Decision details

Integration of Health and Care Transformation Programme Update

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

The proposal to create an integrated commissioning hub and integrated front line assessment, support planning and care teams that will contribute to meeting the challenges of growth and demand through using Wirral’s resources jointly to create a sustainable health and care system. The integrated service will deliver the assessment and support planning function for older people and adults, with a separate proposal for an all age disability, and all age mental health integrated service planned for 2018.

Decisions:

Councillor-Chris_Jones LATEST

Councillor Christine Jones said:

 

“Giving people the tools and options to remain independent, to feel supported and safe is incredibly important. Moving towards integration between the NHS and social care is a huge step towards achieving this goal and delivering people joined up, effective services which are tailored to suit individual needs.”

 

Councillor Christine Jones introduced a report which informed that social care services played an important role in enabling vulnerable people to maintain independence and keep well in Wirral. The cost of Adult Social Care was, however significant and it did not operate in isolation. The inter-dependency between Health and Care systems had become increasingly clear over recent years. Nationally, Councils were faced with increasing demand on social care services which presented as a challenge to meet within the available resources. Central Government had directed Local Authorities and NHS providers to integrate social care and health services locally to provide both sustainability and a better experience for people who use those services.

 

In Wirral, the proposal was to create an integrated commissioning hub to pool social care and health resources and to jointly commission services. The commissioning hub initiative would enable the health and care system to use Wirral’s resources together to jointly create a sustainable health and care system. A further proposal was to integrate the frontline assessment and support planning process which would contribute to meeting the challenges of growth and demand, and provide an improved service for local residents. The integrated front line service would deliver the assessment and support planning function for older people and adults and the proposal was that this service would be provided by the NHS Wirral Community Foundation Trust (WCFT) who provided community health services in Wirral. This would involve the transfer of social care staff to the NHS in order to provide joined up seamless health and social care delivery services for older people and adults. A separate proposal for an all age disability, and all age mental health integrated service was planned for 2018.

 

The report set out key aspects of the integration programme which was focussed on improving outcomes for residents with the aim of delivering the right care in the right place at the right time. It also covered key transformation costs and outlined the main elements of the proposed transfer for staff consultation and detailed the Key Strategic Outcomes.

 

Councillor Ann McLachlan made reference to the social care crisis, the chronic underfunding by the Government and its huge missed opportunity to address the immediate funding pressures in last year’s Autumn Statement. Consequently, she considered that it was very timely that the Cabinet was considering this report.

 

Councillor McLachlan referred to the Notice of Motion – Crisis in Social Care considered by the Council at its meeting on 19 December 2016 and the decision that had received all party support, to lobby the Secretary of State for Health requesting an urgent meeting to secure the additional funding needed for social care. She informed that the Integration Project would plan for the next four to five years, in light of the funding pressures (demographic growth was ongoing, inflationary pressures and current in year pressures).  These pressures would be contained by joining forces with the Wirral Community Foundation Trust.

 

Councillor McLachlan turned her attention to the Integrated Commissioning Hub which was part of a much bigger project.  She informed that the Council was taking a longer term view, delivering the right care, in the right place, at the right time.  The Council had to ensure that services were right and properly communicated and that staff were consulted.  Going forward the Cabinet had to ensure effective monitoring and evaluation to make sure the right level of care was provided and that value for money was achieved.  This was one of the key Transformation Projects being brought forward.

 

Councillor Phil Davies underlined the importance of this agenda.  He informed that it was very critical that the Council delivered sustainable services going forward and this involved looking at new delivery models in partnership.  The aim was to ensure good quality public services were delivered to the people of Wirral. It was imperative that the Government properly funded social care services.  This approach and working more with NHS colleagues would help.  The Council would exercise due diligence and hold proper consultations with the Trade Unions and then report back to the Cabinet.

 

Councillor Phil Davies referred to paragraph 6.5 of the report as follows:

 

 Quality

A Quality and Governance framework will oversee the quality of the service. This will be in the form of a Partnership Governance Board which will include the Council’s principal Social Worker for professional standards. This will maintain a focus on the quality of outcomes for residents and ensure that services meet the statutory duties of the council.’

 

Councillor Davies asked the Director of Health & Care and his Team to give consideration to his proposal that the Cabinet Member – Adult Social Care be invited to sit on the Partnership Governance Board as he considered that this would be a helpful approach to this initiative.

 

Councillor Davies informed that he looked forward to the detailed business case being presented to a future meeting of the Cabinet.

 

RESOLVED: That

 

(1)  further implementation of the integration programme for health and care be approved;

 

(2)  a proposed delegation of relevant functions to WCFT, with relevant staff transfer be approved in principle and following approval of final terms and documents, including a full business case, be presented to a future Cabinet meeting;

 

(3)  the commencement of formal staff consultation with the staff identified as in scope for potential transfer to the integrated service be approved; and

 

(4)  in relation to the Integrated Commissioning Hub it be agreed that work to pool resources and to set out appropriate governance arrangements is progressed and a further report setting out the detailed arrangements be presented to the Cabinet in February 2017.

Report author: Graham Hodkinson

Publication date: 24/01/2017

Date of decision: 16/01/2017

Decided at meeting: 16/01/2017 - Cabinet

Effective from: 01/02/2017

Accompanying Documents: