Collaborative Working Element of the CFF

What are the aims of this aspect of the CFF?

The goal of the 55p collaborative working element of the CFF is to support primary care engagement in the collaborative working of the locality. By ‘collaborative’, this means working across primary care and other provider’se.g HCT, HPFT, Third Sector, Acute etc. The locality may choose to work on an existing priority or a new priority for the locality.

This funding pot, under the control of the LCC, has the aim of achieving integrated care pathways for better outcomes. More specifically, the goal is:

  • To support practice & patient engagement in service change and facilitate the locality to work collaboratively across organisations by identifying a service transformation need on a locality priority area with agreed outcomes around patient care, and most efficient use of resources, such as reducing A&E attendance or non-elective admissions. This can be locality / town based, but it needs to be in accordance with the needs of the locality.
  • To facilitate the locality to work collaboratively across organisations by identifying a service transformation need on a locality priority area with agreed outcomes around patient care, and most efficient use of resources.

What are some examples of how we might use this fund?

Examples of the sort of work that localities may choose to focus on could include areas such as a joined up and transformed approach to working with patients in care homes, integrated working in the locality around falls, mental health models in primary care, or any other agreed priorities of the locality that are best addressed through an integrated approach across providers.

Collaboration across localities is also a common problem – it may be that localities may choose to work across more than one locality on a specific area; one locality may take the lead on behalf of others to transform an area – eg asthma, care homes etc. Again this can be linked with other funding if appropriate (eg GPFV).

How do we get started?

The Locality including the relevant providers will work collaboratively to identify a service transformation need in a locality priority service area. This may be a new or an existing priority. (N.B. This is not to be used for a service change that is already funded from another source). If appropriate, this funding can be used alongside other locality funds to support the particular project (e.g. £1 per patient, GP Forward View £1.50).

The locality should set up a task and finish group to develop, implement and evaluate the collaborative working project. Guidance on task and finish groups is provided in the CFF 2018-2019 FAQ, Engagement, item 3.5.

The collaborative working plan will be developed by the ICDB to deliver the agreed priority of the LCC. A written costed project proposal (item C4) should be submitted to and formally approved by the LCC. The date for submission of the plan was originally end of Q1 but has been now extended by 6 weeks to July 20th to allow localities who may need additional time to consider this fully and develop a robust collaborative plan approved by the LCC.

What needs to happen during the process?

The project needs to be planned carefully so it has deliverable and specific time scales. It can be a brief piece of work or it may have a duration of up to six months.As a golden rule, keep it simple and auditable. A further template is provided (Item C5) for monitoring progress, which localities may use should they find this helpful. An evaluation template (Item C6) is provided which must be used and submitted to the Locality Commissioning Committee at the completion of the project.

A final evaluation report is to be submitted to the LCC. Locality managers will provide CCG wide progress reports on delivery and successful changes.

The LCC is responsible for ensuring value for money in demonstrating delivery of the agreed measurable actions in each project agreed.

What can these funds be used for?

Some examples of what the collaborative funds can be used to pay for:

  • Primary care attendance at Task and Finish Groups to facilitate the planning, implementation, delivery and evaluation of transformational changes from the identified locality priority.
  • Funding/Backfilling a GP or another appropriate primary care staff member to lead on a service transformation project with practices and external providers on a priority identified by the locality.
  • Employing an appropriate person to work across practices (locality wide or hub wide) to deliver a service transformation project linking in with external providers and practices. This may include a project manager or project support officer on a transformation project.
  • Note: Any contract must be coterminous with the expiration of the fund i.e. 31 March 2019;

What should the funding not be used for?

This is not practice specific money, unless the practice is delivering a transformation plan on behalf of the locality. It is intended to support those practices and individuals in primary care to deliver the agreed locality priorities of the LCC plan.

The funding cannot be used for the following:

  • Creating a post within a practice for the benefit of the practice
  • Clinical backfill within a practice for the benefit of the practice
  • Paying for external providers’ attendance at meetings
  • As additional practice income

The funds must be used in the spirit of progressing collaborative working in the locality, and achieving the aims as described on page 1.

How do we organise the payments?

Payment for this element of the CFF would be retrospective via invoices to SBS Wakefield Processing, with supporting evidence.

Payment will be approved by the LCC against agreed projects or task & finish groups. As a general principle, up front payments will not be provided, unless approved by LCC for payment of an agreed post holder eg project manager post. Remuneration will be as approved by the LCC in line with agreed CCG remuneration rates and other relevant policies, with invoices being submitted in line with the specific finance plan associated with each locality plan, as agreed by the LCC.

Funds Available per Locality

Locality / Collaborative Funding Resource in CFF
North Herts / £63,931
Stevenage / £53,067
Wel Hat / £67,630
ULV / £68, 472
LLV / £41,753
SVV / £33, 845

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