Question reference: S5W-23772
- Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Independent
- Date lodged: 13 June 2019
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Current status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 25 June 2019
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that integration joint boards engage adequately with third sector partners at the earliest stages of service commissioning in order to ensure that their views are considered as part of the commissioning process.
Answer
On 4 February 2019 the Ministerial Strategic Group for Health and Community Care, Review of Progress with Integration of Health and Social Care - Final Report was published, which is available via the Scottish Government website https://www.gov.scot . It sets a challenging and ambitious agenda setting out 25 proposals for Integration Authorities, NHS Boards and Local Authorities, working with key partners, including the third and independent sectors to make progress with the implementation of integration over the next 12 months.
A specific proposal was made about relationships and partnership working with the third and independent sectors, which must improve. As part of the delivery of the review proposals, each partnership has undertaken a self-evaluation of where they currently assess themselves to be in relation to the proposals. As part of this, partnerships have begun the work of critically evaluating the effectiveness of their working arrangements and relationships with colleagues in the third and independent sectors, and will be expected to take action to address any issues identified.