Agenda item

To submit a report by the Head of Adult’s Services.

Submitted – the Annual Report of the North Wales Regional Partnership Board 2017/18.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Governance and Business Process Transformation) reported that it is a requirement within the Part 9 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 that each Regional Partnership Board prepares, publishes and submits its annual report to Welsh Government (a copy of the report was Attached as Appendix 1 to the report). 

She noted that the purpose of Part 9 of the Act is to improve outcomes and well-being of people, as well as improving the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery.  The key aims of co-operation, partnership and integration are :-

·      To improve care and support, ensuring people have more say and control;

·      To improve outcomes and health and wellbeing;

·      Provide co-ordinated, person centered care and support;

·      Make more effective use of resources, skills and expertise.

The Board continues to meet monthly at present and as well as business meetings, workshops and development sessions have been held.  The Board has representation from all the required organisations outlined in the Act and has also co-opted members from Voluntary Services Council, North Wales Police and North Wales Fire and Rescue Service.  The Board has also agreed to increase its individual and carer representatives to two each and is currently working through an expressions of interest process.  The membership of the Committee was highlighted within the report. 

The Assistant Chief Executive further said that Welsh Government have responded to the Parliamentary Review of health and social care and thereafter resulting in a document being published ‘A Healthier Wales’.   Furthermore Welsh Government are now offering substantial grants towards the Health Service, Local Authorities and Third Sector Organisations to encourage integrated working between the sectors. 

The Head of Adult’s Services said that there are priority areas noted within the report as regard to Older Adult’s with complex needs, Learning Disabilities, Acute Needs, Integrated Services for Families and Carers Needs.  The Regional Board has an overview of the Integrated Care Fund and is also responsible for moving towards pooled budgets arrangements within these services. 

The committee considered the report and raised the following matters :-

·      Reference was made to the partnership working success of the Alltwen Hospital in Tremadoc and questions were raised whether a similar example of partnership working exists on Anglesey.  The Head of Adult’s Services responded that the Alltwen model is specific for a particular area.  This Council has partnership working projects with our partners in the health service including the outsourcing Domiciliary Care services and the development of the facility for dementia care at Garreglwyd, Holyhead;

·      Clarification was sought as to how the Public Services Board and the North Wales Regional Partnership Board are able to work together.  The Assistant Chief Executive (Partnerships, Community and Service Improvements) responded that the role of the North Wales Regional Partnership Board is to address complex needs of people in respect of care and health issues.  The Public Services Boards role is wider within its outlook and focuses on the well-being of local communities in general.  The Public Services Board has investigated how services on a local level can be addressed and a number of sub-group have been established to discuss issues suitable to afford the collaboration of services for local people.  She noted that a Western Integrated Health and Social Care Group has been established between Anglesey and Gwynedd to make sure that the services needs of local people takes place effectively across both counties;

·      A Member referred to the work of the North Wales Regional Partnership Board over the last two years and some concerns have been highlighted within the report.  The Assistant Chief Executive (Partnerships, Community and Service Improvements) responded that the North Wales Regional Partnership Board is a fairly new Board and the Board is given a specific remit within the legislation to integrate health and care closer together.  The North Wales region historically has had an effective partnership working over the years, as has the sub-region of Anglesey and Gwynedd.  She noted that it is a challenge to bring all the organisations together and she highlighted that it can be difficult for the third sector and people who care for individuals to effectively understand and input into the discussions required by the Act.  The Committee considered that examples of good practice of health care provision would be advantages for members to gauge the effectiveness of the Board in the future;

·      Reference was made that whilst accepting that health services must comply with the Social Services and Well-being Act 2014, questions were raised as to the practical benefit for the residents of the Island that will materialise from the North Wales Regional Partnership Board and to make sure that it does not result in another tier of a ‘talking-shop’.  The Head of Adult’s Services responded that Regional Board give a level of governance and tries to ensure that there is equality of  health provision for people across North Wales;

·      The Vice-Chair referred to the problems that may arise from Brexit and the Board needs to be aware of this.  The Assistant Chief Executive responded that Welsh Government are looking at the effects of Brexit on recruitment of staff especially within the health and social care sectors. 

It was RESOLVED :-

·      To note the work and progress in 2017-18 of the North Wales Regional Partnership Board;

·      That an update report be afforded to this Committee in the New Year outlining examples of joint working practices relevant to Anglesey within the North Wales Regional Partnership Board.

ACTION : As noted above.