Publish date: 14 April 2022
Sefton Partnership is looking forward to a pivotal year as work on integrating local health and care services steps up a gear.
Sefton Partnership is pleased to announce the appointment of our first place director, Deborah Butcher.
Currently the executive director of adult social care and health for Sefton Council, Deborah brings a wealth of experience to her new role. She is responsible for leadership across social work, occupational therapy, professional standards, safeguarding adults and integrated commissioning and she has worked closely with health partners on joint work throughout her time in the borough.
Working closely with local partners, Deborah will play a central role in the future integration of health and care, taking a lead on tackling the health inequalities within our communities. Deborah’s new role is a joint appointment between the NHS and Sefton Council.
In addition, health and care leaders are finalising a ‘collaboration agreement’ that will set out how organisations will work together in Sefton Partnership, building on the solid foundations already in place to provide more joined up health and care services and greater benefits to patients in the borough. From April to July, Sefton Partnership will be established in shadow form, enabling partners to agree the finer details of future arrangements before the partnership and other regional structures are formally created following the passing of the Health and Care Bill in July.
Dwayne Johnson, chief executive of Sefton Council, said:
“Deborah has proven she understands the partnership and what is needed to further improve the delivery of care through integration in Sefton and her appointment is a great opportunity to for the local authority, the NHS and other key partners to work together.’
‘Good progress is being made to establish Sefton Partnership, putting it on a strong footing for the future. The collaborative agreement is in the process of being signed off by all partners. This agreement, which builds on existing arrangements for integrated working, will help the Partnership realise the shared vision for the borough:
‘A confident and connected borough that offers the things we all need to start, live and age well, where everyone has a fair chance of a positive and healthier future.’
Fiona Taylor, chief officer of both CCGs in Sefton, said:
“Deborah’s appointment is great news and reflects the strong progress we have already made in Sefton to better join up health and care across organisation in the borough for the benefit of all our residents.’
‘It’s fantastic to see our ambitions for closer integration progressing so well. We want every child to get the very best start in life, and to have greater opportunities and choices through education and training. As people grow older, we want them to be provided with support, tailored to them and that respects their dignity. We want older people to be able to feel connected to their communities and to be able to stay active for longer. We want to make this happen by having health and care services working hand in hand, supporting communities through prevention, early intervention and integrated care in a way that is fair for everyone.”
Deborah Butcher, designate place director for Sefton Partnership, and executive director of adult social care and health at Sefton Council said:
“I feel very privileged to be able to continue the journey we have begun in Sefton together with partners across health, voluntary, community and faith sector, primary care and the council. It means continuity for us in further developing the ambitious vision we have for Sefton. Once our collaboration agreement is in place, we can continue to build on existing joint working arrangements and we can agree our priorities for improving health and care. Once the Bill is passed in July, we will be able to formally establish Sefton Partnership which will be part of the wider integrated care system for Cheshire and Merseyside.’
‘In the meantime our teams will be continuing to work closer together on programmes that are making a difference to people’s lives, such as our support through the development of the Care Home Cell.”
Sefton Partnership Case Study: Care Home Cell
A good example of how partners are working differently together to better meet the needs of residents can be seen in how the NHS, council and voluntary, community and faith (VCF) partners rapidly came together to support care homes during the pandemic.This led to supporting onsite medicines management, remote GP consultations and achieving the highest vaccination rate of care home residents and staff in Cheshire and Merseyside. The care home cell is providing a model of future working, focused on the needs of local people. To find out more about the care home cell watch this short film.