Issue - meetings

Janet Spurling, Scrutiny Officer, presented an update on the progress to date on the final outstanding recommendations of the joint Scrutiny Review.

Since the review was undertaken, NHS restructuring had seen responsibility for Continuing Health Care (CHC), including the budget, transfer to the Rotherham Clinical Commissioning Group (RCCG) who had commissioned the Commissioning Support Unit to carry out assessments and manage the budget.  There was also now greater focus on personalisation of Health and Social Care Services and the development of personal health budgets.

A Senior Management Working Group of both Council and NHS staff had agreed a set of actions to ensure effective multi-disciplinary working and delivering better outcomes for people. 

CHC and Social Care Assessments were completed by Health and Social Care staff presently or recently involved in assessing, reviewing, treating and supporting the individual.  A better working relationship now existed together with a greater understanding of each professional’s role in participating in multi-disciplinary assessments and completing the Decision Support Tool.  Improved engagement had been achieved through attendance at CHC Panels and it was now routine that the Council’s CHC Champions attend ratification panel meetings as part of the Multi-Disciplinary Team and implement joint actions.  The Champions also ensured issues were addressed in a timely manner.

RCCG and Council staff also met regularly to progress work regarding CHC for children with complex needs in relation to assessments and the timing of payments for care packages for children agreed as eligible for CHC funding.

Resolved:-  That the progress on joint working on Continuing Healthcare be noted.