Agenda and minutes

            The Minutes of the meeting held 15 January 2008 having been printed and circulated were signed as a correct record.

            It was confirmed that no public questions had been received.

            The Board considered the Minutes of the meetings of the Executive Board and the Executive Board Sub Committee relevant to the Healthy Halton Policy and Performance Board.

 

            RESOLVED: That the minutes be noted.

The Board received a presentation from Catherine Beardshaw, Chief Executive of North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust (NCHT) on the consultation currently being undertaken on the Foundation Trust Status for NCHT.

 

The presentation set out:

 

·        what foundation trusts were;

·        the changes that had been made through the reconfiguration and reorganisation process;

·        the vision for the Trust as an NHS Foundation Trust;

·        the four stages for building services;

·        how the membership and governance arrangements would work; and

·        the next steps.

 

The Board discussed ways in which the Trust could promote their services and work within the Borough.

 

RESOLVED: That the presentation be noted.

The Board received a presentation from Christine Samosa, Director of Workforce and Provider Development, Halton and St. Helens Primary Care Trust (PCT) on the changes being made to the provider arm of the PCT. The presentation set out:

·        the background to the changes and why they were necessary;

·        the services that classed as provider services;

·        the legacy inherited through the merger of Halton and St Helens Primary Care Trusts;

·        how services were currently provided;

·        the progress made to date and possible models of delivery; and

·        the future options and challenges.

The Board considered the suggestion, from St. Helens Council’s Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel, of whether it would be relevant and/or necessary to establish a Joint Scrutiny Committee to investigate the issue further. It was felt that as the process was at the early stages of development it would be inappropriate to establish a Joint Scrutiny Committee.

The Board wished to be updated on the progress and invited Christine Samosa to provide further updates to the Board, as the model of delivery were developed.

 

RESOLVED: That

 

(1)    the presentation be noted; and

 

(2)    further updates be provided to the Board, as the model of delivery were developed.   

(NB: Councillor Lloyd Jones declared a personal interest in the following item of business due to her husband being a Non-Executive Director of Halton and St Helens PCT)

The Board received a presentation from H. Crombie and C. Beardshaw on progress made in North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust self assessment against The Standards for Better Health during the period April 2007-March 2008.

 

Arising from the discussion reference was made to MRSA screening, recent issues with the decontamination of equipment and improvements being made in relation to records management.

 

RESOLVED: That the Board make a 3^rd party commentary from the Policy and Performance to accompany the submission of the Annual Health Check declaration to the North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust Board and to be made public on the Trust’s website from April 2008.

The Board received a presentation from C. Powner on progress made in Halton and St Helen’s PCT self assessment against The Standards for Better Health during the period April 2007-March 2008.

 

            Arising from the discussion two concerns were raised in relation to the doors at the Healthcare Resource Centre and the availability of NHS dentists within the Borough. It was agreed that a report would be submitted to the Board in relation to the availability of NHS dentists in the Borough and that the concerns raised in relation to the Healthcare Resource Centre would be reported back to the Trust.

 

RESOLVED: That

 

(1)         the Board make a 3^rd party commentary to accompany the submission of the Annual Health Check declaration to the Halton and St Helen’s PCT Board and to be made public on the Trust’s website from April 2008; and

 

(2)         a report on the availability of NHS dentists in the Borough be submitted to a future meeting of the Board.

(NB: Councillor Lloyd Jones declared a personal interest in the following item of business due to her husband being a Non-Executive Director of Halton and St Helens PCT)

The Board received a presentation from S. Hooton on progress made in 5 Borough’s self assessment against The Standards for Better Health during the period April 2007-March 2008.

 

RESOLVED: That the Board would make a 3^rd party commentary to accompany the submission of the Annual Health Check declaration to the 5 Borough’s Partnership NHS Trust Board and to be made public on the Trust’s website from April 2008.

The Board received a report of the Strategic Director, Health and Community which gave details of the draft strategy to support people with disabilities and carers into employment.

 

            The strategy had been developed in Partnership between the Health and Community - Adults of Working Age and Economic Regeneration - Enterprise and Employment Directorates

 

         It set out the approach for the Council’s social care services and employment service, in collaboration with partner organisations, to establish real pathways into employment and move away from creating dependability to enabling people to maintain or develop employability skills and move into work or self-employment.

 

         The strategy covered a three-year period and through the action plan would promote best practice in providing an employment routeway for all disabled people and carers in Halton helping them to progress into work or self-employment. It was aimed at disabled people, those with mental illness and carers of working aged from 16+ years.  There was a particular focus on service users that were known to social care including adults of working age 18-64 with physical, sensory or learning disabilities or mental illness plus carers, young people aged 16+ in transition from Children to Adult services and young carers.

 

         The document had been produced by external Consultants chosen for their knowledge and experience in relation to employment and employability of disabled people. The work had been overseen by a steering group consisting of the Operational Director for Adults of Working Age, Divisional Manager for Enterprise and Employment and Commissioning Manager for Adults with Disabilities.

 

            Interviews had been undertaken with over 30 stakeholders in the delivery of health, social care and employment support services. Three focus groups had also been held to bring together representatives of key employment support agencies, local carers organisations and disabled people who have accessed employment support in Halton over recent years. An action-planning event was also held.

 

The accompanying action plan set outcomes that supported delivery of the Adult Social Care Outcomes framework and the targets for moving people into employment.

 

A newly established Disability Employment Forum would oversee implementation of the strategy through the development of a performance framework to monitor effectiveness. This framework would include specific targets relating to Adults with Learning Disabilities supported into sustainable employment that the Directorate was required to report annually to CSCI.

 

Arising from the discussion reference was made to the need for voluntary work to be supported by accreditation, to improve employment opportunities, the need for flexibility due to the barriers facing disabled people and the importance of continued support once in employment.

 

RESOLVED: That the Strategy be noted.

The Board received a report of the Strategic Director, Health and Community which provided the Policy and Performance Board with Lord Darzi’s Interim report ‘Our NHS, Our Future’.

 

RESOLVED: That Lord Darzi’s Interim Report ‘Our Future, Our NHS’ be noted.

The Board considered a report which outlined the progress of performance management third quarter against the service plan objectives, performance targets, performance trends/comparisons, factors affecting the services etc. for: 

§     Older People’s Services

§     Adults of Working Age

§     Health and Partnerships

Arising from the discussion reference was made to the high level of progress being achieved overall and sought reassurance on the less achieving areas highlighted within the report.    

            The Board considered how it would deal with the end of year financial report and agreed that the report would be circulated to the 10^th June 2008 meeting of the Board.

            RESOLVED: That

(1)               the third quarter performance management reports be received; and

(2)               the year end financial data report be submitted to the 10^th June 2008 meeting of the Board.