Issue - meetings

            The Board considered a report of the Director of Adult Social Services, which presented a Project Initiation Document (PID), which outlined a proposal and associated mechanisms of how the further alignment of systems and services across Health and Social Care Services would improve the quality and efficiency of services provided to Adults in Halton.

            In Halton, Adult Services had a long history of collaboration and integration.  In April 2013 a Joint Working Agreement and associated pooled budget arrangements were introduced between the Council and NHS Halton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). Examples of successful Joint Working/Integration in respect of Adult Services were outlined in the report.  As the management of the pooled budget had been extremely successful, improving outcomes for individuals in addition to moving from a position of overspend for both Halton Clinical Commissioning Group and the Council to financial balance, the Council and NHS Halton CCG had entered into a new Joint Working Agreement which ran until 31^st March 2019.

            It was noted that both organisations believed it was an appropriate time to review current arrangements in place in respect of joint working and aligned organisational structures, leadership and governance arrangements across Adult Social Care and Health, in order to deliver more effectively on the desired outcomes for the residents of Halton. Consequently, a PID had been produced which outlined the aim of the project, rationale expected outcomes and process to be undertaken. A Project Board had also been established to take this forward and had met on a number of occasions. It was anticipated that the model, which would be developed as part of this project, would provide the necessary infrastructures for a sound basis to build upon when moving forward on the integration of front line services and the commissioning of services to support community hubs.

            RESOLVED: That the report be noted.