Purpose of Document: Report to VCS re Health & Social Care Leadership Forum

Action Required: For Information

Author: PJW Talbot

Meeting Date: December 2015

Background:

The Health and Social Care Leaders Forum is a new sub set of the Well Connected Programme. It is a meeting of the leaders of the key statutory sector organisation and VCS representative principally with a view to ensuring that enabler projects supporting integrated care are delivered effectively. The three key topics of discussion at the meeting were the national Spending Review implications on the health and care sector locally; Trailblazers; and the developing Information Technology enabler. In addition we discussed the COMPACT.

Review:

Whilst the detail of the government spending review is still to be analysed, all the bodies present expressed a degree of caution and concern about the ‘mixed bag’ of settlement decisions. The government was supporting broadly the NHS reform programme but devolving responsibility for social care to local authorities. There was a view that the Better Care Fund should be maintained on course.

The current programme of health and social care redevelopment across the county through a ‘trailblazer style’ programme would continue. This re-configuration would focus on a few key providers and partnerships. Capitated budgets and shared risk would be major drivers for these changes and local Alliance Boards would be used as conduits to achieve the change. Each CCG was in a different phase of development but each was broadly following the same objectives. These would develop over the next two years.

VCS and COMPACT:

It was agreed that the VCS could have two representatives attend the Forum. The VCS raised the issue of the compliance with the principles of the COMPACT and reminded the members of their current obligations covering VCS/statutory consultation contractual protocols. It was noted a revised version of the COMPACT was being developed.

The VCS highlighted the danger of new ‘riskier’ contracts having financial and organisational pressure implications. The group was supportive and understanding of this and accepted that whilst changes were likely, the VCS interface needs to be respected and not ‘abused’.

Page 1 of 2 Information Technology integrator:

A key enabler for Well Connected is to enable the complex IT systems across the health and care environment to work together more effectively. This is a significant tasks and to some extent the VCS is a ‘bit part’ player. It certainly is at present. The longer term implications may well be significant changes for VCS organisations who interface with the statutory sector. Progress is slow but we should monitor this regularly and feed in to the programme as appropriate to avoid greater challenges of integration with prevention and early intervention programmes in the future.

Overview:

The Leaders Forum is quite an informal group which would benefit from a VCS presence and perspective. The VCS has the unique position of being both a provider and a voice of the public. The group does have a limited remit and given it will only meet quarterly, it is unlikely that any major issues will be discussed in any detail. It is most likely to provide the VCS with a greater understanding of wider initiatives that can be practically engaged with and can be influenced strategically. It can also provide the VCS with a platform to raise relevant issues around integrated care to the other participants.

Philip Talbot For and on behalf of the Worcestershire Voices Health and Social Care Group

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