Solihull pledge to focus on integration

The new care trust in Solihull will aim to integrate health and local government rather than seek NHS control of social care, the project chief said this week.

Director of partnerships Crispin Atkinson said the trust aimed to have integrated commissioning of health and social care from pooled budgets within three years.

Atkinson managed the project to set up the NHS body, which became England’s 10th care trust this week.

It replaces Solihull Primary Care Trust and assumes all of Solihull Council’s adult care functions – though the authority will remain publicly accountable for them – and will acquire 600 staff from the authority.

This gives Solihull, along with Torbay and Northumberland, the most extensive range of health and social care functions of the 10 care trusts.

Councillors will hold three seats on the care trust’s board of 15, with a fourth taken by the director of adult social services – Bindi Nagra – who must remain a council employee. Nagra has also been appointed the trust’s interim director of health and social care.