HSCI Guidance: Facilitating the Journey of Integration

Health and Social Care Integration is the Scottish Government's ambitious programme of reform to improve services for people who use health and social care services.

It will ensure that health and social care provision across Scotland is joined-up and seamless, especially for people with long term conditions and disabilities, many of whom are older people.

The Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014 was granted Royal Assent on 1 April 2014. This means changes to the law which requires Health Boards and Local Authorities to integrate their adult health and social care services.

One of the main aspects of the Act is to create statutory Integration Authorities which will replace existing Community Health Partnerships.

People can expect to be supported to live well at home or in the community for as much time as they can.

People can expect to have a positive experience of health and social care when they need it, with services planned and delivered in ways that are joined-up and person-centred.

People can expect to experience the same high quality of care wherever they live in Scotland.

Health and Social Care Integration will enable people to maintain their health and wellbeing for longer and to live independently and safely for as long as possible.

There will be a better understanding of an individual's whole needs to allow for earlier interventions and prevention before problems arise.

There will be better and fairer use of resources, as services and networks are used more efficiently.

Services will be co-produced with the communities they serve. They will be built on people's assets and will support the health and wellbeing of the whole person and their family.

Individuals using services will have a stronger voice in their treatment and care. This voice will be listened to and respected and will help to shape health and social care services for the future.

Individuals can expect health and social care services to work in a co-ordinated way with them, to understand what matters most in their lives, and to build support around achieving the outcomes that are important to them.

The necessary joined-up health and social care support will be provided to help individuals, their carers and families to better manage their conditions on a day-to-day basis; formalising networks within the community; and working with individuals as true partners, rather than just as patients or people who use services.

Individuals can expect to be supported to live not just longer, but healthier lives and will receive locally based services and support that best meets their needs and which are organised around them, their family and their informal support network.

People with care and support needs should have the same choice, control and freedom as every other citizen.

The general public can expect family members, someone that they are caring for, or themselves at some point in the future to receive a coordinated, seamless system of care and support that recognises their individual needs and aspirations whenever they need it.

Depending on their previous experience of health and social care services, individuals will notice a change if they ever require similar care and support in the future.

At its heart, health and social care integration is about enabling services to work together effectively to support people achieve the outcomes that matter to them.

This is a transformational change most likely to be achieved by actively engaging with people who are delivering services.

Workers need to be supported to feel engaged in the work that they do and to continuously improve the information, care and support that they provide

Workers and organisations need to build on what is already working well locally, drawings on resources and assets that already exist.

Workers and organisations need to further develop the skills focused on what matters to the person; creating networks, making connections, building shared values and working with people and communities to produce shared solutions.