Lord Provost opens Ferryfield Hub

Lord Provost Frank Ross cut the ribbon to officially open the new Ferryfield Hub last Friday.

L r aileen hall lord

He was joined by Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership staff and people who stay at Ferryfield House Hospital in Pilton. The ceremony was to celebrate the official opening of the new dementia friendly therapeutic and social space called the Ferryfield Hub. Continue reading Lord Provost opens Ferryfield Hub

Places available for tomorrow’s EVOC Thinkspace EIJB event

Wednesday 15th May: 8.30am – 1.30pm

City of Edinburgh Methodist Church, Nicholson Square

Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Council (EVOC) is hosting an event to discuss the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership’s incoming Strategic Plan. Continue reading Places available for tomorrow’s EVOC Thinkspace EIJB event

City consults on ‘new vision’ for health and social care

 ” … right care, at the right time, in the right place” – Cllr Ricky Henderson, Chair of Edinburgh Integration Joint Board.

Edinburgh Residents are being asked to comment on a “bold new vision” for way the city delivers health and social care services. The Edinburgh Integration Joint Board has launched an online consultation as it seeks feedback on its new draft Strategic Plan.

The high-level vision – which intends to rapidly influence the way services are delivered by the NHS and City of Edinburgh Council – proposes the creation of a bespoke ‘Edinburgh Model’ for collaborative health and social care, placing Edinburgh’s communities and citizens at its heart.

Developed in collaboration with patients and their families, voluntary groups and care workers, the draft plan seeks to tackle inequality and concentrate resources at a local community level rather than in hospital settings.

Through a range of measures, the strategy intends to create the right conditions for the EIJB’s existing systems to evolve over the next three years and beyond so that it can provide the city with a “radically more modern, inclusive and sustainable offering”.

Residents are being asked to what extent they agree with the vision and its aspirations which include developing a:

  • Person centred, patient first and ‘home first’ approach, working towards shifting the balance of care from acute services to the community through a change programme
  • Refreshed Edinburgh Offer, using a Three Conversations Model to support prevention and early intervention
  • Motivated, skilled and balanced workforce and an enhanced partnership with the voluntary and independent sectors to continue to tackle inequality
  • Care supported by the latest technology and a culture of continuous improvement, fostered by greater use of data and performance management
  • Working with the strengths of citizens and communities to make sure that age, disability, or health conditions are not barriers to living a safe and thriving life in Edinburgh.

Chair of the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board, Ricky Henderson, said: “At its heart, the strategic plan sets out our desire to support people to be well at home, and in their community, for as long as possible. Providing first class acute hospital care only when medical intervention is needed, and the right care, at the right time, in the right place.

“Age, disability or health conditions should not stop people living a safe and good life and so our approach aims to work with individuals and their carers to see what matters most to them and support them to reach their goals. Everyone also deserves to live as comfortably and independently as they can, and by working towards a ‘home first’ method, we hope to empower people and communities to make these choices where they can.

“To do this, we need input from everyone who is touched by health and social care services in Edinburgh and we need to work collaboratively with our partners to optimise available resources. I urge people to take part in the consultation and have their say.”

How can I take part in the consultation?

You can take part online through the consultation hub. A number of specific drop in events will also take place with staff, members of the third sector and EIJB stakeholders.

 

What is a ‘three conversation’ model’?

The Three Conversations Model is proving successful as an approach to health and social care and is expanding fast.

The conventional approach to care triages people, attempts to divert and connect the level of support required, and then too often makes people wait for an ‘assessment for services’.

To move away from the idea that the task is to process people, complete unwieldy documents and presume the need for formal services, the Three Conversations Model offers three clear and precise ways of interacting with people that focus on what matters to them.

It is a radically different approach which recognises the power of connecting people to the strengths and assets of community networks, and the necessity to work dynamically with people in crisis. It is focused on improving the experience of people and families needing support, and in so doing, improving the satisfaction, fulfilment and effectiveness of those working in the sector, whether they be health care professionals, volunteers or carers.

The Three Conversations Model not only improves the experience of service users but is popular with those working in the sector and can lead to a significant reduction in recurring funded support.

What is the Edinburgh Model?

Essentially, we believe people are experts in their own lives, so our aim is to work with individuals and their carers to identify what matters most to them and support them to reach their potential.

We will introduce the Edinburgh offer to redefine the services and support that we offer to Edinburgh’s people. It will concentrate on supporting and enabling people to be as independent as possible.

We will engage our citizens in a more active and collaborative way. People who find themselves needing our support will know how to engage with us and realistically what to expect from that relationship.

It will be an explicit statement of our intent and mutual expectations, with greater definition on the kind of contract we wish to have with Edinburgh’s citizens.

What is a ‘home first’ approach?

Under a Home First approach, Integration Joint Board staff would work closely with colleagues in the community and in social care to plan for a patient to return home from the first day they arrive.

Some patients may not need any help when they get home, but for those who do, Home First would make sure the right support is in place. Patients would be seen at home within hours and receive an assessment by a Home First Team, made up of community nurses, therapists and social care professionals.

Every patient would have a personal care plan and this may include therapy, goals, support for carers, any equipment they may need and self-help advice. It helps patients to get home quicker and helps them to lead independent lives, with the support they need.

Voluntary Sector Forum meets tomorrow

Forth & Inverleith Voluntary Sector Forum meets tomorrow (Wednesday 1st May) from 10.30-12.30 at North Edinburgh Arts. Continue reading Voluntary Sector Forum meets tomorrow

Health and social care: An improving picture but more needs to be done, says EIJB Chair

The length of time people are waiting for care assessments in the Capital has fallen by almost 50% under the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (EIJB), (writes its Chair, Councillor Ricky Henderson). Continue reading Health and social care: An improving picture but more needs to be done, says EIJB Chair

Edinburgh launches new directory for World Hearing Day

A new online resource for people with hearing loss has launched in Edinburgh. The digital directory – designed as a one-stop-shop for adults seeking help and support – details the many services available to the estimated 40,000 people living with hearing loss in Edinburgh. Continue reading Edinburgh launches new directory for World Hearing Day

Funding cuts crisis: Voluntary Sector Forum meets this morning

Forth & Inverleith Voluntary Sector Forum meets this morning (Monday 18th February) from 9:30 – 11.30am at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre. 

Forum members will discuss funding cuts of over £600,000 to local projects and will consider the impact this will have on the community. A plan for a local voluntary sector response will also developed at the meeting.

How are cuts affecting your volunteers?

Will the EIJB Health & Social Care funding decisions affect your projects’ volunteers? Volunteer Edinburgh is keen to hear from you …

Following the announcement of the successful applicants to the Health and Social Care Grants programme in December, we know that a number of previously funded projects were not successful.

While we totally understand the current pressures that these project are under at the moment, we are very keen to try and quantify the impact on volunteering following the loss of these valued and important services.

If your project is impacted by the decisions of the EIJB and your project currently involves volunteers we would really like to hear from you.

Please contact Paul Wilson by email here.

EVOC Thinkspace event: EIJB Strategic Plan Question Time CANCELLED

The Quaker Meeting House | 7 Victoria Street | EH1 2JL Edinburgh | Wednesday, 6 February 2019 from 09:00 to 13:30 (GMT)

THE THINKSPACE EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED

The above meeting has been cancelled. EVOC said:

I am sorry to let you know that we will have to cancel next week’s ThinkSpace.

This ThinkSpace was originally arranged to coincide with the beginning of the EIJB’s official consultation period on the new Strategic Plan which was due to commence after the next EIJB board meeting on 8 February (next Friday).

EVOC has become aware that the time scales how now changed, and the production of the Strategic Plan for the next three years (2019-2022) will be delayed. It is our understanding that the current (2016-2019) Strategic Plan and associated directions are likely to be extended until June.

This means that the current draft strategic plans and commissioning plans that have been intermittently shared, and which some of you may have seen, will be further revised, presented in a new format and taken, along with directions, which will be costed and prioritised, to the EIJB meeting on 29 March 2019. It is likely that there will then be an official period of consultation following this meeting.

It was a difficult decision whether or not to cancel the upcoming meeting, as I am sure many of you would be keen to meet with the panel that had been scheduled. However, in light of the fact that we have no strategic plan to discuss, we cannot hold the proposed discussion around it.

We hope to be back in touch shortly with an official statement from Judith Proctor Chief Officer of EIJB, whom we have approached to clarify the position.

We will be re-scheduling the event, we will be in touch to confirm this asap.

The meeting details were:

Please join us at the Quaker Meeting House to review The Edinburgh Integration Joint Board’s Outline Strategic Plan (2019 – 2022). This event will be an opportunity to ask questions to members of the executive management team regarding the plan. Summaries of the outline plans will be available from EVOC’s website shortly.

This event is for third sector organisations only. There are limited tickets available for this meeting, please try where possible to book for one attendee per organisation. 

Panel members (subject to change)

Colin Briggs – Interim Chief Strategy and Performance Officer
Councillor Ricky Henderson – Pentlands Ward and Chair of the IJB
Moira Pringle – EIJB Chief Finance Officer
Tom Cowan – EIJB Head of Operations

Agenda 

9:00 – Arrival and registration
9:15 – 10:45 Introduction of the Strategic Plan, and opportunity for third sector organisations to split into tables with facilitators to plan questions to panel
11:00 – 12:30 Panel Q&A with executive management team
12:30 – 13:30 Lunch

Reserve your place

Funding cuts: end of the road for LOOPS service

No funding for Local Opportunities for Older People initiative

Over the last five years, the LOOPs partners and teams have been working closely with City of Edinburgh Council and, more recently, Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership to deliver the Local Opportunities for Older People initiative across the city. It is with sadness that we are now in the position to inform you that this work will be coming to an end in March.

Continue reading Funding cuts: end of the road for LOOPS service