As the downturn begins to pressurise public services and an ageing population continues to exacerbate the burden of long-term conditions, many health and social care organisations are beginning to look afresh at how working together might be a solution.
With the integration agenda rising in prominence once again, we surveyed some of the prominent figures who embody the strengths and challenges of closer joint working: senior leaders whose posts cut across the traditional boundaries between health and local government. Based on these interviews, this discussion paper looks at the factors that help and hinder success in a joint post and what local and national leaders can learn from this.