NHS Somerset works in partnership with a number of public, private and voluntary sector organisations to improve the health of our population and to deliver the highest quality services. Working in partnership with other organisations helps us deliver joined up, high quality health and social care services, and increases cost effectiveness. NHS Somerset will continually work to maximise social care and health partnerships and to minimise health inequalities.
Joint Planning and Commissioning Arrangements
NHS Somerset has maintained a strong and collaborative working relationship with the local authority, including joint appointments, with the aim of delivering seamless health and social care services to the population of Somerset. Joint commissioning arrangements are in place with the local authority and the collaborative work is overseen by an Adult Services Partnership Board and a Children's Trust Board. Joint commissioning arrangements are in place for:
The local authority's website can be accessed via www.somerset.gov.uk
Strategic Partnerships
Somerset Strategic Partnership: NHS Somerset is a committed member of the Somerset Strategic Partnership, which in addition to health service representation, includes representation from all levels of local government, the Police, other public sector organisations, private business and the voluntary sector. Within the context of the Somerset Strategic Partnership, NHS Somerset will work to ensure that the health and wellbeing of people in Somerset continues to improve and that poverty and health and social care inequalities reduce.
Local Strategic Partnerships: These local partnerships provide a focus to five districts in Somerset, each having a wide range of organisations being represented, which include district councils, voluntary organisations, local businesses, environment agency, local churches, community council, education, job centres and youth organisations. NHS Somerset is represented on all of these partnerships and has contributed to the development of Local Community Strategies in each area. The key theme of these local strategic partnerships is to help people at all stages of their lives to enjoy the best possible health and quality of life.
Somerset Children's Trust: is led by Somerset County Council and currently chaired by the Deputy Chief Executive of NHS Somerset. The Children's Trust brings together the key agencies responsible for commissioning and delivering services to children, young people and their families in Somerset. All partners in Somerset Children's Trust work together to ensure that children are healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and achieve economic wellbeing.
The Adult Services Partnership Board: This board is responsible for overseeing the commissioning of a range of services for adults that are jointly developed and commissioned by Somerset County Council and NHS Somerset.
The Joint Executive Forum: This forum has been established to provide a partnership forum in which the main commissioner and providers organisations within the Somerset Health and Social Care Community can support the health and wellbeing agenda and consider major cross-cutting issues relating to health and social care services, across all service areas. The forum provides the opportunity for all these organisations to inform strategic planning and service change.
Somerset Local Area Agreement: The development of the Somerset Local Area Agreement has been led by Somerset County Council through the Somerset Strategic Partnership and has been developed in consultation with partners including NHS Somerset and wider the NHS community, district councils, education and police services, community groups and voluntary groups.
The introduction of the agreement represented a major change in the relationship between local, regional and central government. All tiers of government are committed to making Local Area Agreements work at a local level, because their key aims are to improve service delivery, efficiency, local leadership and partnership working through establishing challenging but specific targets.
Voluntary and Community Sector
A key partnership area for NHS Somerset is the Voluntary and Community Sector and information on how we work with these organisations can be found under the Voluntary and Community Sector page.
