Minutes:
The Board
considered a report of the Strategic Director, Communities and the Primary Care
Trust which advised Members of the progress of the implementation of the Model
of Care and outlined the next steps.
The Board was advised that in
2008 a review in-patient and community based learning disability services in
the boroughs of Halton, Knowsley, St Helens and
It was
reported that the review had recommended the following:-
·
That the four boroughs and the PCTs agree to adopt a joint strategy of phased change to
locally determine models of service that further enhanced community focused
support and reduced reliance on specialist learning disability in-patient
services and out of area placements;
·
That
Commissioners ensured that admissions to in-patients units conformed to the
admission process set out in Section 14 of the recently agreed service
specification;
·
That
the four boroughs and the PCT agree to a reduction in the number of
commissioned in-patient beds, and that these should be placed together for
reasons of efficiency, effectiveness and economy, with consideration for the
most appropriate location to be subject of further discussion at the Alliance
Board;
·
That,
subject to local resource availability, and based on joint work between the PCT’s and the boroughs, early progress be made on the
expansion of community services through pump-priming investment;
·
That, a
project was commissioned to review best practice, and provide detailed
recommendations, by Autumn 2009 for the further development of community
focused services, in relation to the anticipated release of £2m from current
in-patient investment; and
·
That,
Commissioners gave consideration to the in-patient bed requirement beyond 2010,
in light of the planned expansion of community services, and secure appropriate
approvals for decisions in relation to the renewal of the current contract.
Members noted the progress in Appendix 1 and the
following recommendations set out in the report:-
·
1 – develop ‘model of care’;
·
2 – in-patient admissions;
·
3 – reduction of in-patient beds;
·
4 – community services (pump priming);
·
5 – best practice/pathway; and
·
6 – in-patient contractual
requirements.
Mr C Bean, Primary
Care Trust circulated a copy of the Stakeholder Engagement on the redesign of inpatient
and community helath services for adults with learning
disabilities at the meeting.
The following
comments arose from the discussion:-
·
It was noted that in the economic climate and the changes
in the NHS Reforms that services would need to be shared. However, the importance of ensuring there was
adequate services for the people of Halton was also noted;
·
Clarity was sought on the reduction of beds and the impact
it would have on the people in the Borough.
In response, it was reported that beds were being reduced as they were not
being utilised. In addition, people were being supported
in the community and there was a commitment to ensure that what was commissioned
for Halton would meet the needs of the community. It was also reported that the monitoring framework
would be more robust;
·
The reasons for some young people choosing to go to distant
residential colleges and the actions being taken to address this was noted;
·
Clarity was sought on the amber light on Halton’s Education Work and Play. It was also suggested that the Board receive an
update report on the Employment Practices for disabled people scrutiny review from
March 2010. In response, it was reported
that this was no green and information on this would be circulated to Members of
the Board.
RESOLVED: That
(1)
the progress and the next steps of the
implementation of the Model of Care be noted;
(2)
the comments raised be noted.; and
(3)
a progress
report on the Employment Practices for disabled people be presented to a future
meeting of the Board.