Work by Sefton Partnership to better join up health and social care across the borough to improve services for residents has been recognised, with a nomination for the Care and Health Integration category at the 2023 Municipal Journal (MJ) Awards.

The partnership, which includes Sefton Council, NHS in Sefton, Healthwatch Sefton, Sefton CVS and many others, has brought together health and care partners from across the health and care sector to maximise the positive health and wellbeing on the lives of the people who live in Sefton.

Strength to strength

Formed in 2022, the Sefton Partnership set itself the aim of focusing on co-production and a collective teamwork for an integrated approach to healthcare across the Borough.

This had been tested successfully during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Sefton Council teamed up with health and voluntary services to provide crucial aid and early vaccine access to vulnerable residents.

Among the Partnership’s successes have been the implementation of the two-hour hospital discharge service, which helps people in hospital to return home safely and with the support they need. The Partnership has also supported the growth of the Chase Heys Reablement Home, a care centre which provides additional, dedicated care while people transition from hospital to home. Also benefitting from the partnership is the ‘Crisis Cafe’, which offers community-based mental health support and has led to a dramatic drop in mental health-related hospital admissions.

Close competition

The Partnership’s efforts will find out if they have won at an awards ceremony, which will be held at London’s Park Plaza hotel on Friday 23^rd June.

The Sefton Partnership will be up against near neighbour Lancashire County Council, as well as the London Borough of Brent, Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council, Sheffield City Council, and West Northamptonshire Council.

Cllr Paul Cummins, Adult Social Care Cabinet Member for Sefton Council, said: “I am so pleased that the Sefton Partnership has been nominated for the MJ award for Care and Health Integration.

“Bringing services together through the Sefton Partnership will deliver real health and social benefits for people across the Borough and this nomination is a testament to all the work and effort that has gone into it. of all staff across the Partnership.

“I hope that everyone who has been involved will take this opportunity to reflect on their achievements to date.”

Deborah Butcher, Place Director in Sefton at NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, said: “We are really proud to have received this nomination. We have been building up the partnership now since we became an Integrated Care Board on 1 July as it was really important to us to establish and build on our integrated working in Sefton to improve the health and care that our residents need.

“Good luck to all those nominated, we are very pleased to be one of those.”

The MJ Awards acknowledge local government bodies’ work in supporting local communities, with awards across the various service areas.

People can find out more about the MJ Awards on the MJ Awards website.