Archived decisions

Contact: Colin Hardy, 07718 146800, [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 National guidance on how Local Authorities and Primary Care Trusts might consider sharing the funding of services to children and young people with complex needs is not yet available and a number of different arrangements have existed across Hampshire with the former PCTs.

1.2 These arrangements have included sharing services costs for those with complex needs and have also included a broader range of circumstances in which service might be jointly commissioned or purchased. For example a pooled budget exists for providing additional care services to support parents and schools (the Joint Exceptional Needs Initiative -JENI) and also for the provision of special equipment.

1.3 The commencement of the Hampshire Primary Care Trust in October 2006 and the adoption of common operational boundaries provided an opportunity to rationalise the former different arrangements for joint commissioning services to within a single framework.

1.4 This report confirms the arrangements now agreed with the Primary Care Trust to pool resources to support the development of joint commissioning strategies in key areas and the protocol to consider shared funding for children and young people with complex needs.

2. Recommendations

That Members note the arrangements developing between the County Council and the Hampshire Primary Care Trust to jointly commission services

3. Joint Commissioning framework

3.1 Building upon the existing Trust arrangement between the PCT and the County Council for jointly commissioning Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) agreement has been reached to develop joint commissioning strategies for other key service areas, including for children with complex needs, for children in care and those on the edge of care.

3.2 A joint commissioning group, jointly chaired by the Deputy Director for Children's Services - Children and Families and by the PCT Area Director with a lead for Children's Services, has been established and the terms of reference for the group to oversee future work is attached at appendix 1.

3.3 Agreement has also been reached to pool existing staff resources to better coordinate joint commissioning work and the existing strategic leadership for CAMHS and for services to Children with a Disability have been aligned with a number of PCT posts under the direction of a jointly appointed Head of Service.

3.4 Over time is in intended to rationalise, within this framework, a number of existing commissioning arrangements, including for teenage pregnancy, early intervention, drug and alcohol services. The potential to pool budgets to commission a range of specialist services will be explored where advantage can be gained.

4. Protocol for joint commissioning services to children and young people with complex needs

4.1 A working draft protocol for considering joint commissioning and shared funding for services to children and young people with complex needs has been agreed and is attached at appendix 2.

4.2 The protocol sets out the scope and focus of the approach, the assessments which may be needed and defines the process by which managers should seek agreement. The protocol also includes arrangements for dealing with disputes and includes the potential for partners to pool budgets to commission and fund services.

4.3 The working arrangements between managers locally and at a county level are being developed as the PCT puts in place its management structure for commissioning and for the management of NHS services to children and families.

4.4 National guidance on how partners should jointly approach service provision for those with complex needs is awaited and the draft working protocol will be subject to review when the guidance is available.

5 Conclusion

5.1 The development of a framework for developing joint commissioning builds upon the successful existing arrangements for partnership working within the CAMHS Trust and a number of existing local partnerships including the Children's Fund arrangements.

5.2 The arrangements to align staff within a joint approach is an important step and will potentially ensure a better focus to commissioning work including planning, needs assessments, consultation and work with service providers to ensure integrated service delivery. Future consideration of those circumstances where it may be advantageous for partners to pool budgets and other resources will be explored.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background documents

The following documents discuss facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and have been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB: the list excludes:

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

None