The history of the health and social care sector has been marked by a number of important concepts, including relationship working partnership integrated joined-up collaboration. The use of inter-agency working has been shown to result in better outcomes for both individuals and society as a whole. Integration is an important concept thats found its way into several pieces of law, regulation guidelines policy here are some examples.
The Care Act 2014 requires local authorities to exercise their functions with a view toward ensuring the integration of care and support provision, as well as health-related services. In addition, they must lead an agency system that includes local authority, the National Health Services (NHS), and Police when it comes down to protecting vulnerable adults from abuse within ones community.
The Care Act 2014 ensures those who need care and support as well as those who provide such services so as to integrate the sector as the governments vision of an entirely person-centered system of care is delivered.
The Health and Social Care Act 2012 established Health and Wellbeing Boards (HWBs) that will give fresh impetus to integrating health and social care in all areas of England. The HWB is a place where people can work together to focus on sustaining their health and wellbeing, and the health and wellbeing of their families and communities.
An HWB has a statutory role of reviewing, and making recommendations to a council on, a councils statutory local offer on how it can contribute to ensuring that those who live, work, and visit the local authoritys area have the opportunities to live healthy, happy, and fulfilling lives.
The NHS Long-Term Plan sets out how the NHS will be better prepared to respond to the challenges of the future. The NHS is made up of four main professions: doctors, nurses, therapists, and allied health professionals. This plan recognizes the contribution each of these professions makes to delivering care for patients, which is why it is so important to have a plan that is developed with them at its heart.
The NHS has made great strides in the last few years with its forward view plans. The newly released long-term plan is no different, putting emphasis on Integrated Care Systems (ICSs).
Other initiatives that relate to partnership working that you may wish to research further are included below:
You should also assess your own organizations guidelines and policies that relate to partnerships, looking at both their strengths as well as weaknesses.