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MEETING ON 15 DECEMBER 2000 AT BLACKPOOL
REPORT OF THE CO-ORDINATOR
1. Matter for Consideration:
To report recent developments in relation to building contacts with the North West Development Agency.
2. Introduction:
One of the key tasks of Social Services North West during this year has been to raise the profile of the organisation not only amongst member authorities and within the socail care field, but with other region-wide aorganisations with related tasks. Reference is made elsewhere in this agenda to the North West Regional Assembly and the NHS North West region, but until recently there have been no formal links with the NWDA, a key player in economic and social regeneration and investment in the region. This report sets out the contacts now established, and an opportunity to become more closely involved with one of its working groups.
3. Information:
3.1 Approaches to the Chief Executive of the North West Development Agency have brought information about the North West Health Partnership which meets under the NWDA umbrella. It is chaired by Kath Reade, Chair of East Lancashire Health Authority, a member of the NWDA Board, and a former leader of Burnley Council. Membership is drawn from the NWDA itself, the NHS in the North West, the North West Regional Assembly, Government Office for the North West, the Health and Safety Executive, the North West TUC, the voluntary sector and others.
3.2 Our interest in developing links with the NWDA on social care and related matters was reported to the last meeting of the North West Health Partnership, resulting in an invitation from Kath Reade to nominate a representative to attend future meetings. Social Services is already represented by Ken Foote, Director of Social Services for Blackburn on behalf of ADSS North West Branch. It seems appropriate however that the overall strength of Social Services on such a body should be more than one person, and that Social Services North West could properly contribute a member perspective to the Partnership's deliberations.
3.3 The main task of the group to date has been to work on a Regional Health Investment Plan, and it is intended shortly to arrange an event to allow key partners to consider the draft plan before it is finalised. This is particularly timely in view of the proposal in the NHS Plan that there will by 2002 be new single, integrated public health groups across NHS regional offices and government offices of the regions. These are intended to enable regeneration of regions to embrace health as well as the environment, transport and inward investment. It is suggested that the North West Health Partnership could be the embryo of that group.
3.4 In the light of this development, it would seem a particularly opportune time for a member of Social Services North West to join the group.
4. Recommendation:
That a member of Social Services North West be nominated to join the North West Health Partnership.
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