Decision details

Joint Commissioning and Service Planning of Mental Health Services

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Purpose:

The Mental Health Transformation Programme is in its second year and is delivering tangible benefits for people in the city. To build on this and move towards more effective joint commissioning and delivery of the programme, the report will recommend the Council signs up to a Memorandum of Agreement with the Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Sheffield Health and Social Care Trust, which will enable a continuation of the existing strategic approach to integrate resources and provide more joined-up care to people with mental health difficulties.

Decision:

That the Cabinet Member:-

 

A.   Approves the Mental Health Transformation Programme as described in the report;

  1. Endorses the principles set out in the draft Memorandum of Agreement between the Council, Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group Sheffield Heath and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust; and
  2. Agrees that the Council signs up to the Memorandum of Agreement.

 

 

Reasons for the decision:

By working more closely with colleagues in the NHS the Council will shape a mental health care system which will both deliver better quality of support to people and be a more efficient way to spend public money. 

 

An integrated approach is beneficial to the Council in terms of its budget challenges.  The increasing ambition to provide more community based support and care to people means that services paid for and organised by the Council will become increasingly in demand as people move from NHS funded hospital care.  An integrated approach ensures the financial and organisational demands of this are shared by all partners rather than being simply ‘shunted’ to the Council to manage.

 

Alternative options considered:

The alternative would be for the Council to not at this point sign up to the Memorandum of Agreement with partners, or to renegotiate significant aspects of the suggested arrangement.  This is not recommended because:

 

a)    By not signing up to joint working the Council will be distancing itself from the ambition to both deliver better quality of support and be a more efficient way to spend public money. 

b)    An integrated approach is beneficial to the Council in terms of its budget challenges.  The increasing ambition to provide more community based support and care to people means that services paid for and organised by the Council will become increasingly in demand as people move from NHS funded hospital care.  An integrated approach ensures the financial and organisational demands are shared by all partners rather than being simply ‘shunted’ to the Council to manage.

 

The Memorandum of Agreement as currently drafted does not give away any of the Council’s formal decision making or budgetary powers or responsibilities.   It describes a vision and ambition for increased collaboration and is a step towards more integrated approach to build on for the future.

 

Publication date: 01/02/2019

Date of decision: 01/02/2019

Effective from: 08/02/2019

Accompanying Documents: