Agenda item

The Board considered a report of the Director of Integration, North Durham CCG, DDES and Durham County Council that provided progress with regard to Community Hubs/Teams Around Practices (for copy see file of Minutes).

The Director of Integration reported that chief officers had been tasked from a number of organisations across County Durham to meet the government’s target of achieving full integration by 2020.  There had been some confusion over the term community hubs and a decision had been made to rename them as Teams around Practices.  The teams would be wrapped around primary care and more care would be delivered in the community.  In County Durham an agreement had been reached that the new model of care would progress as part of an Accountable Care Network arrangement.  Organisations within the ACN would work together to ensure the delivery of efficient, high quality care which meets the needs of the population. This would mean quicker access to services, better response and co-ordinated care. Its work would be overseen by the Integration Board who would update the Health and Wellbeing Board on progress and developments.  The work would be rolled out from April.

Councillor Johnson asked about what mechanisms and timelines were in place for patient consultation.  The Director of Integration advised that there would be an engagement exercise and would link in with Patient Reference Groups.  Dedicated engagement leads would look at user friendly products to share with GP surgeries.  Principles would be established to avoid duplication.

Referring to the spring budget for social care Councillor Johnson asked what this would mean for County Durham.  The Corporate Director of Adult and Health Services advised that the allocation for County Durham for the next three years was just over £25m.  Guidance was awaited in relation to usage of the grant.  It was agreed that the Corporate Director of Adult and Health Services would provide a future update to the Board.

The Head of Policy and Communications, Office of the Durham Police, Crime and Victim’s Commissioner asked if there would be any changes as to how organisations operate.  The Director of Integration explained that the new aspects of the model would encourage the voluntary sector and the TAPs to work together, with an emphasis on community development.  The Head of Policy and Communications said that the ODPCVC were keen to engage and welcomed the report.

The Head of Children’s Services, DCC said that there needed to be a link to the 0-19 agenda and this focus on adults provided a good template.  The Director of Integration confirmed that the Director of Children and Young People’s Services sits on the Integration Board and that the vision would be to expand the model from adults into children’s services in the future.

The Head of Planning and Service Strategy, DCC asked how GP’s were responding to new model.  The Clinical Chair of DDES CCG said that this was what GP’s had been looking for to avoid duplication of services and working more closely together as a common sense approach.  The Director of Integration added that the response had been positive and should allow more flexibility.

Councillor Allen welcomed the approach as being more people centred.  She asked how the Accountable Care Network would differ from what we have now and what difference it would make to elected members.  She further asked how the community buildings would be utilised.  The Director of Integration stated that there was very little difference to what exists now, however the ACN gave a framework to the new model of working. Organisations would still need to go back through their own governance structures. With regards to community buildings she advised that these would be utilised at no extra cost.  A review would take place of all the estate and would utilise to make best use of the money available.  

Resolved:

(i)            That the report be received.

(ii)          That a further update report be reported in three months’ time.