Blackburn plans merger and "far more advanced" integration with local care trust

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council is to merge its senior management with the local care trust in a move predicted to lead to "far more advanced" integration than exists so far in other parts of the country.

If approved by the local authority’s executive board and the Blackburn with Darwen Teaching Care Trust Plus board on 8 July, the merger will first see the creation of a single integrated management team.

The SIMT, which the council claimed would be the first of its kind in the country, will be led by one chief executive for both organisations.

According to the meeting documents prepared for the boards, the integration of back office services and the senior management structure would be “far more advanced than in other parts of the country”, although the two organisations will remain separate legal entities.

The new chief executive will be supported by a three-strong executive team comprising a deputy chief executive and two managing directors, one for local government services and one for Care Trust Plus.

The model would also signal a “root and branch” review of senior responsibilities.

The move, which is expected to deliver some £2m in savings, follows the merger earlier this year of health, well being and social care commissioning through the creation of the Care Trust Plus.

Cllr Michael Lee, leader of the council, said: “Our partnership with the NHS in Blackburn with Darwen has a long and successful history and while we have to recognise the current economic situation we all face, this about far more than just making savings. It is a chance to reshape service delivery in the interest of the local community and protect services.”

Sir Bill Taylor, chair of the Care Trust Plus Board, said: “When we transformed our former PCT into a Care Trust Plus we promised to make our health, well being and social care more citizen and patient-focused. We all want more money spending on actual services and less on administration.

“So, just as merging health, well being and social care made sense, the obvious next step is the integration of management. The collaboration will bring about real and immediate savings and patient benefits.”