Partnerships
What is CAWT?
Cooperation and Working Together (CAWT) is a partnership arrangement which facilitates collaborative working between health and social care organisations and staff on a cross border basis. CAWT, which comprises the four Health Boards and seven Trusts located along the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, was established in 1992 with the aim of improving the health and social well-being of the resident population.
While spontaneous local cross-border work did exist prior to CAWT's establishment, it was agreed that that these relationships needed to operate within a more formalised structure and framework. So, in July 2002 the Chief Executives of the NEHB and the NWHB in the Republic of Ireland and the SHSSB and the WHSSB in Northern Ireland, signed an accord known as the Ballyconnell Agreement which set the foundation for future collaboration and established CAWT as a cross border body. Since then much has been achieved and CAWT has evolved from an informal, ad-hoc arrangement into a more formal structure which has still managed to maintain its innovative approach and flexibility, but with a stronger emphasis on quality assurance, and measurable outputs.
CAWT's Objectives
- To improve the health and social well-being of its resident population
- To identify opportunities for co-operation in the planning and provision of services.
- To assist border areas in overcoming the special development problems arising from their relative isolation in national economies and within the European Union as a whole.
- To involve other public sector bodies in joint initiatives where this would help fulfil common primary objectives and
- To exploit opportunities for joint working or sharing of resources where these would be of mutual advantage.
Who is involved?
There are four main structures which form the CAWT partnership:
1. Management Board: There is a Management Board which provides overall strategic guidance and comprises the Chairpersons and Chief Executives of the four Health Boards and representation from the Trusts.
2. Secretariat: Senior managers from each of the four Boards have been nominated to the CAWT Secretariat, which serves as the link between the Management Board and the Sub Groups.
3. Sub-Groups: There are thirteen Sub Groups in total spanning the complete health and social care spectrum. Each of the Sub Groups have developed 'Service Development Proposals' for a range of projects which have been incorporated into the CAWT Business Plan. Once the Sub Groups have been successful in drawing down funding for their project(s), a Project Board is created which oversees the project management and implementation.
4. CAWT Development Centre: The CAWT Development Centre, which has a small staff team, provides support and co-ordinates the work of CAWT.
What does CAWT do?
CAWT provides a forum for management and staff of the Health Boards and Trusts to come together on a range of common issues relevant to their service areas via cross border Sub Groups. In addition to their main roles and responsibilities within their respective Boards and Trusts, each member commits time and expertise to Sub Group activity. These Sub Groups plan practical activities including research, feasibility studies, needs assessment and pilot initiatives to improve cross border services. The Sub Groups have initiated and developed a range of projects, many of which have been successful in attracting European funding via Peace II and Interreg IIIA.
For further information on CAWT please contact the CAWT Development Centre at:
Administration Offices
Gransha Park
Clooney Road
L/Derry
BT47 6TF
Tel: 028 7186 5191
Fax: 028 7186 5193
Website: www.cawt.com