Agenda item

Report from Mary Pattinson

The first of two reports to the Board detailed the arrangements for Joint Commissioning between Havering Clinical Commissioning and the London Borough of Havering for children, young people and their families with SEN and disabilities (0-25).

By way of background it was explained that Clause 26 of the Children and Families Act 2014 required local authorities and CCGs to commission services for special education, health and social care for children and young adults from 0-25 with SEND jointly. This includes putting dispute resolution procedures in place for when agreement cannot be reached. The new duties were in conjunction with The Health and Social Care Act 2012 which requires Health and Wellbeing Boards to develop Joint Strategic Needs Assessments and Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategies both of which support prevention, identification, assessment and early intervention and a joined up approach from those providing services.

It was explained that whilst it would take some time to achieve a highly effective system it was important that the principles of an excellent service were agreed from the outset. The proposed principles were:

• All decisions are based on a clear rationale for improving outcomes and are linked to organisational and partnership priorities
• Commissioning should make sure that we get the most out of every pound we spend
• Commissioning should always focus on delivering efficiencies, outcomes and quality
• Commissioning should always focus on evidence based practice
• All services are systematically commissioned
• Commissioners should make sure that outcomes are sustainable in the long term
• Children, young people, their families and communities must participate meaningfully
• Commissioners plan strategically to move resources to preventative and early intervention services
• Commissioning function exercisers independent of decision making from internal and external providers
• Commission in partnership with other commissioning bodies locally or regionally, so as to maximise efficiency
• Commissioners must ensure that approaches are compatible with EU and UK law, regulations and guidance
• Decisions must be transparent and fair
• Our commissioning approach should not disadvantage small or medium sized enterprises in Havering
• There should be only one strategic commissioning plan for all SEND services
• Community involvement in delivering local services will be encouraged

Commissioning for outcomes – All contracts will include:

• Outcome-based performance targets so as to ensure the delivery of services that focus on outcomes
• A cycle of monitoring so that performance can be measured
• Quality standards that can be monitored so as to ensure the overall quality of provision. This will include consumer feedback

The report also set out the activities which would form the joint commissioning cycle. It was noted that a Joint Health & Local Authority Commissioning Working Group had been meeting since the autumn of 2013. It was proposed that the Joint Commissioning Working Group become the formal sub group for the Joint Health & Local Authority Commissioning Working Group.

It was noted that a commissioning report would be produced annually and submitted to the Joint Commissioning Board for approval before being submitted to the Health and Wellbeing Board.

In addition, it was explained that the Act required arrangements for dispute resolution where agreement cannot be reached between the local authority and CCG over the provision of services. It was anticipated that the sub group would reach agreement in most instances. In exceptional case the Chair of the Joint Commissioning Board would have power to resolve such matters.

The detailed arrangements would come into effect from September 2014. Arrangements for joint commissioning would be included on the Local Offer website once approved by the Health and Wellbeing Board.

HWBB agreed the protocol and procedures as set out in the report.

The second report detailed the annual submission by the Joint Commissioning Group which was referred to in the previous report.

It was noted that the Joint Commissioning Group had met on seven occasions since October 2013 and had reviewed the commissioning of:

• Therapy services
• Short breaks/respite care
• CAMHS

It was also noted that the CCG and Local Authority had been working towards identifying the joint commissioning priorities for both services in the coming years. This would result in more clearly defined roles and responsibilities between the two, less duplication of service delivery and funding and a seamless service user experience for those who engage with the service.

It was also mentioned in the report that further joint commissioning priority areas for coming years would include:

·         Respite care and short breaks

·         Equipment

·         Reviewing therapy services including Occupational health and physiotherapy

The Board noted the report.