Research in Practice, 15 June 2015
Key findings
- The messages that are most relevant to those engaged in debate around LSCBs and their effectiveness centred around four themes.
- a) a lack of clarity on the role and expectations of LSCBs, linked closely to the perceived increase of responsibilities together with the emergence of new strategic bodies whose work interacts with that of LSCBs
- b) the pressure on LSCB resources, in terms of funding, partner contributions, staffing capacity and the impact of SCRs; the widespread uncertainty around resources was seen to be having an impact on effectiveness
- c) the dissonance between the degree to which LSCBs are held accountable and the level of power and authority they have to exercise their responsibilities and in particular hold partners to account
- d) the pivotal importance of LSCB Chairs; the skills and qualities of the individual Chair is a vital element in determining Board effectiveness, which poses some risk in light of the limited amount of paid time available to Chairs.
- The introduction of CCGs and NHS England was reported to have had led to confusion across LSCBs over a number of issues including how responsibilities were divided between their area teams
