Issue - meetings

Mark Tyson, Commissioning Director Adults’ Care and Support, advised that by Minute No. 6, 5 July 2017, the Board had given delegated authority for a response to be sent on 11 September 2017 and that the report in front of the Board was not seeking any decision but was purely to provide an update.  Work had been undertaken on the Barking, Havering and Redbridge (BHR) Plan in association with commissioning partners and it reflected the shared ambition for progressing integration and service improvement across BHR.  The work had been significantly borough based this year (Year 1) and had focused on aligning plans and governance.  There would be a more integrated Plan across the three boroughs for the following years, with Year 2 seeing substantive integration through joint commissioning. 

The report and its appendices set out in further detail the implication and planning requirements since the 5 July meeting of the Board.  Mark drew specific attention to several issues including:

·  Funding for the next two years

The contributions from the Local Authority, new grant funding, the Disabled Facilities Grant allocations, CCG contributions resulting in a total BCF funding pot of £21,758,000 in 2017/18 and £24,236,000 in 2018/19.

·  Governance
It is expected that a new structure will be formed in 2018/19 to reflect the greater interdependence of the Plans and further reports will be presented on this issue in due course.

·  Delayed Transfers
Guidance from NHS England had placed a greater emphasis on delayed transfers (out of hospital).  The Borough was out-performing the 45-day target and in the past year had achieved a 30-day average, which was one of the best performances across London. 

·  New grant measures, which were allowing more to be done in regard to mental health provision, , as well as allowing the Council to contain the cost of the previous year’s £100/week increase in residential care fees.

·  Equipment Purchase contract(s) that would allow easy item / service provision, which in turn would reduce delays in people being discharged from hospital.

·  Support for carers in delivering care within an individual’s home.

·  Hospice transfer for both respite and end of life care.

·  The effect on Localities and Intermediate Care provision

The Chair raised concerns that the Partnership appeared to be being penalised for doing well and that we should be setting the achievable average target of 45 days and if we do better that can be applauded.  The partnership had worked together in setting-up the systems to achieve that good level of performance and those systems now need to be left to bed-in, but would continue to be monitored to ensure there was no downward performance drift.  The Chair stressed that the Partnership needed to now concentrate on other pressing areas of performance improvement.  Cllr Carpenter commented that we should determine the target and fight for an achievable target.  Concern was also raised that too stretching targets could encourage risky or too early discharge resulting in rapid readmittance.  It was noted that some negotiation might be necessary with NHS England.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23