Services for older people in Scottish Borders improving, follow-up inspection reveals
Services for older people in the Scottish Borders are improving, say inspectors after a follow-up inspection by Healthcare Improvement Scotland and the Care Inspectorate.
A 2017 inspection had identified some strengths in the delivery of services, but also significant weaknesses which resulted in 13 recommendations for improvement.
In this progress review inspectors found that the Health and Social Care Partnership which delivers services on behalf of the Scottish Borders Integration Joint Board had made progress in addressing each of the recommendations and demonstrated a commitment to ongoing improvement.
Inspectors found:
- Senior managers within the partnership demonstrated a commitment to a shared direction of travel and increased strengthening of joint working at a strategic level.
- The partnership had reviewed its governance framework and had a process in place for monitoring the progress of the strategic plan supported by a clear supporting structure.
- Continuity of senior staff in the partnership has provided much needed stability.
- Work undertaken by the partnership to improve planning and commissioning was piecemeal to start, but has since become strategic and focused.
- There was a clear commitment by the partnership to continue building on the improvements and progress that had made.
Ann Gow, Deputy Chief Executive of Healthcare Improvement Scotland, said: “This was a positive review with progress made in key areas. In order to continue making progress, the partnership recognised the need to improve both self-evaluation and ongoing evaluation of initiatives and approaches. In addition, engagement and consultation with stakeholders needs to become more meaningful, and appropriate representation must be included and valued.”
Peter Macleod, Chief Executive of the Care Inspectorate, said: “Given the positive findings from our latest review, we do not intend to conduct any further scrutiny in relation to this inspection. Instead, we will continue to engage with the partnership about the possibility of offering further support on identified areas for improvement.
“People want to experience care that is consistently high quality, with health and social care staff working well together to support people in a way that promotes their rights and choices. There is still a lot of work for this partnership to do to continue to improve services for older people across the Scottish Borders health and social care partnership.”
Picture (c) Joe Giddens / PA Wire.
