Agenda and minutes

To consider and approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 29 June 2023 as a true and correct record of the proceedings.

Resolved:-

That the minutes of the meeting held on 29 June 2023 be approved as a true and correct record of the proceedings.

To receive declarations of interest from Members in respect of items listed on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive questions relating to items of business on the agenda from members of the public or press who are present at the meeting.

The Chair confirmed that no questions had been submitted.

To consider whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any part of the agenda.

The Chair advised that there was no reason to exclude members of the public or press from observing the discussion of any items on the agenda.

To consider a report in respect of the mobilisation and implementation of the new Rotherham Alcohol and Drug Service model, which has been in place since 1 April 2023, following a successful competitive tender process.

Consideration was given to a presentation by the Cabinet Member for Adult Care, Housing and Public Health; the Director of Public Health, and Operational Commissioner Public Health, joined by the Director of Implementation, We Are With You (WAWY). The presentation identified the background motivation for the recommissioning and remobilisation of the service, along with challenges associated with increasing numbers in treatment, which included:

•       Recruiting suitable staff into a depleted sector

•       Making services accessible to all

•       Alcohol and drug service users don’t always mix well

•       Reaching those who are not in crisis yet so they are not so well entrenched in habits or badly impacted

•       Some people enjoy using but not the consequences – need to capitalise on opportunities before it becomes a hardened addiction.

The need to improve the criminal justice pathway was described. This would prevent re-offending and support recovery and maintain any treatment gains from the relative stability of prison, etc., minimising risk of relapse and overdose when people are particularly vulnerable upon leaving prison. Currently only 1/3 of prisoners were in treatment.

Aims of the service were noted:

•       A longer potential contract to offer further stability to the sector and the partnership arrangements

•       Provider leads on a whole service with different pathways for different ages and needs - No wrong door approach and a single point of access

•       Increased focus on alcohol following the local needs assessment

•       Provider leads on the access to residential rehabilitation as the lead specialist in the field rather than the Council.

There was no wrong pathway into the Service, using a one front door approach, for services responding to all substances. Alcohol had been the most prevalent substance and with the most harmful effects overall. This area of the service was aimed at people who recognise that their drinking had become an issue, although many people were not yet ready to take this step to approach specialised services.

The mobilisation of ROADS was then described. We are With You implemented a dedicated mobilisation team, with operational and clinical expertise to successfully mobilise the service to

•       Transfer patient data – 1522 patients

•       TUPE staff across from the incumbent provider – 50 staff members

•       Recruit to new positions

•       Train and integrate the IPS (employment support) Team

•       Novate Pharmacy and Primary Care contracts

•       Confirm pathways and ways of working with stakeholders

•       Produce and agree proposals for the utilisation of additional Supplemental Substance Misuse Treatment and Recovery Grant (SSMTRG)

•       Implement a dedicated Pathfinder Team to cover the service during the first 3 weeks to allow training and induction to occur.

Milestones achieved included service base retention refreshed for the delivery of the new services and new provider. Clients had been transferred with minimal disruption; most staff and their expertise were retained under TUPE; and data had been transferred from CGL, enabling continuous provision of care.

Challenges encountered included some personnel changes during mobilisations that had set the process back;  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

To consider a report and presentation summarising outcomes from the delivery of the Rotherham Place Plan up to May 2023.

Consideration was given to a presentation from the Deputy Place Director on the Rotherham Place Plan Close Down Report from May 2023 which summarised the objectives achieved and carried over to 2023-25. Approximately 50% of the actions were complete and that the remaining 50% will be picked up in the refreshed Place Plan as they are ongoing priorities. The development of Rotherham Place Partnership 2023-25 was described.

Inputs into the development of Rotherham Place Partnership 2023-25 Place Plan included:

•       Interactive development sessions with both the contract and service improvement leads and Place Board and senior managers focussing on priorities

•       Alignment with the South Yorkshire Integrated Care Strategy and the Joint Forward Plan

•        Annual Operational Planning Guidance

•       Continued alignment with the Rotherham Health and Wellbeing Strategy

•       Outputs from the Update of Priorities: Close Down Report

•       Inputs and comments from all place partners

Key outputs from the development session discussions confirmed:

1.    The following chapters were within the previous Plan and remain in the refreshed version:

•       Best Start in Life (maternity / children & young people)

•       Improving mental health and wellbeing

•       Support people with learning disabilities & autism

•       Urgent, emergency and community care

2.    The following are new chapters:

•       Live Well for Longer (prevention, self-care & long-term conditions)

•       Palliative and End of Life Care

Ongoing Performance was also described:

•       As with previous Place Plans, a performance report covering both KPIs, and milestones will be produced and regularly reported to Place Board

•       This will enable issues, risks and blockages to be identified and addressed

In discussion, Members requested additional details around monitoring targets was done, for example pertaining to mental health. It was noted that SMI health checks were now above target where they were previously amber. The transformation group works collectively to deliver any that are off target. Tender process to commission the peer support service, and have not found a provider. 

Clarification was requested around the targets which are being carried over. The response from the Cabinet Member noted that some of the points had not been completed this year because they are ongoing. The page count of next years’ document had been reduced by half, and an easy read version had been requested. This document had been discussed at the Place Board in Rotherham and was reported to the Health and Wellbeing Board for added transparency. This then feeds into the South Yorkshire Integrated Care System  and the Integrated Care Partnership.

The co-opted member from Speakup noted that easy read has its place, but a Plain English version, which adopts a straightforward and direct tone was welcome. The response from the Cabinet Member that this suggestion would be taken back to the Place Board for consideration.

Clarification was requested regarding training around working with people with autism and learning disabilities. The response from the Cabinet Member noted that the South Yorkshire Police are a key partner to the health and wellbeing board, and training is a good idea. An  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

To consider and endorse an outline programme of scrutiny work for the 2023/24 municipal year.

Consideration was given to a revised outline schedule of scrutiny work for the 2023/24 municipal year. The Chair highlighted specific areas of upcoming scrutiny and emphasised the various formats of effective scrutiny work.

In discussion, members expressed interest in giving consideration to the limitations of benchmarking as an indicator of quality and the importance of organisational culture.

Resolved:-

1.    That the updated work programme be noted.

2.    That the Governance Advisor be authorised to make changes to the work programme in consultation with the Chair/Vice Chair, with any changed reported to the next meeting for endorsement.

To consider any item(s) which the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency.

The Chair advised that there were no urgent items of business requiring a decision at the meeting.

The next meeting of the Health Select Commission will be held on 28 September, commencing at 5.00 pm in Rotherham Town Hall. 

Resolved:-

The next meeting of Health Select Commission will take place on 28 September commencing at 5pm in Rotherham Town Hall.