Integration Support team review of 2019

The Integration Support team review their activities from 2019.

The ALLIANCE’s Integration Support team has continued to support the implementation of health and social care integration in Scotland by increasing the third sector’s capacity to contribute to health and social care integration, particularly within strategic decision-making processes.

The ALLIANCE’s Integration Stories project was launched to provide a platform for organisations to share their experiences of integration and highlight instances of good practice. During 2019 we published 12 stories on the ALLIANCE website and shared across social media and through our e-bulletins, feeding into our wider Integration Network’s work and further establishing the ALLIANCE  as taking a leading role in ensuring integration delivers on improving outcomes for people. We have had a wide variety of stories published so far including RNIB Scotland’s NHS partnership success, Integration in action at Midlothian’s Hospital at Home Service and Innovation in integration at Aberdeen’s Penumbra DBI service. Read the stories on our Integration Support Page.

We have hosted a series of events regionally on the theme of integration stories, bringing together different stakeholders to share knowledge and ideas to support health and social care integration throughout Scotland. These events included transitions, children and families and carers experiences. We brought together a range of people to share their experience of Health and Social Care. The events highlighted the fantastic work the third sector undertakes within an Integrated setting, but also discussed what more needs to take place.

In partnership the Scottish Government, the ALLIANCE hosted a consultation with David Rowland, Scottish Government Advisor, to hear members’ views on Developing a Framework for Community Health and Social Care. This framework aims to support the integration of community-based health and social care by promoting and sharing good practices in order to improve outcomes for those who need care and support.

This year the ALLIANCE contributed to the Audit Scotland and Ministerial Strategy Group reports into integration Health and Social Care Integration Update on Progress (this link will take you away from our website) and  Health and Social Care integration: Progress Review (this link will take you away from our website)

The team supported the delivery of “Keeping the System Moving – Collaborative approaches to help people stay safe at home and reduce hospital time”, a partnered event with British Red Cross. The event underlined the ability of the third sector to support delivery of primary, secondary and preventative health care and allowed attendees to share their examples of best practice and identify how this practice can be extended further.

We published ‘Integration in Action,’ a new report featuring six case studies which demonstrate the good practice that is emerging within health and social care integration. Each project is either led by, or has strong involvement from third sector organisations, demonstrating the key role the third sector has to play in integration. This report was included as evidence to the Ministerial Strategy Group.

The team have has also championed integrated and joined up working practices through the successful relaunch of the Scottish Involvement Network, which promotes and supports engagement, involvement and participatory work. We are also active members and contributors to two new forums, Age Network Glasgow and the Physical Activity and Long Term Conditions Coalition.

End of page.