Health and social care integration - localities: guidance

5 What is this Guidance For?

5.1 This guidance sets out what localities are for, the principles upon which they should be established, and the ethos under which they should operate. It describes what it should be like for different people and professions to take part in locality arrangements, and it covers some of the practicalities that Integration Authorities should take into account when establishing and supporting localities.

5.2 The guidance has been written with input from a range of partners, reflecting the people and professionals who need to take part in localities.

5.3 This guidance does not repeat the arguments already made about why localities are important, or why Scotland is integrating health and social care. Both of these principles are taken as read. It builds upon, but does not repeat, All Hands On Deck^[6], the think-piece previously published by the Scottish Government on the importance of localities, to which this guidance is complementary.

5.4 Section 53 of the Act states that Local Authorities, Health Boards and Integration Authorities must pay regard to any guidance, such as this, issued by Scottish Ministers in relation to the Act.