Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report

1. Executive Summary

1.1 The purpose of this paper is to seek approval for making two grants to Positive Action in the current financial year to provide specialist well-being services to people who are infected with HIV and their relatives and partners.

1.2 The reasons for the funding and the source of the funding is through the AIDS Support Grant 2009/10.

1.3 Background information relating to the incidence and effect of being HIV+ in Hampshire is as covered in the report to the Executive Member on 1 May 2009 (Decision Reference 670).

2. Contextual Information

2.1 In 2007 there were 553 people diagnosed as HIV+ in Hampshire. It is estimated that a further one third of people who are HIV+ are unaware of their condition, which leads to a total of 730 in Hampshire. This figure is consistently rising each year and is currently expected to continue to do so. Hampshire is, in national terms, a low prevalence area. The rise is spread across all groups of people who are infected.

2.2 Being HIV+ in the United Kingdom is now considered to be a long-term treatable condition. Assuming appropriate and timely treatment, the nature of the care pathway has changed and people who are HIV+ are often able to live a long and productive life. However it remains a challenging and complex disease for the individual to manage combined with profound implications for people living in the community in respect of the general antipathy often experienced by those who are HIV+

2.3 Specialist services to people living with HIV in Hampshire are provided from the AIDS Support Grant (ASG) to deliver a combination of direct services by the Adult Services Department and commissioned services from the local specialist voluntary sector, in partnership with and reflecting the specialist medical services commissioned by Hampshire PCT.

2.4 Both health and social care services have evolved over time, and are continuing to do so, in response to variations in demand and with reference to the changing incidence of the disease, its treatment and impact on individuals living with HIV (both infected and affected by HIV).

2.5 The pattern of demand has changed to the extent that rather than using, or needing to use, specialist services provided by the Adult Services Department, people are choosing to go to the voluntary sector for their social care and then, where necessary, using the Department's mainstream services. In this context, the specialist AIDS Development worker employed by Adult Services is now on secondment to another post and it is not at present appropriate to backfill that post. However, in order to retain our specialist knowledge and skills and raise awareness within the mainstream of social care we retain one day a week of the specialist post.

2.6 The existing service provider for whom these grants are recommended is;

Positive Action - a voluntary sector service provider which offers a drop-in centre that also provides counselling, group work support, advocacy and information. In addition, it provides housing and employment-related support. This service is based in Aldershot, Southampton and Portsmouth.

2.7 The services that will be supported by the grants being recommended for the above agency are for the prevention, care and after care of people who are suffering or recovering from illness. One grant is for the delivery of services in the south and southwest of the County, one is for the delivery of services in the north, centre and southeast of the County.

3. Finance - The AIDS Support Grant

3.1 The AIDS Support Grant (ASG) for 2009/10 was announced by The Department of Health on 18 June 2009 and shows a grant for Hampshire of £236,000, which is above the figure anticipated in the report of 1 May 2009. However as the ASG was announced late the first grants had to be made on the basis of the annual base budget of £133,000.

3.2 At the time of the report on 1 May 2009, the grants to Positive Action of £22,000 for the centre and south west of the county and £35,900 for the north and south east of the county were recommended on the basis of the known AIDS Support Grant base budget.

3.3 The additional grants of £14,100 and £14,900 now recommended enable a grant total for 2009/10 of £36,100 and £50,800.

3.4 In addition a small grant of £4,500 was made in May to Body Positive in Bournemouth to provide centre-based services for those who choose to seek their social care support outside the county.

3.5 The figures above bear comparison with the respective total grants made in 2008/9 and reflect the increase in infection and diagnosis rates found in this county and acknowledged by the increased grant from the Department of Health.

3.6 Consideration is currently being given to the balance being focused on market development for services in respect of the Personalisation agenda and in particular Long Term Conditions, of which HIV is one, and Strokes, in response to the NSF for Long Term Conditions and the National Stroke Strategy.

3.7 The table below shows how it is proposed to allocate the 2009/10 grant.

4 Outline of Options

4.1 These grant recommendations are a continuation and development of existing long-term specialist provision following a joint needs analysis undertaken in 2005/6 by the University of Southampton and in line with Adult Services' commissioning framework for HIV services.

4.2 The current AIDS Support Grant period expires in March 2011 and consideration will be given to the future in 2010 if there is no confirmation of a continuation of the grant.

5. Conclusions

5.1 The two grants being recommended will provide a comprehensive set of specialist HIV social care services across the county which aligned with existing health provision and health promotion and prevention services provide a comprehensive package of service for people in Hampshire who are infected or affected by HIV.

5.2 The services are responding to changing demand and need and as part of this response greater coordination and partnership with the commissioners in the region will be developed in order to provide an increased range of service and service options.

6. Recommendations

6.1 That the Executive Member for Adult Social Care approves a grant of £14,100 to Positive Action to provide specialist well-being services for those who are infected and affected by HIV in the south and southwest of the County.

6.2 That the Executive Member for Adult Social Care approves a grant of £14,900 to Positive Action to provide specialist well-being services for those who are infected and affected by HIV in the north, centre and southeast of the County

Integral Appendix A

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION:

Integral Appendix B

IMPACT ASSESSMENTS:

1. Equalities Impact Assessment:

In compiling the attached report, account has been taken of the requirements of the Corporate Equalities Plan and Race scheme. The One Compact for Hampshire has social inclusion as one of its principles and states that all partners are committed to the importance of promoting equality and opportunity for all people regardless of race, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation and belief. Additionally, equal opportunity and race relation policies are sought from voluntary organisations that apply for grants above £5,000

2. Impact on Crime and Disorder:

The County Council has an obligation under Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to consider the impact of all decisions it makes on the prevention of crime. People living with HIV experience bigotry and discrimination in many aspects of life, which generates fear and secrecy. By promoting greater awareness of the condition and its implications, these specialised HIV Services seek to tackle the ignorance in the wider society of living with HIV.

3. Climate Change:

a) How does what is being proposed impact on our carbon footprint / energy consumption?

· These grants propose to contribute towards the costs of local agencies providing services within local communities. This reduces the need to travel and therefore reduces both the carbon footprint and energy consumption

b) How does what is being proposed consider the need to adapt to climate change, and be resilient to its longer-term impacts?

· Not applicable