New approach agreed for children’s and adult services in Highland

Members of The Highland Council’s Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Committee have approved a new approach that will aim to transform the existing integration partnership agreement and governance arrangements between The Highland Council and NHS Highland.

Chair of the Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Committee Cllr Linda Munro said: 

“Members have given the go-ahead today for a new approach to achieve efficiencies and improve outcomes for children’s services and adult care services in Highland communities by supporting the creation of a new programme management board. Following ongoing discussions with NHS Highland, Members will decide in August at committee which Councillors will represent the Council on the Board.”

Currently, integrated children’s services are delivered by Highland Council and adult social care is delivered by NHS Highland. Both partners recognise the financial difficulties in providing - and the need for efficiencies - particularly in adult social care.

Councillors have agreed to the proposed introduction of a ‘Programme Management Approach’ and the setting up of a Project Board and Project Team to identify and deliver efficiencies and improved outcomes in: care homes; care at home and learning disability across both adult care and integrated children’s services.

Officers from Highland Council and NHS Highland will be appointed to a Project Team and will report to the Project Board which will have a membership of senior officers from both organisations and Members of The Highland Council and NHS Highland Board.

The work of the Project Board will be reported to the Council’s Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Committee; the NHS Highland Board and the Joint Monitoring Committee.