Agenda item

4.1

The Board received a presentation on the integration of Health and Social Care and the Better Care Fund from Joe Fowler, Director of Commissioning, Sheffield City Council and Tim Furness, Director of Business, Planning and Partnerships, Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group.

4.2

There were four main areas for commissioning, namely: keeping people well in their local community; intermediate care; independent living solutions; and long-term high support and these were outlined in more detail in the presentation. The presentation also provided an update on progress and a summary of forthcoming activity.

4.3

Members of the Board made comments on the issues raised by the presentation, as follows:-

4.4

There were risks in pursuing greater integration of health and social care and also risks in not doing so. It was considered that by working together, there might be mitigation of risks and this may include learning from pilots and some recalibration. Some capacity to deal with potential risks would be created by the City’s health and social care organisations working together.

4.5

Whilst there was not, as yet, definitive data, some of the available data on integration was beginning to support the view that investment in prevention and at community level does pay-off. An evidence and scale based approach was required.

4.6

The approach taken might vary according to the circumstances in a particular area. Each area was different and the infrastructure and capacity of the community, for example in terms of the voluntary and community sector, may vary.

4.7

Academic partners may be engaged in evaluating the process of integration to see whether it was leading to the desired/intended results.

4.8

The approach which was being adopted was ambitious and was also the right one, which in the long term would improve services. It was recognised that there were risks and that change in respect of ethos, culture and expectations would take time to implement. Resources were being brought together and each of the respective organisations had its own governance arrangements. It was noted that Sheffield had the lowest number of children and young people in care as a result of the investment in early intervention and prevention.

4.9

NHS England were connected with the co-commissioning and integration plans.

4.10

There had been national challenge about how effective the approach being adopted would be. However, it was considered the right thing to do and, in Sheffield, such changes were taking place before the Better Care Fund.

4.11

Resolved: that the Board notes the presentation.