What are Localities?
The City of Edinburgh Council and the Health and Social Care Partnership are moving to a locality model of working with a phased implementation from the start of April 2016 – June 2016. This is supported by the Fire and Rescue Service and Police Scotland.
There will be four localities in Edinburgh:
Geographical details for each of these areas and the current voluntary sector forums that are in them can be found here.
Why the move to Localities?
Locality working is a legal requirement of the Health and Social Care Partnership and City of Edinburgh Council has decided to move to the same model, believing that this change will help the services deliver better outcomes through being less bureaucratic, more agile and innovative in approaches. Their need for cost savings through staff reductions have also reinforced this move. Police Scotland and the Fire and Rescue Service are supportive of the move and are aligning to the model.
There is an overall desired outcome that Edinburgh Citizens will receive better coproduced services with the Third Sector as a key partner.
What does it mean for the Third Sector?
At this moment it is unclear what changes might be required to enable the Third Sector to fully engage with the new model, as the detail of how localities is still in the process of being fully agreed and established. The Third Sector will continue to be consulted on how the localities should work through EVOC, Voluntary Sector Forums and the Third Sector Strategy Group.
It is business as usual for the current forums and networks in the Third Sector as we look at how the Localities form and how best to engage with them. A diagram and explanation of the information flow between different forums, networks and partnerships that represent the Third Sector’s interests in the City can be found here.
Timetables and Key Dates
Jan – Early Feb 2016
The move to localities starts in January with CEC running awareness roadshow events for their staff in the different localities. All partners will be represented at these events and the Third Sector has been given 5 places at each which is made up of the Chairs of the Local Voluntary Sector Forums an EVOC representative and other invited Third Sector Organisations working in the Localities. These meetings will introduce the concept of localities to the CEC staff, provide data on the needs of the Locality and offer a chance for CEC staff to ask questions.
- North West – 26th January
- South East – 2nd February
- North East – 5th February
- South West – 9th February
Mid Feb 2016
The Locality Team Leadership Groups will be established and have an initial meeting, where the locality structures and ways of working will be established.
April 2016
Official move to Locality working.
