Working together to improve adult social care and public health services

Residents in Brighton & Hove will see more joined-up health and care services under plans to strengthen the Health and Wellbeing Board where local authority and health leaders tackle city priorities.

 

Subject to Full Council agreement, Brighton & Hove City Council will make changes designed to improve the delivery of adult social care, public health, children and young people services in Brighton & Hove.

 

The Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB)’s remit is being expanded to increase its decision making powers and provide a more co-ordinated approach of services for residents.

 

The new HWB will integrate together resources and decision making between the council and the Clinical Commissioning Group (the CCG). There is currently extensive joint working between local health and local authority services. The changes are designed to increase co-ordination of key services and enable more efficient commissioning. The move is also to provide broader influence over areas of responsibilities for the two organisations.

 

Cllr Rob Jarrett, chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board, said: “Many of the city’s most vulnerable residents access the services covered by the Health and Wellbeing Board. We are committed to providing support to all residents, especially caring for those in most need. Rising pressure on resources and the requirements of the Care Bill are factors we can not ignore. Local authorities across the country are facing the same challenges. We are reviewing the existing arrangements and taking action to find a better way to provide these essential services.”

 

Geraldine Hoban, the CCG’s chief operating officer, said: “The Brighton and Hove Clinical Commissioning Group, a membership organisation of all the city’s GP practices, welcome these changes to strengthen the planning and delivery of adult social care and health, public health, children’s and young people’s services through a more co-ordinated approach."

 

HWBs were introduced in 2012 following the Health and Social Care Act 2012. The new format of the BHCC board goes beyond the minimum requirements of this Act to provide a more effective decision making board with the necessary leadership across the health and local authority sectors. 

 

The board will have decision making powers in the commissioning and delivery of services related to public health and social care. The current remit will be expanded from producing strategy and needs assessment to include responsibility for:

 

•           Public health

•           Adult social care & health

•           Children and young people

•           Better Care fund

•           Other functions that are subject to joint arrangements with the CCG

 

The board will consist of councillors and representatives from the CCG. Non-voting members will include the Director of Adult Social Care, the Director of Children’s Services and the Director of Public Health as well as co-optees from Health Watch, local safeguarding and NHS England.

 

The changes will come into effect on 15th May subject to Full Council on 8 May ratifying the decision made at yesterday's (1 May) Policy and Resources Committee. See Policy & Resources Committee 1 May Reports

 

ENDS

 

For more information contact the Brighton & Hove City Council press office on 01273 291 555