The Vice-Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting as well as those watching the webcast.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Janette Williamson.

Councillor Gillian Wood was in attendance as substitute.

Members are asked to consider whether they have any disclosable pecuniary interests and/or any other relevant interest in connection with any item(s) on this agenda and, if so, to declare them and state the nature of the interest.

Members were asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests and any other relevant interest and to state the nature of the interest. No such declarations were made.

To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting held on 13 June 2023.

Councillor Gail Jenkinson requested a correction to the minutes for agenda item 6, asking that reference to professional carers be amended to kinship and friendship carers. Members also observed that comments had been made regarding the social value weighting within the Sexual and Reproductive Health Agenda item and noted that these were not included in the minutes.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meetings held on 18 June 2023 be approved as a correct record subject to the above amends and comments.

The Vice-Chair reported that there were no public questions, statements, petitions or questions by members.

The Assistant Director for Health and Commissioning presented the report of the Director for Care and Health. The report requested Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee to retrospectively approve the Section 75 pooled fund arrangement for 2022/23 between the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and the Council and give delegated authority to the Director of Law and Governance in consultation with the Director of Care and Health to sign off the agreement. The report described the arrangements, content, and value of the 2022/2023 Section 75 and sets out the additional funding that the ICB contributed to the pool. The report set out how the content of the Section 75 supported the outcomes of the Healthy Wirral Plan and achieved the Governments priorities for 2022/23.

Members queried how the disabled facilities grant was functioning, and whether the right resources were in place within the Housing team. It was noted that it was running well, with improved pathways, fast tracking and regular reporting. Also discussed was the annex to the report with Members being informed that this was an exemplar of what may be considered in future years.

Members also requested a workshop be held to assist Members to consider the context and detail of the Better Care Fund and further detail be presented regarding movement in funding streams.

On a motion by the Vice-Chair, seconded by Councillor Mary Jordan it was,

Resolved – that,

1. the continuation and value of the pooled fund arrangement between the  Council and the ICB for 2022/23 as set out in the report be approved.

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

3. the increase in the Section 75 pooled fund in November 2022 as a result of the Adult Social Care Discharge Fund be noted

4. The Director of Law and Governance be authorised in consultation with the Director of Care and Health to enter a S75 Agreement with the Wirral ICB for 2022/23

5. Committee would welcome an explanation of the movements in the Better Care funding streams at a forthcoming workshop.

The Director of Public Health presented the report which sought agreement  to include the current Public Health funding, allocated specifically for emotional health and wellbeing support for children and young people, within the new local model to be jointly commissioned from April 2024. The joint commission between Public Health, the Children and Young People’s Department and Wirral Place Integrated Care Board (ICB) will transform available support and will provide a more effective and co-ordinated approach to improve outcomes for children and young people.

Members sought clarification on what the model would include and were informed that a digital platform is the first point of contact, followed by various routes which included face to face or virtual offer. The model would be communicated via play and youth services. Members also discussed staffing implications and how the model will be monitored for outcomes. Members were informed that there are quarterly monitoring meetings, where data is reviewed. Also discussed was the ability of moderators to be reactive and ensure that safeguarding is in place online, as well as ensuring that this model will ensure satisfactory outcomes for end users.

Resolved – That,

1.  The Director of Public Health be authorised to allocate the budget for the current mental health commissions funded from the Public Health Grant into the joint commission led by Wirral Place ICB for the Emotional Health and Wellbeing Model, for a contract period of five years (1st April 2024 – 31st March 2029). With the option of two one-year extensions in accordance with the spend profile in paragraph 4.5 of this report.

2.  The Director of Public Health be authorised to agree in consultation with Director of Children’s services the Council’s preferred tenderer and notify the Wirral Place ICB of this decision

The Director of Public Health presented the report which provided an update on the progress made in re-commissioning of the Information and Advice service. Approval was given by committee in November 2022 to re-commission the current service in line with Wirral Council Contract Procedure rules.

The report provides an overview of the findings of the independent evaluation undertaken by Liverpool John Moore’s University and the local mapping work that has been undertaken to support the re-commissioning of the service as agreed at Adult Social Care and Public Health committee on 29 November 2022.

Members noted that permission was given to commence the tender process, the current economic pressures that residents were under, the value of the service in reducing stress during difficult times, and queried how qualitative and quantitative data was monitored and demand would be forecast.

Members also noted that number of volunteers (75) was a good improvement and wanted to put on record their thanks to the volunteers and managers for the service provided.

Resolved – that the work undertaken to recommission the Wirral Information and Advice Service be noted.

The Director of Care and Health presented the report set out the financial monitoring information for the Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee as at Quarter 1 (1 Apr – 30 Jun) 2023/24.  Members were informed that at the end of Quarter 1, there is a reported adverse position of £2.228m on the Committee’s net revenue budget of £130.579m.

Members discussed several concerns such as winter pressures and Criteria to Reside which is a tool used for discharge planning, noting that delays to discharge can cause additional issues with rehabilitation and reablement.

Resolved – that,

1. the adverse position presented at Quarter 1 be noted.

2. the delivery of the 2023/24 savings programme at Quarter 1 be noted.

3. the reserves allocated to the Committee for future one-off commitments be noted.

4. the level of reserves at Quarter 1 be noted.

The Associate Director of Operations for Cheshire and Wirral Partnership presented the 2022/23 Quality Account, which is an annual report to the people we serve about the quality of services provided to residents, achievements of the past year and improvements in quality of care delivered by  CWP and ambitions for the upcoming year. Members were informed that  CWP provides Mental Health Support for adults and almost adults.

Members congratulated CWP on the Health Services Journal award and were informed that the project was based on a digital database which brings together information to assist service users. Members also discussed provision for eating disorders and for service users with autism or other special needs. Also discussed was access to  services; including availability of face to face and digital support. Members also flagged concerns and queries about waiting times for both triage and treatment, reviews and also emergency support for crisis situations.

Resolved - that the draft quality accounts be noted.

The Head of Legal Services presented the report of the Director of Law and Governance. Members were informed that the Committee is responsible for proposing and delivering an annual committee work programme. This work programme should align with the corporate priorities of the Council, in particular the delivery of the key decisions which are within the remit of the Committee.

Further to the June Committee, Members had nominated Cllr Julie McManus and Cllr Mary Jordan to champion Dementia awareness within the Borough. The Vice-Chair invited both Councillors to provide a summary update of their work to date. This included the need for a dementia friendly brough, a localised dementia strategy as well as identifying key officers and stakeholders Committee could with with. It was noted that awareness of dementia should be raised with officers from all directorates. Cllr Jordan then provided committee with metrics and data around dementia diagnosis and prevalence in Wirral. It was agreed that a workshop be organised to facilitate discussion and next steps.

Members also discussed additional workshops on pooled funding and drugs and alcohol strategy and several additional items on the work programme such as an update on dentistry.

Resolved – that work programme be noted and above items be included.