Publications

Local authorities are responsible for commissioning Healthwatch and are embracing this challenge with increasing energy and enthusiasm. The case studies in this report are intended to provide a flavour of some of the good work and innovative practice-taking place.

Within the context of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 a number of key sectors have come together to provide effective leadership and support for the successful implementation of local Healthwatch (LHW).

Local authorities have a significant role to play in being proactively supportive of the aims and ambitions of Local Healthwatch and in being seen to be supportive of it at both a strategic level and at the ‘frontline'.

Establishing local Healthwatch (LHW) is a series of briefings produced by the LGA to assist local authorities and their partners in local communities and the NHS to support the commissioning, setting up and early development of local Healthwatch.

This publication shares some of the experiences and opinions of local government officers, elected members and others who have participated as peers in the LGA Corporate Peer Challenge Programme. The contributions featured show that the benefits are wide, varied and sometimes personal. But there are some common themes that emerge from many of the experiences shared.

This toolkit is part of the LGA's 'Healthwatch: On the Board' series, designed as a learning aid to support local Healthwatch representatives on their health and wellbeing board (HWB).

Three years ago, alongside the abolition of the previous top down inspection regime, the LGA published "Taking the lead" setting out an approach to improvement in local government which had been developed and agreed with councils.

This report outlines the results of the LGA's consultation on the future of sector-led improvement, undertaken between January and March 2015.

This self-assessment is designed to support local Healthwatch and local Healthwatch commissioners in establishing successful governance for an effective local Healthwatch organisation.

Integration is no easy task. It is not an answer in itself, nor is it a panacea for the system’s financial challenges.