The overall aims of our work stream for partnerships with local government are highlighted below. They are to:

• Ensure that key stakeholders, members and the public have a fair and balanced picture of the extent of and critical success factors for partnership working between the health service and local government
• Ensure that members are supported in their partnership arrangements locally through influencing Government policy wherever possible
• Ensure that health inequalities issues are addressed as part of the overall work programme
• Ensure that examples of good practice and working relationships are disseminated so that a fair picture of partnerships can be given in the media and to stakeholders
• Develop leading edge ideas, where appropriate in consultation with members, to take forward the debate on the future of health, local government and third sector partnerships.

The board members leading on this area of work are Sandy Bradbook, Chief Executive of Heart of Brimingham PCT and Marion, Saunders, Chair of Ealing PCT.

Children's services

The PCT Network aims to ensure that members are involved in the development and delivery of the revised Children’s Plan. We also aim to engage members in the development of local Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnerships as part of Local Strategic Partnerships. Actions include:

• Supporting the development of a DH Sounding Board of PCT chief executives and their corresponding directors of children’s services to advise on the development of children’s health policy 
• Recruiting PCT representatives onto the Department for Schools, Children and Families (DCSF) working groups
• Involvement with the Children’s Inter-Agency Group, a partnership of key voluntary organisations, local government representatives and ourselves
• Representation at the DH Advisory Group for the Natioanl Safeguarding Delivery Unit.

Visit the Children and Young people page on the NHS Confederation website for more information.

Safeguarding Children

The issues around the death of Baby P in Haringey are, by now, well known. The NHS Confederation has been involved in both the work behind the scenes with the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and in the wider public debate. Following the report of the Joint Area Review (JAR) report by Ofsted on 1st December, there are several dates and issues of which health organisations need to be aware.

The NHS Confederation has produced a summary report that highlights the main points from Lord Laming's report into the case of Baby P, 'The Protection of Children in England'. We hope that this summary report will help our members to plan responses to the investigations and their findings. For more information and to read our summary report, please visit the Safeguarding Children page on the NHS Confederation website.  

Partnership working

The PCT Network has developed a contact programme with key stakeholders in social care to maximise the opportunity for joint working. This includes Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP), the Integrated Care Network, the Home Office on the development of Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships and the Association of Directors for Adult Social Services(ADASS).

In addition, the Network has also undertaken joint work programmes at national level with the Local Government Association (LGA), Involvement Development Agency (IDeA) and ADASS/Association of Directors of Children's Services(ADCS). Activities include:

• Joint conference held with LGA in July 2007 on Health and Well-being, with plans for a second joint conference later in the year
• Joint seminar for PCTs and Local Authorities held in July 2007 on the lessons that can be learned from splitting commissioning and provision functions in 1990s. To be followed up with potential briefing for PCTs in the autumn
• Project on localism and governance at Local Services Partnership (LSP) level being scoped
• Potential for development of joint programme for influencing development of Comprehensive Area Agreements (CAAs).

Local Area Agreements (LAAs) and Local Government White Paper

The PCT Network aims to take an active role in the development of the strengthened Local Area Agreements, Overview and Scrutiny (OSC) and Joint Strategic Needs Assessments, as proposed in Local Government White Paper. Activities include:

• Attendance at the first national Named Partner Reference Group which aims to set out the framework
• Nomination of Paul Sabapathy, vice-chair of the PCT network and other PCT nominations to sit on the Audit Commission CAA Reference Group
• Nomination of Sandy Bradbrook, PCT Network Board member, to sit on DH Steering Group drawing up guidance on data and information requirements for the Joint Strategic Needs Assessments.

Continuing care

The PCT Network aims to influence the implementation of the new Continuing Care Framework for members so that its financial impact on PCTs is mitigated without negative implications for local partnership working. The Network is looking to develop a briefing supported by the DH to ensure that key issues in relation to new guidance are understood by members.

Health inequalities

The PCT Network aims to support members’ work on addressing health inequalities both in the short and medium to long term as a mechanism for improving the overall health of the public.

The PCT Network and NHS Confederation held the first of its three seminars on health inequalities in December looking at the evidence around Inverse Care.  The first briefing on "missing people" will be published in the Spring.

Carers

The Network aims to raise awareness of carers’ issues as part of local joint commissioning of health and well-being, in light of the review of the Cross Governmental Carers’ Strategy. Actions include:

• Scoping of potential joint briefing with ADASS on carers issues for health and social care
• Planning for a joint briefing to coincide with delivery of revised carers’ strategy.