Councillor Angela Davies left the meeting during the consideration of the item

The Head of Service for Integrated Services introduced the report of the Director of Care and Health which presented a summary of the review undertaken and made recommendations to Members for the future director on delivering statutory adult social care services and functions. It was reported that both NHS Wirral Community Health and Care Foundation Trust (WCHCFT) and NHS Cheshire and Wirral Partnership Foundation Trust (CWP) had identified risks associated with the delivery of the recommended option in the time period proposed to extend the contract for a further year until September 2024.

The intention during the contract extension would be to consider the benefits of returning the service to the Council’s direct delivery while retaining the best aspects of integration. The review found good evidence of positive outcomes of the integrated service model in many areas but noted that areas of potential opportunity had not been fully realised and that at times, the Council’s priorities were not reflected in the trusts.

Members felt that processes being brought in house didn’t necessarily mean that quality would improve and that there would be a cost element to this.

Members noted that effective integrated services were influenced by the leadership and culture of the organisation and that integration should continue and develop throughout the process of transfer.

Resolved – That

(1)  (a)  the contract with NHS Wirral Community Health and Care Foundation Trust (WCHCFT) for the provision of social care services on substantially the same terms and conditions be extended for a period of 1 year as set out in para 2.1 of this report

(b)  the contract with NHS Cheshire and Wirral Partnership  Foundation Trust (CWP) for the delivery of All Age Disability and Mental Health Services on substantially the same terms and conditions be extended for a period of 1 year as set out in paragraph 2.1 of this report.

(2)  the Review of Social Care Delivery Arrangements be noted.

(3)  a further report be brought by the Director of Care and Health to this Committee setting out the considerations involved in moving towards returning the provision of these social care services and all age disability and mental health services to the Council’s direct delivery.