Agenda item

The Board considered a report of the Director of Learning Disabilities and Mental Health Commissioning, North Durham Clinical Commissioning Group that provided an update in relating to the progress against the Transforming Care Programme and local implementation (for copy of report see file of Minutes).

The Director of Corporate Programmes, Delivery and Operations highlighted Table 1 of the report showing the number of patients within the CCG in commissioned inpatient care and those with specialised commissioning inpatient care.  He went on to inform the board about health check arrangements and about the dedicated resources in relation to people with learning disabilities and autism through the Durham Darlington and Tees Mental Health and Learning Disability Partnership.  These would help to improve the quality of life for individuals and in some cases would result in savings which were re-invested back into the community provision.

Referring to the health inequalities, the Corporate Director of Adult and Health Services asked if there was anything that the Health and Wellbeing Board could do to support this area of work.  The Director of Corporate Programmes, Delivery and Operations referred to details in the report in respect to the STOMP programme (Stopping The Over Medication of People with a learning disability) and agreed to circulate the report for information.

Linked to that the Right Care, Right Place Delivery Lead added that TEWV were working with some Primary Care Networks regarding health checks and how we could support that.  The Corporate Director of Adult and Health Services said how important it was to also support from a social care perspective.

The Director of Integrated Community Services commented that it is important to build resilience within the community and to support people in their own homes for as long as possible. This is something that is being discussed with Primary Care Networks and the Voluntary and Community Sector. In addition, supporting people with learning disabilities into employment is a key area of focus.

Councillor Gunn asked what assurance was in place from a safeguarding perspective for inpatients with a learning disability and asked for further information about specialised commissioning arrangements.  The Director of Integrated Community Services responded that the County Durham Safeguarding Partnership were involved in this work and that in relation to a recent safeguarding issue highlighted through the media, all patients had been reviewed, and that the Adult Care Service had been asked to undertake a review to look at residential provision within the County and also those people who are placed in residential services out of County. 

From a specialist commissioning perspective, the Director of Corporate Programmes, Delivery and Operations said that it was very expensive as it is for those people who have very complex needs and that only a certain amount of provision is available to accommodation individuals.

The Director of Public Health said that it was important to look at how we reach the most vulnerable groups and incorporate this into the wider plan.  Screening, immunisations and sexual health should all be available for people with a learning disability and a dedicated piece of work on this was being assessed against the wellbeing principles.

The Chair thanked officers for the report and the comments made and asked that a further report be brought to a future meeting which outlined a more rounded, joint approach across health and social care.

Resolved:

(i)           That the content of the report and local progress be noted.

(ii)          That the continuation of support to the collaborative development of new models of community care and support for this client group be noted.