An important new Partnership has been launched to drive forward ambitious changes aimed at transforming the way local health and social care services are developed and delivered.

The Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership will be officially established on 1 April 2016 to improve the quality and consistency of care delivered to local patients, service users and their families. The Partnership will ensure local health and social care services are more seamless and joined-up to help people stay in their own homes, wherever possible. It will also help ensure that resources are used effectively to deliver services that meet the needs of local communities and the growing population of people with longer term and complex health and care needs, many of whom are older.

Shiona Strachan, Chief Officer for the Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “We are on a very important journey which will see NHS Forth Valley , Clackmannanshire Council and Stirling Council working together with local community, independent and voluntary organisations to ensure local services are more joined-up and better co-ordinated.”

“The partner organisations are already working together in a number of key areas and there are many excellent joint local initiatives. We know that we can build on these to take forward ambitious plans for further improvements.”

Detailed planning and preparation for the new integrated arrangements has taken place over the last year. A new Integration Joint Board, which brings together senior staff from all three partner organisations along with carer, service user and third sector representatives, has also been established to oversee the work of the Partnership and ensure it delivers a number of key local and national outcomes.

Councillor Les Sharp, Chair of the Integration Joint Board for the Partnership, said:  “Over the last few months we have been working closely with local staff, service users, carers and community groups to gather feedback on how they would like to see local health and social care services across Clackmannanshire and Stirling be developed and delivered in the future.

“This has helped us to develop a Strategic Plan which sets out our key priorities and outcomes for the new Partnership over the next three years. I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to share their views as this has been invaluable in helping to shape our future plans and priorities.”