NHS Highland and Highland Council have agreed to proposed changes in how care is delivered in communities.
The changes considered are in response to draft amendments to the National Care Service (NCS) Bill – which is currently paused – however it is a driver for reviewing integration arrangements in Highland and the possible creation of new Local Care Boards.
Members noted that preparatory work will be undertaken to identify the optimal future care delivery in Highland and to make recommendations on modifications to the care and governance model currently in place in Highland.
Joint Monitoring Committee Chair, Cllr David Fraser said: “This is an opportunity to explore changes we may make that could benefit the population and communities we serve. We need to provide more support to help people receive care in their own homes and communities.”
The Highland health board was unique in its adoption of a lead agency model, which gave different powers to each authority.
Councillors have now voted to change this to a body corporate model which follows the lead of other health boards in Scotland.
Currently, Highland Council and NHS Highland work together, with decisions on policy taken by the ‘lead agency’.
The council runs children’s health and social care services and NHS Highland manages adult health and social care, an agreement created in 2012.
Highland Council’s Chief Executive Derek Brown added: “Our strategic plans for adult and children’s services already set out in more detail our ambitions and the outcomes we aim to deliver. This review has so far indicated an appetite to consider change in our partnership governance to deliver the best outcomes for our staff, our population and the communities we serve.”
Both NHS Highland and The Highland Council have agreed to create a strategic steering group to oversee the required work and an approach to joint communications to ensure that all stakeholders are fully appraised of plans as they evolve and have the chance to shape them.
Fiona Davies, NHS Highland’s chief executive, said: “If agreed, a steering group will be set up to oversee this work, including councillor and officer representation from
“The Highland Council and executive and non-executive director representation from NHS Highland. The steering group will work with all stakeholders, including people receiving care, staff, trade unions, care providers, communities and the third sector.”
She added: “The importance of a skilled and dedicated workforce will remain at the heart of any proposals and staff across Highland Council and NHS Highland will be kept informed and provided opportunities to engage and help to shape plans in due course.”