Archived decisions

REPORT OF THE

EXECUTIVE MEMBER

ADULT SOCIAL CARE

PART II

LEARNING DISABILITY INTEGRATED COMMUNITY SERVICES IN HAMPSHIRE - SECTION 75 PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH HAMPSHIRE PARTNERSHIP (NHS) TRUST

1. At her meeting on 19 December 2008 the Executive Member approved for signature a Section 75 Partnership Agreement for integrated learning disability community services in Hampshire between Hampshire County Council and Hampshire Partnership (NHS)Trust. Integration of learning disability health and social care community teams is supported by a plethora of government policies and "Valuing People" (2001) and "Valuing People Now" (2009) support an integrated model of provision as a means by which fair access to holistic services can be delivered to service users with learning disabilities and their families.

2. Integration of services is being driven by the need to improve outcomes for service users. An integrated service will also be better placed to deliver the changes required for the personalisation of services to which both Hampshire County Council and Hampshire PCT are committed. The structure being put in place through the Section 75 Agreement will support high performing services that deliver the best practice outcomes of "Valuing People," Valuing People Now" and "Putting People First," thereby supporting the Council's star rating.

3. The process for the integration of Learning Disability services is ongoing and the Partnership Agreement, which will contribute to all three of the Council's corporate priorities; Hampshire safer and more secure for all, Maximising well-being and Enhancing our quality of place, sets out the scope and nature of the partnership arrangements being entered into. The issues covered include legal, financial, IT, performance, accommodation and personnel matters. While approving the principles for the Partnership Agreement at her meeting, the Executive member also granted the Director of Adult Services delegated authority to agree any final, minor amendments that remained to be resolved but which did not significantly alter the Agreement's substance.

4. The project structure and workstreams being followed will continue to support and develop the integration project, which are being overseen by the Project Board and the proposed Integrated Services Partnership Board. A joint management structure for the community teams came into being on 1 July 2008 and joint appointments, by the County Council and Hampshire Partnership (NHS) Trust, have already been made in respect of Locality Service Managers and Team Managers. The recruitment processes that will lead to further key appointments are also progressing.

5. The S75 Agreement itself:

    · Sets out the scope and nature of the partnership arrangements;

    · Sets out the governance structure;

    · Records the establishment and management arrangements for an integrated management structure;

    · Records the partners' financial contributions to the project for the year 2008-2009 and provides a framework for agreeing contributions for further years;

    · Records the partners' mechanisms for working together for the better performance of the service and for improvement in the way the partners' functions are discharged.

6. The complete integration of people, systems, accommodation and resources will take place over an extended period so the exact costs and liabilities associated with the delivery of revised service delivery arrangements will emerge over time. The health and social care funds will, however, be managed within the integrated service, giving necessary permissions to jointly appointed managers in the service to manage those budgets. The Partnership Agreement will not involve the pooling of budgets and robust financial planning within the project structure, further supported by the S75 Agreement, will ensure that Adult Services is not exposed to undue financial risk.

7. The Partnership Agreement meets national, corporate and departmental objectives and offers tangible improvements in service delivery to service users. It promotes operational efficiency through joined-up working whilst allowing the Council to retain the flexibility required to respond to changing needs and priorities particularly those related to the personalisation of services.

8. The report considered by the Executive Member can be accessed on /decisions/decisions-index/index-docs-6971

        FELICITY HINDSON, MBE

          Executive Member for Adult Social Care