AGENDA ITEM
REPORT TO:
ADULT H&WBB COMMISSIONING GROUP
19TH April 2016
REPORT OF:Sue Reay Transformation Team
BETTER CARE FUND – COMMISSIONING VCSE SERVICES
SUMMARY
The purpose of this paper is to discuss and agree the most appropriate commissioning process for Better Care Fund projects that are not clearly one organisation’s responsibility.
RECOMMENDATIONS
It is recommended that Adult Health and Wellbeing BoardCommissioning Group:
- Note the approved from the Pooled Budget Partnership Board to fund three Social Prescribing projects
- Determine the most appropriate commissioning process for these services
- Note the pressures on VCSE services as a consequence of the Better Care Fund
- Determine the most appropriate process for dealing with these additional pressures
BACKGROUND
1.The original Better Care Fund (BCF) plan was approved by the Health and Well-being Board (H&WBB) at its meeting on 20th September 2014 and was submitted to the Department of Health. The plan was ‘Approved’ in December 2014. The revised plan for 2016/17 is currently in draft form subject to H&WBB approval at its meeting on 27th April 2016.
2.A Section 75 agreement has been developed to support the commissioning of services which are funded from the BCF. The approval process for all schemes is through the Pooled Budget Partnership Board (PBPB).
DETAIL
Social Prescribing
3.At its meeting on 25th February, the PBPB agreed to fund the following three schemes from the BCF because the objectives and outcomes were clearly linked. Its decision is set out below:
- Approve the funding of the following three Health Initiatives from the Better Care Fund:
- Better Health, Better Wealth – Age UK
- Close 2 Home – Mind
- Staying Out – ARC
- To funding the three projects through the social prescribing fund until September 2016 and then fund for a further 18 months until end March 2018 from the Better Care Fund. Further funding from BCF would need to be subject to a further report and approval from the PBPB.
- That a procurement be undertaken to ensure all three projects are delivering value for money and that this process be agreed and undertaken by the Health and Well-being Adult Commissioning Group.
4.A copy of the original report and its appendix is set out at Appendix 1.
5.It is unclear who would be the most appropriate commissioner for these services and the Group are asked to consider this at their meeting.
Pressures on VCSE Services
6.One of the aims of the BCF was to engage with the VCSE to ensure their services were utilised by health and social care. The VCSE through Catalyst have been involved in the development and implementation of the Stockton BCF plan.
7.The new Well-being Facilitators who are part of the Multi-Disciplinary Service use the VCSE for a range of services and are now finding that these services are at capacity and they are now unable to take further referrals. There are two services in particular but there is a view that this new pressure would extend to other VCSE services in the future. The two services at pressure are:
- Welfare Advice Services
- Befriending Services
8.In addition to this, there are two new projects which are potentially identifying services which are not currently available:
- Personalisation and Integrated Personal Commissioning
- Better Care Fund - MDS
9.The group are asked to consider how to progress these two issues.
FINANCIAL AND LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
10.None.
RISK ASSESSMENT
11.None.
COMMUNITY STRATEGY IMPLICATIONS
12.None.
CONSULTATION
13.None.
Contact details:
Sue Reay Transformation Team
Telephone Number: 01642 527018
Email Address:
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