Agenda item

As part of the reforms set out in the Health and Care Bill 2021-22, Integrated Care Systems are being asked to establish Integrated Care Partnerships.

This paper outlines proposals for the Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Partnership, including purpose, membership of the partnership and frequency of meetings.

Witnesses:

Rachel Crossley - Joint Executive Director, Public Service Reform (SCC)

Key points raised in the discussion:

1.    The Chairman noted:

·         the work underway by the Government around health integration, noting the progression of the Health and Care Bill 2021 through Parliament.

·         that the Bill proposed two separate bodies underneath the ICS NHS body, the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and an Integrated Care Partnership (ICP); Surrey’s proposed structure would be in shadow form from January 2022.

·         that the ICB would be an NHS board, with some statutory appointments, its role would be over the delivery of health services.

·         that Ian Smith had been appointed as the Chair-designate to the new ICB, Professor Claire Fuller had been appointed as CEO Designate for the Surrey Heartlands ICS; it was expected those appointments would take effect in April 2022.

·         that the Surrey Heartlands Oversight and Assurance Group (SOAG) would morph into the ICS executive, the ICS Board would morph into the ICB.

·         that the national guidance on the ICP was unclear, the intention however was for the ICP to sit alongside the ICB and Health and Wellbeing Board - which includes Frimley ICS and Surrey Heartlands ICS membership.

·         that the integration White Paper was delayed until February 2022.

·         that the proposed ICP membership in the report was flexible, the integration White Paper and ‘Messenger review’ may add responsibilities to the ICP such as around integrating housing within health and social care.

·         the importance of three representatives from the Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector (VCFS) within the ICP membership.

·         that going forward the Health and Wellbeing Board would meet approximately ten times a year alternating monthly between a formal and an informal meeting, at 2pm on a Wednesday afternoon for one hour and thirty minutes, with a short break before the meeting of the ICP.

·         that the increased frequency of the Health and Wellbeing Board going forward would mean adequate time for agenda items going forward. 

2.    The Joint Executive Director, Public Service Reform (SCC) noted:

·         the importance of the ICP in not duplicating the work of the Health and Wellbeing Board which would remain responsible for the Health and Wellbeing Strategy, the ICP would focus on the pooled budgets such as the Better Care Fund.

·         that comments would be fed into ongoing deliberations pending any further national guidance on the ICP.

3.      A Board member queried whether the Surrey-wide leads on mental health would remain on the Health and Wellbeing Board and therefore would not be included in the ICP membership.

-       In response, the Joint Executive Director, Public Service Reform (SCC) clarified that mental health representation would remain on the Health and Wellbeing Board, the ICB and provider collaboratives.

4.    A Board member stressed the need to be mindful as to whether there was sufficient representation of citizen or service user voice on the ICP - particularly around those people who are at risk of health inequalities.

-       In response, the Chairman recognised the challenge of getting voices heard such as those of young people, and hoped that those citizen voices would be heard at place level, noting the Government proposals for a requirement below the ICP to establish local forums or place-based structures bringing together key stakeholders; aligning with the work underway by the Cabinet Member for Communities (SCC) on community engagement.

5.    A Board member highlighted the approach by the VCFS in terms of putting representatives forward on boards,noting the importance of achieving organisational representation including their beneficiaries, but also citizen voice.

-       The Chairman responded that the proposed ICP membership was not prescriptive, noting the rotational representation of two of the VCFS representatives; further work was needed on the ICP membership.

RESOLVED:

That the Health and Wellbeing Board noted the proposals for establishing the Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Partnership.

Actions/further information to be provided:

1.    The Joint Executive Director, Public Service Reform (SCC) will feed Board member comments into the ongoing deliberations pending any further national guidance on the ICP.