Wirral Community NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Karen Howell writes for the Globe...

THURSDAY marks the dawn of an exciting new era in health and social care for Wirral residents.

I am delighted to be welcoming more than 220 adult social care assessment staff, who will be transferring from the council, to join Wirral Community NHS Trust.

Together, our health professionals and our new adult social care colleagues will be able to make a real difference to Wirral people, their families and carers.

As one organisation, we will deliver a fully integrated social care assessment and health service to local residents – helping to deliver the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

People will have one number to call, one person responsible for ensuring their health and social care needs are understood.

Community nurses, community matrons, therapists, social workers and other care staff will work side by side, as one integrated service, supporting people in their local communities.

I am immensely proud that here in Wirral we are one of the few places in England to achieve this level of integration.

It is testament to the hard work, tenacity and dedication of so many staff from both the Community Trust and Wirral Council who have been involved in this programme of work over many months.

I’m really looking forward to welcoming our new social care colleagues tomorrow. It is a huge milestone in the way we support people in our local communities to remain well and as independent as possible.

Over the coming months I will bring you more information about the positive impact we will be able to achieve as one organisation and the pioneering work we will be delivering.

Finally, it’s still impossible to comprehend the atrocity that took place in Manchester last week.

We continue to think about and share our condolences with all the families who are bereaved and wish those who are injured a speedy recovery.

It cannot be said enough, that our emergency services who responded on the night and those who continue to provide care and support do an incredibly amazing job.

It’s so vital in times of crisis that we all come together.

For more information about all Community NHS services, visit wirralct.nhs.uk, like us on Facebook.com/nhsbuzz or follow us on Twitter @wirralct.