Equality Mainstream
North Ayrshire Council · 9 May 2024
Back to Integration Joint Board — 9 May 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Integration Joint Board 9th May 2024 Subject: Equality Mainstreaming and Outcomes Report 2022- 2024 Purpose: This report is for: • Approval Recommendation: It is recommended that the Board review the attached Equality Mainstreaming and Outcomes Report and approve for publication. Direction Required to Council, Health Board or Both Direction to:- 1. No Direction Required X 2. North Ayrshire Council 3. NHS Ayrshire & Arran 4. North Ayrshire Council and NHS Ayrshire & Arran Glossary of Terms HSCP Health and Social Care Partnership EHRC Equality and Human Rights Commission NADARS North Ayrshire Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service PSED Public Sector Equality Duty EHCRIA Equalities and Children’s Rights Impact Assessment 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 The IJB approved its current Equalities Outcomes Plan for 2022-2025 at the meeting on the 16th of March 2023. 1.2 It published its previous Equalities Mainstreaming Report for 2021-2022 at the IJB meeting on 11th May 2023. 1.3 This report provides an overview of progress made to deliver the agreed equalities outcomes, and further efforts made to mainstream the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) between 1st of April 2022 and 31st March 2024. 2. BACKGROUND 2.1 The Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012 requires public bodies in Scotland, including IJBs, to publish an Equalities Outcomes Plan every 4 years. The IJB approved the current plan, which covers a 3-year period to align with its Strategic Plan review period, in March 2023.
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2.2 The Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) supported officers to develop suitable equalities outcomes for this plan, which were designed to promote equality and fairness across our services. These outcomes include a set of actions to be achieved by the 31st of March 2025. 2.3 The Scottish Regulations include an additional duty for public authorities, which is to report at least every 2 years on its progress to mainstream the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED). This was last approved by the IJB on the 11th of May 2023, and covered the period of 2021-2022, which aligned to the one-year Strategic Bridging Plan. 2.4 This report presents the progress the HSCP has made towards delivering its adopted equality outcomes, as well as its progress towards mainstreaming the equality duty between the 1st of April 2022 and 31st of March 2024. 2.5 Due to the current 3-year plan and requirement to publish reviewed Equality Outcomes in April 2025, the next Mainstreaming Report will be provided for the next 1 year and will be published alongside the next Outcomes Plan. After this, it will return to a biennial reporting cycle. 3. PROPOSALS 3.1 As a public body, the IJB is required to publish reports on the progress made to deliver its Equalities Outcomes, and on mainstreaming the public sector equality duty. This report combines both duties for the period 1st of April 2022 to 31st of March 2024. It is recommended the contents are noted as a presentation of the positive work carried out in this time and is approved for publication. 3.2 Anticipated Outcomes 3.2.1 The 4 Equality Outcomes that were published for 2022-2025 were: 1. People with complex care needs are supported to live independently at home for as long as possible. 2. People and communities who make North Ayrshire their home can effectively access the health and social care services they need. 3. Children and families in need are supported to live healthy and safe lives. 4. Through improved engagement practices and access to a greater range of health and social care opportunities, people with a learning disability, or those with complex health conditions, achieve better health outcomes. 3.3 Measuring Impact 3.3.1 The Equalities Outcomes Plan contains 21 actions across the four outcomes. Progress has been made towards delivering these with many being achieved already, and some presenting further challenges. An overview has been provided for each outcome below.
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3.3.2 Outcome 1: There have been continued challenges regarding reducing the waiting lists for social work assessments and care, but there is ongoing work to address this. However, waiting lists have been successfully reduced for the Community Occupational Therapy due to ongoing service improvements. 3.3.3 Outcome 2: The HSCP’s Resettlement team is supporting new Scots to access the right health and social care services to meeting their needs. It is also working with the Council’s Refugee Task Force and other partners to ensure this is a person-focussed approach. 3.3.4 Outcome 3: There have been many achievements to support children and families, including the including the ongoing implementation of Signs of Safety approach to social work case work, and current development of Mini Minds Matter Infant Mental Health Service. ‘Care experience’ was also successfully included in the Equalities and Children’s Rights Impact Assessment (EHCRIA) templates which have been adopted for use by the HSCP in December 2023. 3.3.5 Outcome 4: During the last 2 years there has been a renewed effort to ensure we are working with service-users to understand their need and support them to shape the development of services. There has been accessible engagement with users of the Learning Disability service in order to develop a Strategy in 2024/25, and ongoing work to understand the transition from children’s to adults’ services, with a particular focus on learning disability and mental health services. 3.3.6 The report also outlines efforts to mainstream the Public Sector Equality Duty, including a new approach to locality planning which will involve targeted engagement with equalities groups, the delivery of the North Ayrshire Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service’s (NADARS) Equality and Diversity Plan, and how we are embedding equalities into our Transformation approach. 3.3.7 Further details are available in the report in Appendix 1. 4. IMPLICATIONS 4.1 Financial None 4.2 Human Resources None 4.3 Legal In publishing this report, the IJB remains compliant with the Public Sector Equality Duty outlined in the Equality Act 2010, and the reporting duties outlined in the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012. 4.4 Equality/Socio-Economic This report outlines how local equalities outcomes are being advanced, and how equalities are being embedded in the day-to-day running of the HSCP. 4.5 Risk
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None 4.6 Community Wealth Building None 4.7 Key Priorities This report provides an overview of efforts to progress equalities outcomes which support the delivery of all 5 priority areas within the Strategic Plan. However, particularly relevant priorities are Enable Communities and Tackle Inequalities. 5. CONSULTATION 5.1 The information provided in this report were provided by Heads of Service and their respective Senior Management Teams. Caroline Cameron, Director Author: Seony Ross, Team Manager Strategic Planning and Equalities, seonyross@north-ayrshire.gov.uk Appendices • Appendix 1, Equality Mainstreaming and Outcomes Report 2022-2024
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1 EQUALITY MAINSTREAMING AND OUTCOMES REPORT 2024 Repor�ng period 1st April 2022 to 31st March 2024 North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership Biennial Report on Mainstreaming the Equality Duty & Mid-term Report for the Equali�es Outcomes Plan 2022-2025
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2 Contents 1. Introduc�on ........................................................................................................................................ 3 1.1 Equality Act 2010 .......................................................................................................................... 3 2. Mainstreaming the Equality Duty ....................................................................................................... 3 2.1 Integra�on Joint Board .................................................................................................................. 3 2.2 Ayrshire Equali�es Partnership ..................................................................................................... 4 2.3 Transforma�on .............................................................................................................................. 4 2.4 Strategic Planning.......................................................................................................................... 4 2.5 Working in Locali�es ..................................................................................................................... 5 2.6 Understanding Our Communi�es ................................................................................................. 6 How We See Ourselves ................................................................................................................... 6 Mental health and Wellbeing Service in Primary Care consulta�on .............................................. 6 Mental Health and wellbeing digital consulta�on .......................................................................... 6 Gypsy Traveller engagement ........................................................................................................... 6 Neurodevelopmental Differences engagement .............................................................................. 6 2.7 North Ayrshire Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service ...................................................................... 7 2.8 Communica�on and Accessibility ................................................................................................. 7 2.9 Staff Understanding, Development, and Training ......................................................................... 8 2.10 Embedding Equality in Procurement .......................................................................................... 9 2.11 Equality Impact Assessment ....................................................................................................... 9 3. Progress Against our Equali�es Outcomes ........................................................................................ 10 3.1 Equality Outcome 1: People with complex care needs are supported to live independently at home for as long as possible. ............................................................................................................ 11 3.2 Equality Outcome 2: People and communi�es who make North Ayrshire their home can effec�vely access the health and social care services they need. .................................................... 16 3.3 Equality Outcome 3: Children and families in need are supported to live healthy and safe lives. .......................................................................................................................................................... 18 3.4 Equality Outcome 4: Through improved engagement prac�ces and access to a greater range of health and social care opportuni�es, people with a learning disability, or those with complex health condi�ons, achieve beter health outcomes. ........................................................................ 21 4. Next Equali�es Outcomes Plan ......................................................................................................... 26 Appendix: Equality Outcomes and our Strategic Priori�es ................................................................... 27
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3 1. Introduc�on This report provides an update on the progress that North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership has made to advance our Equali�es Outcomes and to mainstream the equality duty within the day-to-day running of the organisa�on. The report covers the period of 1st April 2022 to 31st March 2024. North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership published its Equali�es Outcomes Plan 2022-2025 in March 2023. Outcomes need to be developed every 4 years; however, this plan covers a 3-year period in order to align with North Ayrshire Council outcome repor�ng cycles and our strategic plan. The previous Equality Mainstreaming and Outcomes Report for ac�vity carried out in 2021-2022 was published in May 2023. Public bodies are required to publish progress towards mainstreaming the equality duty every 2 years. 1.1 Equality Act 2010 The Equality Act 2010 brought into force the Public Sector Equality Duty for all public authori�es in the UK. The public authority must have due regard to the need to: a) eliminate discrimina�on, harassment, vic�misa�on, and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Act. b) advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteris�c and persons who do not share it. c) foster good rela�ons between persons who share a relevant protected characteris�c and persons who do not share it. The Equality Act 2010 (Specific Du�es) (Scotland) Regula�ons 2012 outlines a duty for Sco�sh Public Authori�es to publish equality outcomes and report progress, and to report progress on mainstreaming the equality duty. Due to the legisla�ve structure of Integra�on Joint Boards (IJB), Health and Social Care Partnerships are exempt from certain specific du�es as they are not employers, and all staff members remain employees of either NHS Ayrshire and Arran or North Ayrshire Council. These du�es are related to gender pay gap informa�on, equal pay statements, and employee informa�on. 2. Mainstreaming the Equality Duty This sec�on outlines the progress the HSCP has made towards embedding equality into the day-to- day running and work of the partnership. By doing so, we ensure that people can access services in a way that best suits their needs and can share their experiences to support the development and progression of the way our services are delivered. 2.1 Integra�on Joint Board The North Ayrshire Integra�on Joint Board is the decision-making Board for all func�ons delegated by North Ayrshire Council and NHS Ayrshire and Arran in terms of health and social care services. The Board meets monthly, and minutes and reports are published on the North Ayrshire Council website for transparency. Equali�es is considered in all of the decisions made by the Board through the implica�ons sec�ons of all papers presented to the Board. Anyone presen�ng a report, proposed policy, proposed service or service change, or anything else requiring Board decision-making, is required to explain how they
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4 have considered the Equality Duty and the Fairer Scotland Duty under sec�on 4.4 of the cover report. 2.2 Ayrshire Equali�es Partnership The Ayrshire Equali�es Partnership meets quarterly and brings together Equali�es officers from across different Ayrshire organisa�ons in the area for the purpose of shared learning and planning. This includes officers from North, South and East Ayrshire’s Councils, each of the HSCP’s, NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Police Scotland, University of West of Scotland, and Ayrshire College. This Partnership has developed broad shared outcomes for the area: 1. In Ayrshire, people experience safe and inclusive communi�es. 2. In Ayrshire, people have equal opportunity to access and shape our public services. 3. In Ayrshire, people have opportuni�es to fulfil their poten�al throughout life. 4. In Ayrshire, public bodies will be inclusive and diverse employers. These high-level outcomes helped inform more specific local outcomes, which are reported on in sec�on 3. 2.3 Transforma�on The NAHSCP Transforma�on Plan 2024-2027 is an ambi�ous programme of change consis�ng of a range of improvement and reform projects to improve the quality of our health and care services, and was approved by the Integra�on Joint Board on 14th March 2024. Transforma�on is a planning process that sets out to achieve our high aspira�ons of health equity, improved social circumstances, and long-term sustainability for the people of North Ayrshire by making best use of available resources to transform products and services to achieve beter outcomes and experiences. The Transforma�on Plan is aligned to our Strategic Priori�es, and promo�ng equality, and the principles of equality and fairness, are central to the plan, and the approach. The governance structures required to effec�vely manage the programme of work have been reviewed and updated to support robust planning and effec�ve and consistent monitoring, with an increased focus on benefits realisa�on, user-centred design, and a move to more data-driven and value-based approaches. This is to ensure we deliver what people want and need, and that this is evidenced. The impact on equality is a considera�on from the beginning, and screening is part of the project proposal process. Once approved an equality impact assessment is carried out, along with user research and stakeholder engagement. The end-to-end process, from ini�al proposal to post- project evalua�on, is designed to ensure each project delivers improved outcomes and experiences, contribu�ng to a more equal and more sustainable North Ayrshire. 2.4 Strategic Planning North Ayrshire HSCP’s Strategic Plan, Caring Together 2022-2030, was published on 17th March 2022, and is the first �me the partnership has developed a plan that outlines our longer-term ambi�ons for local health and care. The plan outlines the priori�es of the partnership to be: • Enable communi�es. • Develop and support our workforce. • Provide early and effec�ve support. • Improve mental and physical health and wellbeing. • Tackle inequali�es.
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5 In addi�on to the final priority being specifically regarding inequality, the 5 priori�es are delivered in a holis�c way to ensure equali�es are considered every step of the way. We aim to enable communi�es by involving groups in developing our priori�es and suppor�ng them to improve local capacity and resilience which can enable different equali�es groups. We support our workforce to understand equali�es through training and learning, and to use that understanding in their everyday jobs. We also seek to understand how different groups use our services in different ways and ensure that service design considers these differences. Although the current strategic plan is in place un�l 2030, it will be reviewed by March 2025 to ensure it is s�ll fit for purpose, which will be the same �me the HSCP will publish our revised Equali�es Outcomes. These plans will be developed in partnership to ensure equali�es goals are embedded within the strategic plan. Addi�onally, our locality work will be reflected in this update, which means the feedback and ongoing conversa�ons we have with people in locali�es, will be reflected in the overall planning for the whole of North Ayrshire. 2.5 Working in Locali�es The Covid-19 pandemic meant that a lot of face-to-face mee�ngs and engagement were suspended temporarily or moved online. Prior to the pandemic we had 5 established Locality Planning Forums, which worked in smaller areas across North Ayrshire which were supported by a lead officer within the partnership. However, these were impacted by the pandemic and the Partnership felt that we should reinvigorate the process by establishing a new process led by the Senior Management team and with more involvement from local communi�es within each area. North Ayrshire is comprised of 6 locali�es which are used for local service delivery planning, by the Health and Social Care Partnership as well as the wider Community Planning Partnership. These are: • Arran • Garnock Valley • Irvine • Kilwinning • North Coast and Cumbrae, and • Three Towns Within each locality on the mainland, there will be a biannual locality conversa�on which will be established to maintain ongoing dialogue with service-users and ensure their voices are con�nually involved in the strategic planning process within their communi�es. These will be followed up by a mee�ng of the Locality Planning Review Group, which will analyse the results of the conversa�ons, local data, community planning priori�es and local knowledge of services within the locality. Work to develop this new locality planning process began in spring 2023, since when we have developed a new process to beter integrate with community planning processes, involve a wider group of service-users, and make more use of exis�ng data and knowledge about each area. Ini�al scoping Locality Conversa�ons took place in April 2023, and the start of the new Locality Planning Process is being kicked off by the first set of Locality Conversa�ons in April 2024, and Locality Planning Review Groups in June 2024. Locality plans will be developed in late 2025, a�er 2 years of data-gathering and ongoing dialogue with the community. In this �me, work will be ongoing to involve people from different equali�es groups to gain their viewpoint as we develop priori�es and ac�ons for each area.
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6 2.6 Understanding Our Communi�es As outlined above, a new locality planning model is being implemented in order to maintain ongoing dialogue with our communi�es and develop plans important to them for each area. This work will feed directly into the review of the Strategic Plan, as well as the development of a new Equali�es Outcome Plan, both to be developed by Spring 2025. The Locality Conversa�ons will be a con�nued route for the community to feed into this planning work, but there is also a great deal of work that has occurred to understand more about our communi�es, par�cularly those with addi�onal challenges, barriers, or shared characteris�cs. For example: How We See Ourselves The ‘How We See Ourselves’ exhibi�on took place at the Harbour Arts Centre in Irvine in September 2023. The project used poetry, visual art, and anima�on to highlight the lives, interests, and talents of people with learning disabili�es as well as raising awareness of the challenges they face. The project brought together collabora�ve partners from Trindlemoss Day Opportuni�es, Neighbourhood Networks, and local ar�sts across North Ayrshire. A short film was produced as an outcome of the project, so that experiences of those involved can be shared on a con�nuing basis. Mental health and Wellbeing Service in Primary Care consulta�on This engagement took place in January 2023 and involved a public and a staff survey to understand people’s current experience with the service and exploring self-care and wellbeing. This engagement process involved targeted engagement with different equali�es groups, including focus groups for people with lived experience of mental health and long-term health condi�on, people with learning disabili�es, and the local gypsy-traveller community. The surveys were made in a range of alterna�ve languages and work was carried out with the New Scots team within North Ayrshire Council in order to encourage and support individuals with different new to the area with different language or cultural backgrounds to engage with the forms or atend a focus group. Mental Health and wellbeing digital consulta�on A pan-Ayrshire engagement project led by North Ayrshire HSCP in March 2023, this examined the usage of mental health and wellbeing apps and digital resources rela�ng to mental health. The aim of this consulta�on was to gain further insight into online ac�vity in the hope of improving engagement with digital mental health and self-care resources in the future. This piece of work contributed to wider digital transforma�on plans within mental health services. Gypsy Traveller engagement Following the engagement work with the gypsy traveller community related to the Mental Health and Wellbeing service outlined above, the group was iden�fied as a priority group to encourage addi�onal engagement in order to understand the poten�ally unique needs of the community. A gypsy traveller engagement working group was established, and an engagement event was organised to be part of a local gypsy traveller mission event. The event took place on the 21st of August 2023 at Eglinton Country Park, and was well atended with approximately 200 community members camped on site. The outputs from this engagement event supported the development of an engagement plan for the Mental Health and wellbeing of this group and there are currently plans for a further engagement project exploring male mental health and suicide preven�on. Neurodevelopmental Differences engagement Over the past year, North Ayrshire HSCP has been working jointly with South and East Ayrshire HSCPs and NHS Ayrshire and Arran to redesign neurodevelopmental diversity specifica�on and supports. North Ayrshire HSCP led work to carry out different phases of engagement with different groups,
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7 including individuals and parents and carers of those with a suspected or confirmed neurodevelopmental difference (NDD). Phase 2 of this work is underway with further engagement being conducted with parents and carers of children and young people with possible or diagnosed NDD to explore support available in our communi�es. 2.7 North Ayrshire Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service This is an integrated health and social care service that works with clients who have complex and dependent substance use, who are supported by a range of different professionals to develop a recovery care plan. This service is used by a range of people with different shared characteris�cs, and equality and diversity is important to the service which has priori�sed embedding it into their daily prac�ce and strategic priori�es. The service developed its own Equality and Diversity Improvement Plan for 2023- 24 with the following aims: • Develop and sustain a diverse, skilled and commited workforce able to deliver equitable, diverse and inclusive services to meet the needs of local people. • Raise awareness of equality, diversity and inclusion to promote that the service is safe and accessible for LGBTQIA+ individuals and trans communi�es. • Ensure all new Local Opera�ng Plans, Standard Opera�ng Plan or any guidance are reviewed to ensure that unlawful discrimina�on is eliminated, and equality of opportunity promoted. The plan had a set of ac�ons including staff training and educa�on, awareness raising resources, and inclusive guidance, that were achieved by March 2024. 2.8 Communica�on and Accessibility A brand new NAHSCP website was launched in April 2023 as the first step in helping the Partnership meet its commitments under the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applica�ons) (No. 2) Accessibility Regula�ons 2018. The work carried out so far has been to improve access to health and social care informa�on for North Ayrshire residents, par�cularly those with a visual impairment, making the site easier to read on a mobile device and navigate using a keyboard, improving colour contrast, and moving away from the use of PDF documents in favour of uploading content as HTML pages to ensure compa�bility with screen-reading so�ware. Where documents require to be included on the site in PDF format, then these are being created in a more accessible way, with the web team having run a series of well- atended staff drop-in sessions throughout 2023 to demonstrate the process of crea�ng accessible documents. A number of Accessibility Champions were iden�fied and trained across Partnership services in 2023, giving staff a point of contact for advice and support when crea�ng documents. In addi�on, any staff member crea�ng a document for the website who requires further informa�on on how to solve accessibility issues can also now book a one-to-one session with a member of the web team through the IT portal on the intranet. The work carried out so far has increased the website’s accessibility score on SiteImprove to 99.9%, however improvements will be ongoing in the long term as we strive to ensure fairer access to informa�on for all and adapt to any changes in the legisla�on. Further manual tes�ng of the site is necessary to iden�fy user experience barriers that individuals with a disability may encounter while
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8 using the site, with work also required to improve the readability of the site in terms of the complexity of language used. 2.9 Staff Understanding, Development, and Training The Health and Social Care Partnership places a great deal of value on developing our staff and ensuring that there are progression and training opportuni�es. The Learning and Development Service published a new strategy Be the best you can be 2023-2028, approved by IJB on the 12th October 2023. The strategy considers the professional and technical learning and development needs of the social work/social care workforce opera�ng within the Health and Social Care Partnership, aiming to achieve improved outcomes for people through a competent and educated workforce. In addi�on to outlining the aims in terms of policy and prac�ce, the strategy outlines the organisa�on’s commitments to values, principles and ethics, specifically outlining goals for equality and diversity. It includes commitments to design and deliver an�-racist prac�ce in Social Work training (which will begin this year), protected space to explore ethical dilemmas through forum opportuni�es, and to design and deliver promo�ng equality training with essen�al atendance for social work students and NQSWs (now in place). Total numbers for different staff training delivered from April 2022 to March 2024: • Adult Mental Health Awareness – 32 trained (new course) • Au�sm Awareness – 6 trained • Bri�sh sign language eLearning – 31 trained • Adult Support and Protec�on Scotland Act – 41 trained • Adult Support and Protec�on eLearning – 111 trained • Adult Support and Protec�on overview – 67 trained • Adults with incapacity act – 29 trained • Adults with incapacity act refresher – 37 trained • Promo�ng equality awareness - 86 trained (new course) • Child protec�on awareness face to face – 101 trained (new course) • Child protec�on awareness eLearning – 62 trained • Child protec�on inves�ga�on – 5 days training - 16 trained • Child protec�on refresher – 18 trained • Deaf awareness eLearning – 21 trained • Dea�lind awareness eLearning – 15 trained • Domes�c abuse understanding (ASP) – 19 trained • Equali�es awareness eLearning – 1195 trained • Introduc�on to Neurodiversity – trained 244 from 28/04/2023 (new course) • Learning disability awareness – 34 trained • LGBT awareness (new course) – 8 trained • ASIST suicide preven�on – 2 full days – 8 trained • Ask Tell Save a Life suicide preven�on – 64 trained (new course) • Parkinsons awareness – 56 trained (new course) • Pallia�ve/end of life care – 57 trained • Care at home induc�on which includes adult support and protec�on and child protec�on and other condi�ons – 530 trained • Safe and together overview – 254 trained
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9 • Safe and together core – 74 trained • Signs of safety – 207 trained 2.10 Embedding Equality in Procurement In the previous Equali�es Mainstreaming report for 2021-2022, it was reported that our procurement process had recently had work carried out to embed equality into the process. This included: • Mandatory compliance for bidders with the Council's Equality Cer�ficate for all tenders • A mandatory sec�on for Fair Work Prac�ce included within the tender award criteria aligned to promo�ng equality of opportunity and developing a workforce which reflects the popula�on of Scotland in terms of protected characteris�cs, and a fair and equal pay policy that includes a commitment to suppor�ng the Living Wage. • A commitment to the Charter for Involvement, which reflects 12 statements aligned to Human Rights in rela�on to how people who use support services want to be involved in the services they get; in the organisa�ons that provide their services; and in their wider communi�es. • Involving users of services and/or significant others in the procurement process. They are invited to take part in the award of contracts through designing quality ques�ons in the award criteria and si�ng on evalua�on panels that select preferred bidders for award. These commitments have con�nued to be taken forward, and we are currently working on how to involve service-users in the evalua�on of commissioned services, in order to inform service improvement requirements. 2.11 Equality Impact Assessment Equality Impact Assessments are used to assess any proposed policy, plan, or service, whether the proposal is a new or suggested change. Since the launch of the partnership in 2015, we have applied the same Equality Impact Assessment process to both Council and NHS budget proposals that affect the Partnership. This has afforded the Partnership to achieve a greater level of consistency in equality impact assessments across the wider partnership. This has been a useful mechanism to both embed equali�es prac�ce in the partnership and further the process of integra�on. Amendments to the assessment process in the past few years include the addi�on of further elements to assess the impact of both equality and inequali�es. The HSCP now uses the NAC Equality and Children’s Rights Impact Assessment process which includes: • Children’s Rights • The Fairer Scotland Duty • Island proofing • Care experience as a protected characteris�c. Equality Impacts Assessments are published on the HSCP website. However, as men�oned above, the website was recently revised to ensure accessibility and the impact assessments require to be accessibility checked in order to be uploaded to the new website. This will be done as soon as possible but, in the mean�me, people can request copies of impact assessments.
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10 3. Progress Against our Equali�es Outcomes North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership agreed the following equali�es outcomes for 2022 to 2025: 1. People with complex care needs are supported to live independently at home for as long as possible. 2. People and communi�es who make North Ayrshire their home can effec�vely access the health and social care services they need. 3. Children and families in need are supported to live healthy and safe lives. 4. Through improved engagement prac�ces and access to a greater range of health and social care opportuni�es, people with a learning disability, or those with complex health condi�ons, achieve beter health outcomes. The below table outlines progress against achieving our equality outcomes through the iden�fied suppor�ng ac�ons. These equali�es outcomes will be reviewed in 2025.
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11 3.1 Equality Outcome 1: People with complex care needs are supported to live independently at home for as long as possible. No. Suppor�ng Ac�on Progress for April 2022 – March 2024 Protected Groups 1.1 Reduce the wai�ng list for Social Work Assessment and Review Wai�ng list informa�on is reported quarterly to our performance audit commitee. This refers to Single Shared Assessments for adults over 65 with a physical disability. Since April 2022, the wai�ng list length has been: Goal Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 22/23 150 229 224 247 226 23/24 150 198 226 227 tbc Over this period the number of people wai�ng on an assessment has fluctuated with a high of 247 and low of 198 during the repor�ng periods but remains consistently around the 225 mark. Efforts to reduce the wai�ng list have been made over the last 2 years, such as addi�onal social work staff in early 2023 within the locality teams which saw a reduc�on reflected in quarter 1 of 23/24. The Community Link Worker service con�nues to offer support to people on a wide range of issues that can affect people’s health and well-being, such as money worries, unemployment, social isola�on, bereavement, alcohol and drug use, managing stress, and living a healthier lifestyle. The service can also support people to manage low mood and anxiety and assist people to access the resources they need to keep them well. Ongoing challenges remain, and the service con�nues to experience significant challenges related to workforce, recruitment, and an increasingly complex demand for services. During the most recent quarter, there were 37 new starts to the service and 23 leavers, which causes some delays in terms of gaps and training. However, our health and social care staff con�nues to provide high quality interven�ons and a number of pilots and service reviews, with the goal of con�nually improving our service delivery. Age (Older People) Disability
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12 1.2 Reduce the wai�ng list for Care at Home Services (both at home and in hospital) Wai�ng list informa�on for Care at Home is also reported quarterly to our performance audit commitee. Since April 2022, the wai�ng list length has been: COMMUNITY Goal Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 22/23 90 157 174 243 174 23/24 90 191 189 195 tbc Over this period the number of people wai�ng in the community for Care at Home services has been consistently higher than the target and, with the excep�on of a spike then drop between quarters 3 and 4 in 2022/23, has been gradually ge�ng higher over the repor�ng period. HOSPITAL Goal Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 22/23 12 19 11 26 24 23/24 12 21 22 26 tbc For people wai�ng in hospitals for Care at Home, the number has fluctuated over the last 2 years with a high of 26 and a low of 11. A number of interven�ons have been planned in order to address the wai�ng lists. The Reablement Care at Home service commenced in Quarter 2 of 23/24, which included a review of the wai�ng lists for people in the community awai�ng a Care at Home service, u�lising a reablement focussed approach, aiming to deliver an assessment of outcomes for each service user iden�fying strengths, ac�ons, and interven�ons to encourage independence, reduce reliance on formal care services, and improve overall individual outcomes. This review was completed in early 2024 and will be further expanded in Quarter 4 with a 4-week ini�a�ve around accessing Care at Home supports. Age (Older People) Disability
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13 There have been ongoing recruitment challenges, staff absence, and increasing community demand in this repor�ng period. Addi�onally, a number of external providers have con�nued to review their posi�ons in the market which led to a major provider ceasing their contract in March 2023. The partnership has con�nued to increase capacity for in- house services over this �me with plans to bring all Care at Home services in house over Quarter 1 of 2024/25. The wai�ng lists will con�nue to be monitored quarterly to measure the impacts of the interven�ons. 1.3 Remobilise Day services for Older People, enhancing op�ons to include both at home and residen�al provision. All mainland day services have re-opened with targets set to ensure full capacity is reached within Day services, and wai�ng lists are managed effec�vely. All staff vacancies have now been filled and funding for 4 outreach posts has been approved and will be adver�sed shortly. All day services are currently offering outreach within their current establishment of services, and this will be increased once outreach workers are appointed. A Care inspectorate varia�on was submited for all Day Services to facilitate this, and a day service project plan and working group has facilitated ongoing improvements and developments within the service. Age (Older People) Disability 1.4 Review Local Models of Respite Provision Anam Cara Demen�a Respite Centre temporarily transferred to Taigh Mhor, Beith following significant damage to the building, which ensured con�nuity of 8 respite care beds. Extensive repair and development of the Anam Cara site took place, with the service returning to Anam Cara in March 2024. This return has facilitated the re-opening of 9 respite beds in Anam Cara. A review of the current staffing model is being undertaken, alongside a review of emergency respite placements requested throughout North Ayrshire to determine capacity and requirement for addi�onal respite provision within Anam Cara. Age (Older People) Disability Other - Carers 1.5 Reduce wai�ng list for people needing an Occupa�onal Therapy assessment and improve access to aides and The Community Occupa�onal Therapy services within NAHSCP provide assessment and interven�ons to children, adults and older adults who experience barriers to independence. Interven�ons include provision of equipment and adapta�ons (both minor and major), Age (Older People) Disability
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14 adapta�ons to support independent living. advice, signpos�ng, and support to obtain charitable funding, blue badge assessment, input into Self-Directed Support, and assessment and care management. The Sco�sh Government published an updated version of the Guidance in the Provision of Equipment and Adapta�ons on 17th January 2023 to support HSCPs to deliver a more equitable and accessible service. Community Occupa�onal Therapy has historically had high wai�ng �mes for service due to the volume of referrals coming through the service, which was not sustainable and North Ayrshire HSCP carried out a review increase efficiency across the service. Developments were made throughout 2023 to address wai�ng lists and pressures on the service. This included: • Increased staffing resource – the recruitment of addi�onal posts including 2 Occupa�onal Therapists and 3 Occupa�onal Therapy Assistants • 2 new posts were created and recruited, including 1 Permanent Occupa�onal Therapy Team Manager and 1 Adapta�ons Officer. • A change of referral intake pathway via Enhanced Intermediate Care and Rehabilita�on Hub – which commenced on 05/06/2023. • Comple�on of a Transforma�on Project to streamline processes and iden�fy areas for development. The most significant change to the service has been the change of referral intake process. This has moved away from referrals being received directly into the OT service CareFirst baskets to enable a greater level of control and autonomy of what referrals are being received into the service. These ac�ons have successfully resulted in reduced wai�ng lists. Between March 2023 and March 2024, the wai�ng list in the North locality (over 65s) went from 192 to 90, a reduc�on of 52%, and in the South locality (over 65s) from 349 to 88, a reduc�on of 75%. The wai�ng list for the under 65 team (authority wide) went from 176 to 47, a reduc�on of 73%. Other - Carers
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15 The maximum wait �me went form 550 days to 227 days, and the average wait �me has gone from 163 days to 60 days. This ac�on will be reported at the end of the outcomes plan period, but it has been successfully delivered. 1.6 Review Day Services on Arran for Older People A pilot to review the day service for older people on Arran was carried out between May 2023 and August 2023. This first phase of the review was to look at the poten�al for an outreach-based day service based in smaller villages around Arran. This first phase found that although some good outcomes were achieved there were only a small number of service users who benefited. A second phase began in December 2023 and ran un�l March 2024. This was based in Stronach Day Unit at Montrose House in Brodick and there were six users in the pilot who atended one day per week. Feedback from families and carers was included in the review. This is now being evaluated with a report due at the end of April with recommenda�ons based on both aspects of the review, which will then determine the next steps for Day services for older people on Arran. Age (Older People) Disability Other - Carers 1.7 Con�nue to develop community-based MDTs to ensure appropriate support for people in communi�es to support them to remain at home. Mul�- Disciplinary Teams to support people with complex care needs are now in place across all locali�es, which meet monthly. One MDT is s�ll outstanding for the Irvine area, which is currently being developed and will be in place and opera�onal by October 2024. Age (Older People) Disability Other - Carers 1.8 People who have received a period of care within Acute will have access to a range of services to support their transi�on back home. Prior to discharge from hospital a comprehensive assessment is undertaken by the Care At Home Hospital based team. At this �me referrals will be made to community-based services including Care at Home, Community Alarm, Appe�to meals, Community Connectors as well as Primary Care services to facilitate a safe discharge home. If required, the hospital team will undertake further visits to support the person on their return home or liaise with community colleagues to provide support to the person returning home. This may involve follow up visits from Reablement Team Occupa�onal therapists and/or social work assistants to support the person home, enabling them to be as independent as Age (Older People) Disability Other - Carers
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16 possible in their home environment. The hospital team may also link with Red Cross to request ini�al services to support transi�on home. 1.9 Apply the principles of the Ayrshire end of life and pallia�ve care model. This ac�on is currently under development and will be reported at the end of this plan period, in March 2025. Age (Older People) Disability Other - Carers 3.2 Equality Outcome 2: People and communi�es who make North Ayrshire their home can effec�vely access the health and social care services they need. No. Suppor�ng Ac�on Progress for April 2022 – March 2024 Protected Groups 2.1 Develop a plan to support the transi�on of new Scots away from Refugee Taskforce support and onto mainstream health and social care supports The HSCP has an established Resetlement team which supports the health and social care needs of refugees and asylum seekers, primarily Syrian and Afghan. With the arrival and coordina�on of the new Ukrainian scheme in 2022, the pre-exis�ng Resetlement Team, which includes both HSCP and housing colleagues, mainstreamed support into exis�ng health and social care supports for new Scots. The Resetlement Team, providing health, housing and wellbeing assessments and screening, ensured the delivery of long-term council tenancies and registra�on with GP prac�ces. It is through this GP registra�on that the new Scots can access suitable early years, public health screening, mental health, immunisa�on, dental services, and other health/social care supports as required, and that access to mainstream health services is as �meous and efficient as possible. In May 2023, a new nursing team was established to support the ini�al health assessment and screening of Ukrainian Displaced People, including physical and mental health assessments, migrant screening, and immunisa�ons. The team empowers individuals and families to access mainstream health supports as quickly as possible, only remaining open Race and Ethnicity
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17 to new Scots for a short ini�al period. This team has now been expanded to include asylum seeker arrivals, Unaccompanied Asylum Seeker Children, and trafficked young people. The HSCPs role in the North Ayrshire Council led Refugee Task Force ensured a posi�ve partnership approach with Housing, Connected Communi�es and Educa�on colleagues to ensure a whole system holis�c approach was put in place to support new Scots e.g. social clubs, language classes. 2.2 Undertake a needs assessment of the possible long-term health and social care needs of new Scots With the arrival and coordina�on of the new Ukrainian scheme the HSCPs contributed to the North Ayrshire Refugee Task Force posi�on statement. This posi�on statement engaged with all services and GP clusters to be developed. The posi�on statement highlighted the current service pressures, specific locality issues, gaps and opportuni�es faced by HSCP services in accommoda�ng addi�onal new arrivals. The new Scot long-term health and social care needs have been met locally. Race and Ethnicity 2.3 Deliver locally the ac�ons to support new Scots as iden�fied in the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland’s Equality Outcome Plan 2021. The Equality and Human Rights Commission engaged with the HSCP Strategic Planning and Equali�es lead to ensure that new Scots were captured as part of their Scotland’s Equality Outcome Plan 2021. The ac�on is regarding engagement with diverse communi�es, including ethnically diverse communi�es, gypsy/travellers, refugees and asylum seekers, LGBT people, disabled people, older people. As part of the Refugee Task Force, the pre-exis�ng Resetlement Team, Connected Communi�es and Educa�on colleagues con�nue to engage with new Scots on a regular basis to meet their needs effec�vely. Addi�onally, the HSCP has a programme of engagement with diverse communi�es. Currently, there is ongoing engagement with the gypsy/traveller community, par�cularly around male mental health, an iden�fied issue for that demographic. Disability Race and Ethnicity
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18 3.3 Equality Outcome 3: Children and families in need are supported to live healthy and safe lives. No. Suppor�ng Ac�on Progress for April 2022 – March 2024 Protected Groups 3.1 Implement Signs of Safety approaches to improve how we work with families to develop meaningful childcare plans. The HSCP is implemen�ng the Signs of Safety strength and safety organised approach to social work case work that analyses detailed informa�on for a balanced risk assessment. It is a rela�onship-based model working within the context of child welfare and protec�on and will provide a prac�ce framework that revolves around balanced risk assessment, risk management and effec�ve safety and care planning. Signs of Safety integrates professional knowledge with knowledge from families and their wider networks to rigorously explore harm and complica�ng factors alongside exis�ng strengths and safety. It involves partnership working with families to reduce risks and increase safety by building upon the family's strengths, resources and networks to change the everyday lived experience of the child so that we are confident the child is safe. As a consequence of working in a risk sensible approach with families more children will be supported to remain within their family network. Prepara�on for implementa�on commenced in April 2022, with a 2-year intense implementa�on period which will conclude in October 2024, fully embedding the approach in every day social work prac�ce for future years. Age (Children) 3.2 Improve the quality and accessibility to services for children and young people who themselves (or parent/care givers) are at risk due to the harmful effects of alcohol or drug use, by establishing a speciality The Child and Adolescent Specialist Substance Team has been in place since February 2021, working with 5–21-year-olds affected by their own or parental drug and/or alcohol use. Currently, the CASST team is running with a collec�ve caseload of 60. The team is based within the Three Towns Locality, but the team covers all of North Ayrshire and works closely with Children & Family Social Work, Jus�ce Services and NADARS (adult alcohol services). The team has done a number of things over the repor�ng period to improve the quality of the service, including: Age (Children) Sex
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19 support team in Partnership with the ADP. • In August 2023, recruitment of a care experienced modern appren�ce on an 18- month contract to complete their SVQ3, revitalising the ethos of the group, morale, and team spirit. It has also been wholly successful thus far, with the modern appren�ce now also undertaking their HNC in social care on day release at college. • Con�nuing to u�lise CORRA funding for diversionary supports with the overall purpose of preven�ng CASST service users or their parents from using drugs or alcohol and/or for access to treatment. The funding has been used to build skills and promote social ac�vi�es and interests/hobbies for young people and provide them with alternate experiences to encourage aspira�onal growth. This has included gym memberships, equine courses, par�cipa�on in sports etc. During the 2023 Summer holiday period, the team ran a hip-hop dance therapy summer scheme for children and young people affected by trauma and impacted by their own or parental drug or alcohol use, teaching dance classes to aged 5–11-year-olds and 12+. The aim of the dance therapy sessions was as an interven�on to help with aten�on and focus, to improve communica�on, and to reduce feelings of isola�on, social anxiety, and chronic pain. Overall, 24 children and young people atended across the summer holidays. Feedback was gathered from young people and their parents/carers using evalua�on forms and was overwhelmingly posi�ve. 100% of the children and young people who atended reported as enjoying the dance therapy classes and expressed that if given the op�on, they would atend again. Three of the parent’s feedback was [anonymously] as follows: “While home life is very difficult and her sister’s needs tend to take up most of my �me, it has been great for her to have something so posi�ve that is just hers. The posi�vity and energy of the class has really given her a much-needed boost”, “I love that X has her own thing, has made friends (which she normally finds difficult) and dance improves her balance and coordina�on”, “Y is so happy and gets so excited when it comes to a Thursday, she said this is the best thing about the Summer holidays”. Due to the success of this, plans are in progress to commence further dance therapy sessions for age groups 12m - 5 years, 5-10 and 11+. The dance therapy sessions will be star�ng again in March 2024.
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20 CASST and Children 1st have recently established a groupwork programme suppor�ng primary school aged children in St Mark's Primary School offering weekly sessions focussing on early interven�on, reducing s�gma, and educa�ng children around the risks of alcohol/drug use. There is also an a�erschool group due to start in the coming weeks which will work with children and young people directly affected by parental drug/alcohol use. This will include educa�onal/informa�ve sessions as well as ac�vity-based opportuni�es to promote social and emo�onal inclusion. 3.3 Enhance early interven�on and preven�on provision within the established Infant Mental Health Service Ayrshire & Arrans Mini Minds Mater (Infant Mental Health Service) is currently under development. In 2019, the Sco�sh Government commited to implement and fund a Scotland-wide mul�- agency model of IMH provision: “to meet the needs of families experiencing significant adversity, including infant developmental difficulties, parental mental illness, parental substance misuse, domestic abuse and trauma.” The service is an infant mental health system of support with GIRFEC at the core as well as na�onal guidance on highligh�ng the voice of the infant, the specific needs of infants outlined in “The Promise”, and UNCRC work on infants’ rights. Training is also being provided by NES Infant Mental Health training Plan. The service aims to promote emo�onal wellbeing for infants by suppor�ng them and their important rela�onships with their parents and carers as well as working together with exis�ng services to understand how, where and when the service can be helpful. A pan-Ayrshire steering group working on the ongoing development of the service, and a series of engagement sessions has been carried out through 2023 to ensure co-produc�on from the outset. This has included focus groups with kinship carers, parents, and services, and iden�fied Infant Mental Health champions. Age (Children) Sex Disability 3.4 Work with leadership across HSCP, NHS and North Ayrshire Council to locally agree that people with Care Experience A mo�on was tabled at a North Ayrshire Council mee�ng on 29th March 2023, outlining that in recogni�on of the Council’s commitment to the Promise and responsibility as corporate parents, the Council should support adding “Care Experienced” to be treated as a protected characteris�c in North Ayrshire’s Equality impact assessments to ensure all decisions made Age (Children)
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21 are considered as a protected characteris�c. by Council give specific focus on how we can improve the lives of care experienced young people. A follow up report was presented on 13th December 2023, seeking approval to adopt the following defini�on of ‘care-experienced’ for the purpose of Equality and Children’s Rights Impact Assessments: “Anyone under the age of 26 years in the North Ayrshire area for whom North Ayrshire Council is, or has been, the Corporate Parent, or who is, or has been, looked a�er by North Ayrshire Council or any other local authority at any stage of their childhood, no mater how short. By ‘looked a�er’ we mean that the child or young person has been looked a�er by a local authority in foster care, kinship care or in residen�al care, or has been living at home subject to a compulsory supervision order made by the children’s hearing or has been subject to a kinship care order made by the court.” New templates for ECRIA assessment and screening were produced for use across the Council and the HSCP in January 2024. 3.4 Equality Outcome 4: Through improved engagement prac�ces and access to a greater range of health and social care opportuni�es, people with a learning disability, or those with complex health condi�ons, achieve beter health outcomes. No. Suppor�ng Ac�on Progress for April 2022 – March 2024 Protected Groups 4.1 Undertake a Learning Disability Needs Assessment with all current LD Service users to beter understand long-term need and resource requirements and consider processes for implemen�ng The support needs of clients are regularly reviewed and responded to as part of their ongoing involvement with the service and engagement informa�on is currently being gathered in order to develop a Learning Disability Strategy. Work to develop the strategy began in late 2023 and has carried on into 2024, priori�sing service-user and carer engagement. Ongoing engagement has been framed around the ques�on of ‘What Makes a Good Life’, but other engagement with clients has taken place on topics such as respite provision, and mental health and wellbeing. Disabili�es, Other – Carers
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22 the Annual Health check for all service users. Arts based ac�vity has been an important aspect of our development work, resul�ng in the delivery of the ‘How We See Ourselves’ exhibi�on (a piece of work in collabora�on with Neighbourhood Networks and local ar�sts), and ongoing work to explore transi�ons within the ‘What Comes Next?’ project. Posi�ve progress has been made around the implementa�on of Annual Health Checks, and it is intended to provide a light-touch report on that work in late April/early May. To date (2nd April 2024), 68 checks have been completed, and the learning regarding their implementa�on, and the poten�al role of Primary Care moving forward, con�nues to accrue. Work planned over the next year includes further development of the new Learning Disability Strategy. A cri�cal aspect of the plan will be a commitment to finding a prac�cal, meaningful, and sustainable way to involve clients and other stakeholders in an ongoing conversa�on regarding the development of the Learning Disability Service, and inclusive communi�es more broadly. 4.2 Undertake robust stakeholder engagement ac�vity to iden�fy the range of available support op�ons to service users and their families. The health and social care sectors rely on local providers of care from the third and independent sectors, and there is a lot of ac�vity locally to ensure service users understand local services and local providers understand local need. The commissioning team has regular communica�on with providers and currently complete biannual contract management mee�ngs with services that are commissioned, annual visits, and daily communica�on where any concerns may arise within services. Within these visits and mee�ngs we discuss outcomes for service users, reviews, concerns and discuss service ac�on plans. Updated KPIs are also monitored for our mee�ngs to capture progress of service delivery and if any gaps within service provision can be iden�fied. The service also carries out regular provider’s forums, most recently on 18th March 2024, in order to maintain communica�on. The Community Link Worker (CLW) Service directs and refers service-users to the local services they need and so have taken on the role of managing Referral Partners, which led Disability Other – Carers
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23 to improved knowledge of service provision across North Ayrshire and within NHS Ayrshire & Arran. Guest speakers are invited to atend the CLW Steering Group mee�ng each month to update the team on service developments that can be shared with service users, and CLWs have atended a range of community events with the aim of promo�ng the CLW service and linking with service providers from across Ayrshire. A community mapping exercise was carried out in 2023 which saw CLW’s upda�ng community guides for each of the locali�es that we work in. The follow up work from this exercise is s�ll ongoing but we are confident that this will be completed by the end of May 2024. A further community mapping exercise was carried out earlier this year and this has led to an A-Z list of support services being added to the NAHSCP to make residents aware of the support op�ons available to them. This is also accessible via the NAC Cost of living page to increase reach. 4.3 Host regular informa�ve drop-in sessions with service users and families to inform them of the range of local community opportuni�es available. Following some recruitment challenges within the Community Link Worker service, it now has a full complement of staff and is planning to carry out drop-in sessions. The service is currently planning drop-in sessions to be carried out in all towns across Garnock Valley and North Coast between June 2024 and March 2025. The Mental Health Service has previously hosted events on a drop-in basis and has further plans to implement a regular event for informing service-users of local mental health services. The Sco�sh Mental Health Arts Fes�val was established in 2007 and is run by the Mental Health Founda�on annually, in order to explore how the arts can improve mental health and wellbeing, engage diverse communi�es and challenge s�gma and percep�ons. In October 2023 North Ayrshire ran a local Mental Health Arts Fes�val, organised collabora�vely between the HSCP, NHSAA, NAC, RAMH North Ayrshire Wellbeing and recovery college, KA Leisure, and Arran CVS. Disabili�es Other – Carers
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24 In addi�on to hos�ng arts shows and performances, partners presented their work to raise awareness of local services, including: Beith Community Development Trust, in-pa�ent mental health services, Tidelines, Trindlemoss Day Opportuni�es, and North Ayrshire Wellbeing & Recovery College – RAMH. This raised the profile of local services on the launch night, before the 3-week fes�val consis�ng of over 30 local events commenced. In addi�on to a second Mental Health Arts Fes�val being planned for October 2024, the Mental Health Service is hos�ng its first Mental health and Wellbeing Connect event on Monday 29th April which will be atended by a range of services and supports available to North Ayrshire residents, including Carers Gateway North Ayrshire, VoiceAbility, NHS 24, and Community Link Workers, giving people in the community the opportunity to learn of local services. 4.4 Undertake a review of respite provision, including engagement with LD services users and families on their respite/short break aspira�ons. Building on the service’s involvement in the Promo�ng Variety programme in 2023 (led by Healthcare Improvement Scotland and Shared Care Scotland), engagement work was undertaken with clients and carers in late 2023. The outputs of that work will form a key part of our con�nuing work around developing a broader perspec�ve on respite provision. Red Rose House remains our main offer in this respect, and a greatly valued one. It has seen management changes in recent months, and Hansel (the provider) con�nues to be a key contributor to the ongoing discussions regarding respite. Going forwards, we will build on the engagement ac�vity undertaken so far, and intend to establish a staff member linked to promo�ng short breaks ac�vity within Carers Gateway. The service also con�nues to work with Hansel regarding further refining exis�ng systems to ensure best use of the available resource, as well as taking on board learning generated by the engagement ac�vity. Disabili�es Other – Carers 4.5 We will review our Transi�on processes across Partnership Services. This will include undertaking meaningful The HSCP is currently reviewing the Transi�ons Processes used within different services and teams, including health, educa�on, and social care services, with a specific focus on mental health and the learning disability service. The term ‘transi�ons’ is used to refer to the process of young people moving from children’s to adult’s services, but transi�ons pathways within learning disability services can occur at different stages. Age Disability Other – Carers
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25 engagement with service users. Different teams o�en operate using different criteria or processes, so this review aims to iden�fy any differences, best prac�ce, and inconsistency. To do this, a comprehensive period of engagement was planned and is currently on phase 4: Phase 1 involved focus groups with targeted staff groups, implemen�ng the Principles into Prac�ce framework to explore a range of themes rela�ng to our current transi�on process. Phase 2 invited parents and carers of those with learning disability or mental health condi�ons to share their experience of transi�on. This was done with semi structured interviews. Phase 3 involved focus groups with young people about their transi�on experience. This adapted the Principles into Prac�ce framework, so the same ques�ons were asked but in methods that were more accessible. Workshops were held in 2 parts, to build rela�onship with each young person to ensure meaningful engagement and a transi�on workshop explored the move from school into the future. Phase 4 is currently underway, which is con�nued engagement and the forma�on of a transi�on parents peer group across North Ayrshire. The engagement process is ongoing, a�er which the Chief Social Work Officer will report recommenda�ons for improving the partnership’s transi�on processes. There is scope for further ongoing engagement with young people to consider the transi�on process for young people in mainstream schools.
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26 4. Next Equali�es Outcomes Plan The next Equali�es Outcomes Plan will be published in Spring 2025. The current outcomes will be reviewed to ensure progress has been made and ac�ons have been completed. New or reviewed outcomes will be developed following engagement with groups with shared protected characteris�cs about their experiences accessing health and social care in North Ayrshire. The next plan will be developed alongside the review of the current Strategic Plan, to ensure that the voices of people with shared protected characteris�cs will be reflected in the overall strategic planning of the area, as well as reflected within our Locality Planning Structures.
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27 Appendix: Equality Outcomes and our Strategic Priori�es HSCP Equality Outcome Ayrshire Shared Equality Outcome HSCP Strategic Priority Older people with complex care needs are supported to live independently at home for as long as possible 1. In Ayrshire, people have opportuni�es to fulfil their poten�al throughout life Enable Communi�es Provide Early and Effec�ve Support Improve Mental and Physical Health and Wellbeing People and communi�es who make North Ayrshire their home can effec�vely access the health and social care services they need 1. In Ayrshire, people experience safe and inclusive communi�es 2. In Ayrshire, people have equal opportunity to access and shape our public services 3. In Ayrshire, people have opportuni�es to fulfil their poten�al throughout life Enable Communi�es Improve Mental and Physical Health and Wellbeing Tackle Inequali�es Children and families in need are supported to live healthy and safe lives. 1. In Ayrshire, people experience safe and inclusive communi�es 3. In Ayrshire, people have opportuni�es to fulfil their poten�al throughout life Enable Communi�es Provide Early and Effec�ve Support Improve Mental and Physical Health and Wellbeing Tackle Inequali�es Through improved engagement prac�ces and access to a greater range of health and social care opportuni�es, disabled people or those complex health condi�ons, achieve beter health outcomes. 1. In Ayrshire, people experience safe and inclusive communi�es 2. In Ayrshire, people have equal opportunity to access and shape our public services 3. In Ayrshire, people have opportuni�es to fulfil their poten�al throughout life Enable Communi�es Improve Mental and Physical Health and Wellbeing Tackle Inequali�es