Decision details

Pooled Fund Arrangements

Decision Maker: Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

To approve the key principles, content, and value of the 2021/2022 Pooled Budget between Wirral Council Adult Care and Health and NHS Wirral CCG, and agreement to proceed with a Section 75 Pooled Fund Agreement.  Sign-off is also required retrospectively of the 2020/21 Pooled Fund.

Decision:

Resolved – That

 

(1)  the continuation of the pooled fund arrangement between the Council and Wirral Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) for 2021/22 be approved.

(2)  the commissioning pool value of £235m for 2021/22 be agreed and the additional funding the CCG will contribute as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report be noted.

(3)  it be agreed that the key principles as set out in the pooled fund agreement 2020/2021 be incorporated into the pooled fund agreement 2021/22, including the risk share agreement.

(4)  it be noted that the shared risk arrangements are limited to the Better Care Fund (BCF) arrangements only, which is currently reporting a break-even position.

(5)  delegated authority be given to the Director of Law & Governance in consultation with the Director of Care & Health to enter into a s75 Agreement with Wirral CCG for 2021/22.

(6)  delegated authority be given to the Director of Law & Governance in consultation with the Director of Care & Health to sign off the s75 Agreement with Wirral CCG for 2020/21 in accordance with the terms agreed by the decision of the Cabinet Member - Adult Care, Health and Wellbeing made on 15 July 2020.

Reasons for the decision:

A section 75 pooled fund agreement must be updated to set out the detail of budget areas that are being pooled in 2021/22 and the associated governance. There is a mandatory legal requirement to have a Section 75 agreement in place to draw down the elements of the pool relating to the BCF. Continuing the current pooled fund arrangements, including the increased contribution from the CCG, does not increase the financial risk to the Council.

Alternative options considered:

The pooled fund arrangements for 2020/21 have delivered benefits to individuals, helped avoid longer term, more intensive care and support needs and have therefore mitigated against broader health and care system risk. It is therefore recommended to continue with the pooled fund arrangement for 2021/22, including the increased contribution from the CCG, and to exit the arrangement is not recommended.

 

Broadening the scope of the pooled fund arrangement further to include all NHS Wirral CCG and Wirral Council social care and health spending could potentially increase risk significantly due to ongoing pressure in the health system a risk further escalated by the system response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The extension of the scope to include the additional CCG funding only will not expose the Council to increased financial risk and it is therefore recommended that the scope is increased to reflect this.

Publication date: 14/10/2021

Date of decision: 13/10/2021

Decided at meeting: 13/10/2021 - Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee

Effective from: 20/10/2021

Accompanying Documents: