Health Management and Policy Alert

Four nations united: critical learning from four different systems for the successful integration of social care and health services

Association of Directors for Adult Social Services (ADASS) -
This paper originated from discussions on best practice which took place at an ADASS seminar. It aims to provide staff across key services with an accessible and practical overview of best approaches to the challenge of successful integration.

• Report
• ADASS - publications

Senior salaries review body (SSRB) review for 2014: written evidence from the Department of Health

Department of Health -
This document provides evidence from the Department of Health to SSRB. Pay raises for very senior managers employed by the Department of Health's arms length bodies and by ambulance trusts that have not attained foundation trust status are determined by the government in light of recommendations made by the SSRB. The SSRB takes evidence from the Department of Health and the Managers in Partnership trade union before making its recommendations.

• Report
• Department of Health - news

Health and wellbeing boards: one year on

The King's Fund -
Health and wellbeing boards have made good progress in establishing themselves but face a critical year which could define whether they develop into system leaders or are relegated to a side show according to The King’s Fund second survey of boards. The report based on a survey of nearly half of the 152 health and wellbeing boards shows that local authorities have brought strong leadership to establishing the Boards and report good relationships with CCGs. Most have prioritised public health inequalities allaying concerns about the transfer of this remit to local authorities. However, there is little sign they have begun to grapple with immediate issues such as reconfiguration and integrated care with the latter only mentioned by 9 respondents.

• Report
• Related blog from Richard Humphries
• The King's Fund - publications

Emergency admissions to hospital: managing the demand

National Audit Office (NAO) -
This report finds that many emergency admissions to hospital are avoidable and many patients stay in hospital longer than is necessary. It points out that at a time when NHS budgets are under significant pressure, the number of emergency admissions to hospitals is continuing to rise, albeit at a slower rate than in the past. The recommendations include highlighting the need for both short-and long-term strategies to address staffing shortages in A&E.

• Report
• Executive summary
• Regional data
• NAO - publications

Payment by Results (PbR) contracts: a legal analysis of terms and process

National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) -
This report argues that PbR has suffered from poor implementation, meaning opportunities to improve public services, such as mental health treatment or drug rehabilitation, are being missed. The report is based on an analysis of a sample of contracts entered into by charities to run public services, and interviews with those responsible for delivering against them.

• Report
• NCVO - news

The team recovery implementation plan (TRIP): a framework for creating recovery-focused services

Centre for Mental Health -
This paper shows how TRIPs support a whole team in becoming more recovery focused, but should not be seen as a management device. A TRIP aims to empower teams to translate recovery ideas into practice and to utilise the skills and resources of everyone at the front line, both those providing and those using services, to develop innovative ways of promoting recovery and recovery environments.

• Paper 
• Centre for Mental Health - publications

Peer support workers: a practical guide to implementation

Centre for Mental Health -
This guide sets out four phases for an organisation looking to introduce peer worker posts: preparation; recruitment; employment; and ongoing development. It advises organisations on the key questions they need to ask, addresses common myths and provides sample documents to use.

• Guidance
• Centre for Mental Health - publications

Mind the gap: mapping London's dementia advocacy services

Dementia Advocacy Network (DAN) -
This report includes the findings from DAN’s recent mapping project of dementia advocacy services in all 33 London boroughs. 142 organisations were contacted, with 26 identified as currently providing some level of advocacy for people with dementia in 27 of the 33 boroughs. There were also variations in the level of capacity of those 26 organisations due to eligibility criteria or workforce limitations.

• Report
• DAN - news

Social care and obesity - a discussion paper

Local Government Association (LGA) -
This discussion paper considers the impact that obesity has on social care and the challenges facing social care now and in the future.

• Briefing
• LGA - publications

Review of social determinants and the health divide in the WHO European Region

UCL Institute of Health Equity -
This review builds on the global evidence and recommends policies to ensure progress can be made in reducing health inequities and the health divide across all countries, including those with low incomes. It provides numerous case studies - examples and experiences of addressing social determinants of health and health inequities in the European Region.

• Report
• Executive summary
• Press release
• UCL Institute for Equity - publications