Strategic Direction
To develop and maintain efficient partnership mechanisms between a wide range of alliance partners so as to ensure that effective cross-boundary solutions to problems are delivered to the population. General Commentary The main focus of partnership working in Doncaster is the Doncaster Health Improvement Partnership that replaced the old Joint Consultative Committee and the Joint Care Planning Team. This involves the statutory and voluntary agencies and representatives of users and carers. A whole range of staff at all levels have the opportunity to provide inputs to this process through a comprehensive range of Theme Groups and task groups. In addition to these processes, the Health Improvement Partnership is also forging links with individual geographic communities, communities of interest, users of services and their carers through a number of forums and partnership groups. The Partnership is playing a very active role in developing and supporting these initiatives to ensure that the processes become sustainable over time. The shape of partnership planning arrangements in Doncaster has changed considerably over the past twelve months in order to mirror the broader agenda set by Government. New arrangements, which were established by mutual agreement between all the partners, to replace the Joint Consultative Committee and the Joint Care Planning Team became operational mid-way through the year. These comprise of: a Member level Health Improvement Partnership, a senior officer level Health Improvement Partnership Planning Team, a Health Improvement Partnership Development Group at operational level and fifteen Theme Groups which, to a great degree, are based on the priorities identified in the Health Improvement Programme. Membership of these groups is designed to provide an inclusive partnership process and includes representation from the Local Authority, all agencies in the Health Community, users, carers, voluntary organisations and communities of interest. Joint lead officers are appointed for each theme from both the Health Community and Local Authority to ensure co-ordination and consistency across boundaries. The remit of the lead officers is to: develop strategic thinking in the theme area, monitor and co-ordinate progress on the implementation of the current Health Improvement Programme and develop the theme section for the next annual Health Improvement Programme. Further information can be obtained by downloading the full text version of the Health Improvement Programme for Doncaster 2000 - 2003 Any comments on this section should be submitted to the Theme Lead, Arnold Drakeley, Doncaster Health Authority, White Rose House, Ten Pound Walk, Doncaster DN4 5DJ. |