Adult learning disabilities - annual health checks: national implementation group - terms of reference

Purpose

The Annual Health Checks Implementation Group (the group) will support NHS health boards to deliver annual health checks to people 16+ with a learning disability in line with the requirements of the National Directions issued. The group will support Scottish Government to monitor and review implementation with real time delivery data sharing as well as offering a space for NHS boards to discuss good practice, work collaboratively around challenges and barriers to delivery and offer peer support.

Role of the group

The group will meet from June 2023 to support the implementation of health checks across Scotland.  

All participants are expected to attend and take an active part in the meetings, and to arrange for a replacement if they are not able to attend.

Roles of the group will include:

• as well as Scottish Government officials being able to keep up to date with progress across Scotland. They will also be able offer any support or updates in relation to the health checks
• group members will be asked to share the progress across their area and note any things that have worked well or any challenges
• group members will be able to gain or offer peer support to other areas
• group members will be expected to share real time delivery data in line with Data Protection requirements and work 
• collaboratively to address challenges and barriers to delivery

Underpinning principles

• UNCRPD - embedding the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
• equalities and human rights - Those facing the greatest inequalities also face the greatest barriers to participating in decision making processes. We want to make sure that people with learning disabilities are the leaders of their own lives. Health Checks are one part of that  
• Scottish Government strategies and policy including Towards Transformation and Keys to Life 
• collective leadership - there is a recognition of the need for collective responsibility across sectors and stakeholders to lead action to address disability inequality

Membership and chairing of the group

• membership will be; representation from each health board area, NES, SLDO and relevant Scottish Government officials and key stakeholders
• dependent on the agenda, and topics for specific meetings, other participants may be invited on an ad-hoc basis
• chairing the meetings will be undertaken by an appropriate Scottish Government official

Meetings

• meeting will be proposed to take place monthly at the start of the process and move to be more infrequent as work progresses. This will be discussed as a group
• meeting will be held on Teams
• meetings will last a maximum of two hours, dependent on agenda and topics to be covered

Communication and secretariat

The Scottish Government will arrange the group meetings and provide Secretariat. It will ensure notes with key points and agreed action points are sent to the group in a timely fashion

Confidentiality

On occasion, group members may be privy to information which is sensitive in nature and cannot be shared beyond the group. Every effort will be made by Scottish Government officials to minimise such instances, and it will be made clear when it is not appropriate to circulate information further but, where required, the group will agree to maintain confidentiality.

In addition, while the Scottish Government aims to be as open and transparent as possible, however officials may not always be able to share sensitive information with the group.