Agenda item

To note progress in taking forward the local integration agenda.

This item had not been circulated 5 clear days in advance of the meeting. The chair agreed to accept the item as urgent as the paper’s agreement was essential to supporting the local integration agenda. The ITF incentive and pace of developments in SLIC meant that a delay in considering the item may potentially impact on delivery.

The board watched a short film produced by Southwark’s youth council which captured views from young and older people about local services for older people. Following this Tamsin Hooton, Director of Service Redesign, outlined the national and local context. She outlined for discussion the objectives for taking forward the integration of local services for older people. She noted that integration was not a new concept in Southwark, with many lessons to build on, including the progress locally of SLIC. Although noting that progress had been slower than wished-for, she highlighted achievements including development of the homeward and enhanced rapid response service, as well as the establishment of community multi-disciplinary teams and a geriatrician hotline. She noted the ambitions to extend to other cohorts including those under 65 years, as well as to transform the workforce, improve care in nursing homes and simplify discharge pathways.

Sarah McClinton, Director of Adult Social Care, continued the presentation noting the role of the board in relation to the ITF and supporting integration across the wider system and connections with the JHWS. She highlighted that the central questions were how to bring together services across mental and physical health, across health and social care, and in supporting a whole-person care approach, and in particular what performance measures the board wished to use to track progress in achieving its ambitions around integration. She stressed that the ITF represented a lot to do in a very short space of time, supporting the view that additional workshops were desirable to ensure sufficient pace in developments, with the board providing the scope and steer to frame the development work. She also noted that the £3.8bn ITF was largely existing money which was attached to contracts including those for acute services.

The board agreed to set aside additional development time, such as through masterclasses, in order to ensure this work progresses with sufficient pace. Romi Bowen, Strategic Director of Children’s and Adults’ Services, added that the principles and overarching objectives set out in the report recommendations were right in ensuring that this work focused on the improved outcomes and experiences sought for residents, rather than being swamped in integration “for integration’s sake”. The board approved the recommendations as the basis for the masterclass’s work on developing more detailed performance measures. Eleanor Kelly, Chief Executive, noted that partners would continue to be involved in ongoing work between meetings, with the chair adding that the board bore the responsibility for delivering the ITF and wider integration agenda. It was agreed that updates would be provided to every board meeting going forward to ensure the board exercised its strategic oversight effectively.

RESOLVED:

1.  That the progress to date in taking forward the local integration agenda, as set out in paragraphs 10 – 14 of the report be noted.

2.  That the integration working party be tasked with creating a shared narrative for integrating services in Southwark as set out in paragraphs 10 – 14 of the report and report these back to the next meeting.

3.  That the shared objectives and performance measures which underpin local development for integrating older people services, as set out in paragraphs 15 – 16 of the report be agreed.