The Associate Director of Finance, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside

Introduced this report which provided a description of the arrangements that had been put in place to support effective integrated commissioning. It set out the key issues in respect of budget and variations to the expenditure areas for agreement and inclusion within the 2022/23 shared “pooled” fund; and risk and gain share arrangements. In 2022/23 Wirral Health and Care partners had chosen to currently jointly pool £249.10m to enable a range of responsive services for vulnerable Wirral residents as well as a significant component of Better Care Funding to protect frontline social care delivery. This paper provided an update to the pooled fund budget, a summary forecast position as at Month 12 to 31st March 2023 and the financial risk exposure of each partner organisation. The report also provided an update on the preparation of the framework partnership agreement under section 75 of the National Health Services Act 2006 relating to the commissioning of health and social care services, which were subject to approval and final sign off by Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB) Health and Wellbeing Board. It was noted that there was an overspend on the ICB part of the Fund around continuing health care and subscribing costs.

Resolved – That it be noted that

(1)   the forecast position for the Pool at Month 12 is currently a £9.0m overspend position.

(2)   the shared risk arrangements are limited to the Better Care Fund only, which is reporting a small underspend position.

(3)   the 2022/23 section 75 agreement has been reviewed for sign off. Following the legal review by both parties, the next steps will be at the Cheshire and Merseyside ICB Finance committee and the Adult, Social Care and Public Health Committee for sign off.

(4)   the summary of expenditure of £4.31m on the National Discharge Fund submitted for 2022/23 be noted.