current Scheme of Integration will remain in force until such time as the refreshed scheme is approved by Scottish Ministers.