Presentation from the Gateshead System.
Minutes:
John Costello, Health and Wellbeing Programme Manager, Children Adults and Families, provided the OSC with a presentation setting out the background to “Gateshead Cares” in its formative years and the implementation of the Alliance Agreement and an update on each of the five programme areas covered by the agreement as set out below plus an update on the enablers of integration eg workforce and digital:-
· Children & Young People Best Start in Life – SEND (including transition to adulthood).
· Older People - Older Persons Care Home Model - now Adult Care Homes.
· Older People - Frailty (Strength & Balance).
· Mental Health Transformation.
· Development of Primary Care Networks.
The OSC was also advised that looking ahead the Gateshead Cares Alliance:-
· Was building on the foundations already in place through the Alliance Agreement.
· Preparing for changes arising from the NHS White Paper (and Health & Care Bill) from April 2022:
· Had reviewed and updated its Principles on ways of working.
· Considered a range of questions arising from NHSE/I guidance on the development of place-based partnerships.
· Was ensuring continued clinical leadership and engagement with health and care professionals.
· Was focusing on ensuring that decision-making is as close to communities as possible, addressing local needs and priorities.
The OSC noted the importance of additional staffing in mental health services as there were cases of local people experiencing long waits to access services such as counselling.
John advised that one of the impacts of Covid had been a high demand for such services and work was taking place within Primary Care Networks and across GP’s in their patches to inform a system response to tackle such issues.
The OSC considered that it would be important to consider terminology when sharing information on the changes taking place in relation to the ICS with local people in Gateshead so there is a real understanding of what this will mean in practice.
The OSC was very pleased that a SEND review was being jointly commissioned and that it appeared to be a holistic and broad review as the OSC considered that early intervention is key. However, there was also room to streamline process and reduce the number of professionals involved in families lives.
The OSC also queried around the process for ensuring that the local voluntary sector are made aware of all the relevant NHS funding opportunities and how the Alliance was maximising communication in relation to this.
Steph Downey advised that Connected Voice was the umbrella organisation for sharing such information and this was an area which was developing and growing. Work was taking place to commission a needs analysis of VCS organisations digital technology skills and gaps and the Council has a funding pot which the VCS can bid for to assist them in becoming better connected. Steph stated that if the sector could be upskilled this would assist in helping share information between micro -organisations. Connected Voice would assist voluntary organisations to write bids for the funding.
Steph also advised that work was also taking place in relation to the Council’s Apprenticeship Levy to see if Connected Voice and Healthwatch might engage.
The OSC queried what was known about the health of the voluntary sector in Gateshead and Steph advised that the Chair of Connected Voice could be invited to attend a future meeting of the OSC to share information on this.
RESOLVED
i) That the information be noted.
ii) That the Chair of Connected Voice be invited to attend a future meeting of the OSC to share information on the health of the voluntary sector in Gateshead.