A joint inspection of Highland health and social care partnership has found clear strengths in services for adults living with mental illness. Some areas for improvement were also identified.
Inspectors found that the partnership delivered positive outcomes for most people living with mental illness.
Most people living with mental illness had a positive experience of the support they received to maintain and improve their health and wellbeing through a range of available effective early intervention and prevention initiatives.
The partnership engaged collaboratively with people and carers, and between staff teams and services, in designing and delivering operational processes and effective strategic planning of health and social care services for people living with a mental illness.
Partnership leaders demonstrated a clear strategic vision, strong values and modelled these to positively influence the Community Planning Partnership and local government councillors. This strengthened the overall commitment and prioritisation of mental health in Highland.
Highland partnership was responsive and innovative in its approach. It introduced several pilot initiatives to reduce inequalities and deliver health and care services to people across the large partnership area. However, successful pilots needed more detailed delivery plans and scaled up if the partnership was to take full advantage of these measures.
Inspectors also recommended that the partnership develop a framework that captures personal outcomes data for people living with mental illness and for their carers. Their feedback is essential for driving improvement.
The partnership’s system to support staff in sourcing options for people needing care and support required strengthening. Information on health and care service options should also be more accessible for people and carers.
The partnership provided a good level of training for health and care professionals across Highland. A quality assurance system and joint workforce strategy would strengthen its clear commitment to staff development and progression and implementation of its valuable processes and procedures.
Jackie Irvine, Chief Executive of the Care Inspectorate, said: “The Highland partnership performed well on health and wellbeing outcomes across its population and for people living with a mental illness whose records we read and with whom we spoke. A blend of online and in-person health and care support was offered to people across the partnership. People were treated with dignity and respect, and with care and kindness, which was encouraging to see.”
Robbie Pearson, Chief Executive of Healthcare Improvement Scotland, said: “Given the partnership’s good leadership and demonstrable commitment to improvement, we have a good level of confidence in their capacity to deliver the significant change envisioned in Highland. We are aware that Highland has set aside a transformation fund to support implementation. Our inspection found that partnership leaders were a cohesive team, focused on improving health and care services for people and carers in Highland, demonstrating an open and transparent approach. They operated collaboratively with people living with a mental illness, their families and friends who cared for them, staff and third and independent sector partners.”
The full report can be read here.