To provide the outcomes of the scrutiny enquiry into the integration of health and social care in Central Bedfordshire as reported to the Social Care, Health and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

1.      That the report and recommendations of the enquiry, set out at Appendices A and B to the report, be noted.

2.      That a response to the report be submitted to the Executive for consideration within two months indicating what action, if any, it proposes to take and if it decides to take no action, the reasons for that decision.

The Executive considered a report from the Chairman of the Social Care, Health and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee that presented the outcome of the scrutiny enquiry into the integration of health and social care in Central Bedfordshire.  The enquiry sought to understand the national strategic drives, barriers, risks and to receive evidence, advice and information from sector experts to help develop an approach to redesigning access to health and care services.

The Leader requested that the Chairman of the Social Care, Health and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee to continue task force work to look at other examples of good practice in relation to integrated health and social care.

Reason for decision:  To enable the Executive to review the recommendations emerging from the enquiry before determining its response.

RESOLVED

1.      that the report and recommendations of the enquiry, set out at Appendices A and B to the report, be noted; and

2.      that a response to the report be submitted to the Executive for consideration within two months indicating what action, if any, it proposed to take and if it decided to take no action, the reasons for that decision.

To receive the Enquiry team report on the Integration of Health and Social Care in Central Bedfordshire and agree recommendations for the consideration of Executive.

The Chairman of the overview and scrutiny enquiry into integration of health and social care introduced the enquiry report and advised the Committee that the team had conducted their enquiry over several months and thanked all those who gave evidence and had contributed to findings.  The Chairman emphasised the importance of managing the expectations of the public and funding of services going forward.  There was a clear desire declared by those interviewed to achieve a more integrated health and social care system, however, the implementation and action plans were critical in order to avoid another ‘talking shop’. 

The Committee were reminded of the five principles agreed by the Enquiry Team supported by a number of recommendations to the Executive.

In response the Executive Member for Health commented that although locality work was important, the proposals should be more about integration of services along side village care schemes and other third sector services. Members agreed to re-emphasis the following areas in the report to the Executive:--

·         The importance of the role of community and voluntary sector, such as the Village Care and good neighbour schemes, and faith groups to support integration along side multi disciplinary teams in localities be highlighted and supported. 

·         That officers investigate public sector funding opportunities for Hub facilities in the Ivel Valley, West Mid Bedfordshire, Chiltern Vale, Leighton Buzzard.

·         The Committee supported the view that spokes be considered for market towns and villages such as Silsoe, Sandy, Potton and amongst others to be aligned to the hubs and that an approach for what the spokes might look like for those areas be mapped out by officers and NHS Partners.

·         That the Bromley-by-Bow community centre be recommended to the Executive as a good practice model for Integrated Health and Care Hub working.

RECOMMEDED that the Enquiry report into the Integration of Health and Social Care in Central Bedfordshire be approved and submitted to the Executive at their meeting on 20 June 2017, incorporating the details of the Member visit to Bromley-by-Bow community centre.