Integration and Experience of Integration
The key documents setting out the framework, objectives and targets for integration in Scotland are:
- The 'Report to the Joint Future Group' (Scottish Executive, 2000), which first set out the 'Joint Future Agenda' (JFA);
- The Introduction and National Outcomes set out the overall aims of the agenda, to ensure faster access to better and more joined-up services through improved joint working (Joint Future Unit, 2006a and 2006b); and,
- The Joint Performance Information and Assessment framework, against which to measures the performance of local partnerships (Joint Future Unit, 2006a).
Experience from the first year of the course is that there is a broad spectrum of forms of integration, with: no logical progression from diagnosis and planning, to implementation; or progression from loose co-ordination to full integration of finance and management systems. The piecemeal demands of national policy and service reorganisation produce a patchwork of forms of collaboration, which shape the conditions for new projects. There is also a range of perspectives on how these forms are shaped, and what the solution should be to achieve integration. Some of the readings below give perspectives both on the forms of integration that have been developed and on the methods used to attempt to achieve integration.
Policy Documents
Scottish Executive Health Department (2000) Report of Joint Future Group - http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library3/social/rjfg-00.asp
Joint Future Unit (2006a) Introduction to Joint Future - http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/care/JointFuture/Introduction
Joint Future Unit (2006b) National Outcomes - http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/care/JointFuture/NationalOutcomes
Joint Future Unit (2006c) JPIAF 8 - http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/care/JointFuture/jpiaf8
Experience of Integration
Bell D, McNaney N and Jones J (2006) Editorial - Improving health care through redesign: It's time to shift from small projects to whole systems. BMJ 332: 1286-1287 (3 June)
Huby G and Rees,G (2005) The effectiveness of quality improvement tools: joint working in integrated teams. International Journal for Quality In Health Care, 17(1): 1-6
Hudson B (2004) Whole systems working: a discussion paper for the Integrated Care Network. Leeds: Integrated Care Network, 2004
Stewart A, Petch A, Curtice L. (2003) Moving towards integrated working in health and social care in Scotland: from maze to matrix. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 17(4): 335-50
Wylie, K, Madjar, I and Walton JA (2002) Dementia care mapping: A person-centred, evidence-based approach to improving the quality of care in residential care settings. Geriaction, 20(2): 5-9