To address issues relating to the provision of community care services, including care and treatment, to older people, people with mental health problems, people with disabilities, people with drug and alcohol problems, people affected by HIV and AIDS and Carers.

• Introduction to the Joint Management and Commissioning Group – Health and Community Care 

• 2003/04 Progress and achievements
• The Angus Community Plan Progress Report and Review 2003/04

Introduction to the Joint Management and Commissioning Group – Health and Community Care 

The Joint Management and Commissioning Group – Health and Community Care addresses issues relating to provision of community care services, including care and treatment, to older people, people with mental health problems, people with disabilities, people with drug and alcohol problems, people affected by HIV and AIDS and Carers. This Group is jointly chaired by Angus Council’s Acting Director of Social Work and the Angus LHCC General Manager and comprises appropriate senior officers from the key agencies. The work of this group is supported by a Multi-Agency Joint Strategic Support Unit and a range of Joint Planning Groups covering all Care Groups. The initial Local Partnership Agreement, developed in April 2002, in line with the Joint Future Agenda, sets out the partnership arrangements in relation to joint working and the delivery of Community Care services in Angus.

The Joint Future Agenda

The aim of the national Joint Future Group was to agree a list of joint measures which all local authorities and health organisations must have in place to deliver effective, joined-up services.

Their report, which was published in November 2000, made recommendations regarding the following:-

• Joint hospital discharge/rapid response teams

• Joint intensive home support

• Single, shared assessments

• Intensive care management

• Integrated equipment adaptation services

• Local partnership agreements

• Joint resourcing and joint management for all community care services; and

• Free home care for up to 4 weeks for older people leaving hospital.

Work to progress this agenda is being taken forward in Angus by the multi-agency care working groups under the direction of the Joint Management & Commissioning Group – Health & Community Care.

In order to manage the Joint Future Agenda, the partners have agreed to develop a Joint Strategic Support Unit to undertake joint Planning and Performance Monitoring.

2003 Achievements

• The joint health and social work Independent Intermediate Care and Early Supported Discharge/Prevention of Admission Services have been reviewed and enhanced to provide greater levels of service that more adequately reflect demand.
• Social work and health services for people with learning disabilities have been brought together under single management arrangements.
• The Joint Health and Social Work Community Mental Health Teams have been enhanced in line with Phase II of the Angus Mental Health Strategy.
• Significant refurbishment of Medicine for the Elderly assessment facilities at Stracathro completed.
• Community rehabilitation model has been agreed and costed. Community outreach services have been established.
• A new build facility for stroke services in Stracathro Hospital is to be initiated in Spring 2004. Augmented staffing and enhanced diagnostic services in that hospital, now established.
• A new three year Joint Community Care Plan has been published.
• Dedicated respite care places for older people with dementia or functional mental health problems have been commissioned.
• A project worker to undertake detailed needs assessment work around people with dementia has been appointed for a period of 1 year in the first instance.
• A discharge from hospital adaptations service has been commissioned from Angus Care and Repair.
• Specialist supported accommodation for 4 people with profound sensory loss has been opened in Forfar in conjunction with Sense Scotland, Angus Community Care Charitable Trust and Communities Scotland.
• Housing support services have been commissioned, the supporting people (support to help people live at home) pot has been identified and a draft Supporting People Strategic Plan agreed.
• A multi agency Drug Action Plan has been completed and agreed by all the key partner agencies.
• A multi agency Alcohol Action Plan has been completed and agreed by all the key partner agencies.
• An Angus Carers Strategy is being developed in partnership with Carers and Carers organisations.
• A full three-year partnership agreement, setting out how joint management and resourcing of services by health, social work and housing will be progressed, has been developed and agreed by the key partners.
• A new unit, bringing together planning staff from health, social work and education, to undertake the joint planning and development of community care and children’s services has been established (The Joint Strategic Support Unit).
• Single Shared Assessment has been implemented across older persons services and plans agreed for the further implementation across all care groups. Specialist project team established to further progress development of Single Shared Assessment in Angus over next year.
• The Scottish Executive Delayed Discharge Targets for Angus have been met and plans developed to meet new targets.
• Tayside Local Multi-Agency Groups established to prepare for implementation of the Mental Health Act.

The Angus Community Plan Progress Report and Review 2003/04

The Angus Community Plan Progress Report and Review 2003/04 details partnership priorities for the coming 12 months and beyond.  Against each of these priorities, activities have been identified with timescales, partners involved and the intended outcome - allowing you to see what is planned to deliver on your priorities. 

For more information download the Joint Management and Commissioning Group - Health and Community Care section (PDF 14K) of the Angus Community Plan Progress Report and Review 2003/04