Health and Social Care

Policy Update: Integration of Health and Social Care

October 28, 2015 by Linda White No Comments | Category Policy update

Consultations In Progress

The Scottish Government is currently conducting two targeted consultations in relation to consequential amendments as a result of the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014.

The first consultation is in relation to the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Integration Joint Boards) (Scotland) Order 2014 and the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Integration Joint Monitoring Committees) (Scotland) Order 2014.

The proposed amendments will bring the required content of Integration Joint Boards (IJBs) and Integration Joint Monitoring Committees standing orders into line with the provisions of the Councillors Code and the Revised Model Code of Conduct for Members of Boards of Devolved Public Bodies. The consultation opened on 12 October 2015 and will close on 9 November 2015.

The second consultation is around the inclusion of Integration Joint Boards (IJBs) in Schedule 2 of the SPSO Act 2002. IJBs are not currently included in the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002 (the 2002 Act) and the consultation is seeking views on whether IJBs should be included in Schedule 2 of the 2002 Act and whether the Scottish Public Service Ombudsman should be granted the powers to investigate the actions of the IJBs in carrying out their functions, or any service failure attributable to the functions. The consultation on opened on 14 October 2015 and will close on 12 November 2015.

Mid-Year Integrated Care Fund Reports

The Scottish Government has recently written to all Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs) advising that they are required to submit their Integrated Care Fund (ICF), mid-year reports by 6 November 2015.

HSCPs are required to provide information in relation to the following points:

• Spend to date in 2015/16 against activities identified within ICF plans
• Progress towards achieving the outcomes outlined in ICF plans and how this has been measured
• The broader impact that ICF resources have had in relation to:

• establishing links with wider Community Planning
• linking ICF activity with wider strategic commissioning activity
• strengthening localities
• evidence that ICF investments are sustainable
• what impact the ICF has had on implementing the National Action Plan for Multi-Morbidity

Equality Outcomes for Integrated Joint Boards to be Set

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has written to all the Chief Officers of Integration Joint Boards (IJBs) advising that IJBs are required to publish a set of equality outcomes and a report on mainstreaming the equality duty by 30 April 2016.

The Integration Strategy and Policy team has published the Roles, Responsibilities and Membership of the Integration Joint Board guidance which outlines IJBs duties in relation to the Equality Act 2010. This directs IJBs to the equality data evidence finder and evidence toolkit which have been developed to help public authorities source supporting evidence to help with their Scottish specific reporting duties.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission have also extended an offer to work with IJBs and relevant stakeholders to support them in the development of robust equality outcomes. If you are interested in taking up this support you should contact the EHRC Scottish Policy Team on 0141 228 5910.

For more information from the Integration and Reshaping Care Policy Team, please contact irc@gov.scot

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