The Chair welcomed the members of the Board, officers and those watching the webcast to the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from:

Abel Adegoke  Primary Care providers

Dave Bradburn,   Director of Public Health, Wirral Council

Suzanne Edwards   Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Karen Howell  Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Trust

Tom Pharoah  Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Trust

Tim Welch  Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Simone White  Children Services, Wirral Council

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

The Chair asked for members to declare any interests in any items on the agenda. No interests were declared.

To approve the accuracy on the minutes of the meeting held on 9 February 2023.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 9 February 2023 be approved as a correct record.

The Chair reported that no public questions, statements or petitions had been received.

The Appendix may not be suitable to view for people with disabilities, users of assistive technology or mobile phone devices. Please contact michaelchantler@nhs.net if you would like this document in an accessible format.

The Place Director, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside introduced his report which summarised the action taken to progress points made about the draft Terms of Reference at the Place Governance Group. An updated version of the Terms of Reference was attached for approval. It was noted that they may require further approval as delegations to place level were being considered, potentially with budgets.

Members discussed the potential similarity with the Integrated Care Board Terms of Reference and whether they should match one another, although it was clear that the Partnership Board had a wider membership which must be reflected. It was also noted that a performance and finance report and the Place Plan was awaited and that supporting groups would begin to report to the Board so the agenda and work would continue to evolve.

Following the discussion, the Chair suggested an amended recommendation. This was proposed by Graham Hodkinson and seconded by Ali Hughes.

Resolved: That

(1)  the work on the actions from the Place Governance Group detailed in the report be noted.

(2)  Recognising the changing operating environment the Place Governance Group be asked to review the Terms of Reference and represent them to the next Board meeting.

(3)  the Place Based Partnership Board continue to function as now until these arrangements are clarified.

The Appendices may not be suitable to view for people with disabilities, users of assistive technology or mobile phone devices. Please contact alison.hughes29@nhs.netif you would like this document in an accessible format.

The Director of Corporate Affairs of Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust presented the report of the members of the Wirral Provider Partnership (WPP). She explained that the Partnership had been established by the Wirral Place Based Partnership Board and delivered by the Chief Executives of the provider and partner organisations at Place, each of which remained a sovereign organisation. The WPP was a collective of health and care providers accountable to the Partnership Board and had a shared purpose and focus to deliver against the core principles agreed with system providers that aligned to the Wirral Plan and supported the development and delivery of integrated care for the Wirral. Providers in Wirral would also be part of at-scale Provider Collaboratives within Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System. There were two system Collaboratives: 1. Acute and Specialist Provider Collaborative; and 2. Community, Mental Health and Learning Disability Provider Collaborative. The report detailed the purposes, membership and terms of reference of the WPP.

Members noted that there was crossover with the Partnership Board and work was ongoing to align the governance framework.

Resolved: That

(1)  the work to establish the Wirral Provider Partnership (WPP) be noted;

(2)  the Terms of Reference for the WPP be noted;

(3)  further work to align governance in Place be supported, reporting back to the Board in June 2023.

The Appendices may not be suitable to view for people with disabilities, users of assistive technology or mobile phone devices. Please contact simon.banks@cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk if you would like this document in an accessible format.

The Place Director (Wirral), NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, presented his report which provided an update on a quarterly review meeting with NHS Cheshire and Merseyside which took place on 13th January 2023. Each of the nine Places in Cheshire and Merseyside were to have quarterly review meetings with NHS Cheshire and Merseyside. He noted that there were increased costs due to inflation and increased demands. The meeting considered primary care in depth and had a discussion on tobacco dependency. There had been a letter of feedback which he would circulate. The next planned meeting was to be in May, focussed on Children’s services.

There was a discussion over accountability and governance and the Place Director offered to meet with CEOs of the NHS Cheshire and Merseyside and Wirral Council to resolve any confusion.

Resolved: That the report be noted.

The Appendix may not be suitable to view for people with disabilities, users of assistive technology or mobile phone devices. Please contact elizabethhartley@wirral.gov.uk if you would like this document in an accessible format.

The Interim Deputy Director of Children’s Services at Wirral Council presented her report which provided an update on progress of the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Transformation Programme and details of the Priority Plan 2023 for the SEND transformation Programme. It was noted that there had been a 40% increase in the number of children involved but there had been increases in the volume and speed of assessments.

The implications of 40% more children moving through the system were highlighted as planning was required to have resources to support them in the future as adults.

Resolved: That the report and progress made be noted, and the Priority Plan 2023 be supported.

Appendix 1 may not be suitable to view for people with disabilities, users of assistive technology or mobile phone devices. Please contact Simon.Banks@cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk if you would like this document in an accessible format.

The Place Director (Wirral), NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, introduced his report which detailed the work being done to establish partnership arrangements. The Wirral Place Based Partnership Board (WPBPB) was

supported by four key governance and assurance groups. The report provided highlight reports from each of these groups and would be a regular report.

Representatives of each of the groups provided updates on their work.

Resolved: That the work of the four supporting groups be noted and updates continue to be received as a standing agenda item.

The Appendix may not be suitable to view for people with disabilities, users of assistive technology or mobile phone devices. Please contact louise.morris6@nhs.net  if you would like this document in an accessible format.

Senior Finance Business Partner for Wirral Place presented the report of the

Associate Director of Finance, Cheshire & Merseyside which provided an update to the pooled fund budget, a summary forecast position as at Month 9 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 was to be subject to approval and final sign off by Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB). It was noted that a significant deficit was reported on pooled fund on the NHS side, offset partially by better local authority position.

Resolved: That

(1)   it be noted that the forecast position for the Pool at Month 9 is currently a £8.1m overspend position.

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

(3)   it be noted that the 2022/23 section 75 agreement is under legal review by both parties, prior to proposed sign-off.

(4)   the Public Health variation of £0.164m from the Better Care Fund to the wider pooled fund element of the section 75 be noted.

The Head of Legal Services introduced the report of the Director of Law and Governance which detailed the annual work programme of items for consideration by the Wirral Place Based Partnership Board.

Members discussed the order and best dates for the undated items.

Resolved: That the work programme be noted.