Thousands move in Highlands transfer
THOUSANDS of health and social care staff are to switch employers today as part of ground-breaking work to integrate services in the Highlands.
This morning about 1700 social workers and social care staff previously employed by Highland Council will turn up to work for NHS Highland, while some 250 former employees of the health board, including school nurses and health visitors, will travel the other way.
The staff are being transferred as part of an agreement that gives NHS Highland full responsibility for delivering all adult health and care services, while Highland Council will take on all responsibility for all the health and social care needs of children and young people.
The move puts social care in the Highlands at the forefront of moves across Scotland towards more integrated health and social care provision. Progress in the region is already being carefully watched by ministers – who have launched a series of change funds to support moves towards closer working – and public-sector leaders and staff groups across the country.
Those behind the changes insist while there are efficiencies to be had in the process, the goal is improved services and a greater ability to ensure people receive care mainly at home, rather than in acute health care settings such as hospitals, or in residential homes.
Garry Coutts, chairman of NHS Highland, said the board and council had been trying for years to work more closely, but essential changes had been deferred because one partner could always wield a veto.
“We believe it is the inherent problems of delivering services through a partnership model that has held us back,” he said.
“With separate budgets, two lines of management and very different governance arrangements, we have never been able to be as effective or as efficient as we believed we could be.
“At a stroke we have removed these barriers and now have an unparalleled opportunity to fully integrate services.”
The two authorities are describing their approach as a Lead Agency Model, which has allowed the change to take place without the need for new legislation. Under the model, one authority delegates the responsibility for delivering services to the other. This uses existing
Completely integrated services redesign will take years, but the customer will be at the centre
powers, but it is believed this is the first time they have been used in this way.
Mr Coutts said the change would lead to a transformation of social care, but that it would take several years and would not be imposed from the top down.
“We know that if you do that, people reject it and it leads to placards and conflict,” he said. “Completely integrated services redesign will take years, but the customer will be at the centre.
He added: “Getting to the stage where the staff transfers can take place has been a huge piece of very complex work, but it will amount to nothing if we don’t use this as an opportunity to measurably improve services. The real work starts now, and we are determined we will not let people down.”
Highland Council leader, Michael Foxley said: “This won’t transform services overnight but it now gives us the opportunity to start focusing on redesigning them without worrying about how we get two very different organisations to work together. Our managers and staff can now begin to work with patients, people who use services and their carers and families and children to look at how we improve things for them.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The Scottish Government is committed to progressing the integration of adult health and social care.
“Changes in structures and staffing arrangements work best when designed and agreed locally. We look forward to partnerships in other areas bringing forward their own plans for delivering the principles we will set out in our forthcoming consultation.”