The Planning Process

The planning goals for the Health and Personal Social Services in Northern Ireland are outlined on an annual basis in Priorities for Action. This document sets out a detailed range of priorities and targets that are designed to deliver the Minister’s planning goals each year.

The Board’s role is that of a commissioner which means it is required to assess the health and social care needs of local people and plan, secure and pay for services to meet these needs. Services are planned so that they are distributed equitably. In order to comply with Priorities for Action and fulfil these responsibilities Boards submit Health and Well-Being Investments Plans (HWIPs). Health and Well-Being Investments Plans demonstrate the totality of revenue resources that will be committed to individual organisations. This includes the allocation of all new amounts available for maintaining existing services and service developments.

Arising from the Health and Well-Being Investments Plan, Boards and Trusts agree and sign a Service and Budget Agreement (SBA) which outlines each organisation’s commitment in terms of deployment of resources, quality standards and monitoring requirements.

Once the Health and Well-Being Investments Plan and Service and Budget Agreement have been completed Trusts produce a Trust Delivery Plan (TDP). As Trusts are held directly accountable to the DHSSPS for the effective deployment of resources at their disposal, the Trust Delivery Plan forms the basis for planning and performance monitoring within the Trust. The purpose of the Trust Delivery Plan is to demonstrate that the totality of resources is being deployed in the most effective way in pursuit of the Minister’s goals as outlined in Priorities for Action. This includes income, capital, workforce and estate. The Trust is required to report on a quarterly basis to both the NHSSB and the DHSSPS on progress throughout each financial year.

The Trust Delivery Plan seeks to balance the interim viability of services with more long-term developments and highlights several areas that continue to be a priority for Causeway H&SS Trust.