Agenda item

Representatives from Bury Clinical Commissioning Group, Dr K Patel CCG Chair and Stuart North, Chief Operating Officer will report at the meeting.  Report will be sent to follow.

Deborah Yates, Provider Relationship Manager, Bury Council, attended the meeting to provide members with an update with regards to the recently procured Care at Home Contract.  An accompanying report was circulated to members prior to the meeting, the report contained the following information:

·         Why the change in Care at Home services is necessary

·         Previous Contract

·         New Care at Home Contract

·         Progress made so far

·         What is working well?

·         What needs to work better and actions in place to address this?

·         Future plans and priorities

Those present were invited to ask questions and the following issues were raised:

In response to a Member’s question the Provider Relationships Manager reported that all providers are required to pay the National Living Wage, as well an annual uplift amount.  The contracts negotiated with the providers specify the monies that are to be paid for travel and mileage.  Regular audits are undertaken to ensure that staff receive these monies. 

Responding to a member’s question, the Provider Relationship Manager reported that that the Council has a very robust Quality Assurance team that undertakes an annual programme of visits as well as cause for concern visits.  The staff work as part of a neighbourhood team and operate in that locality.  To help facilitate an improved partnership working between providers and localities less formal visits will also be undertaken.

The Provider Relationship Manager reported that there has been an introduction of six zoned areas of work, with two providers per zone. Work is to be allocated on an 80%/20% split on a rotating two week basis. This enables providers to concentrate their resources in that zone and reduce travel time and costs. As providers in each zone are required to pick up no less than 80%/20% of work depending on which week delays when placing packages in the community should be reduced which will also lead to a reduction in the number of delayed discharges and unnecessary placements in respite.

The Provider Relationship Manager reported that all commissioned providers must be at least CQC inspected good.  A client may still choose to remain with a previous provider if they services are procured as part of a personal budget.

In response to a Member’s question, the Provider Relationship Manager reported that once a client is assessed they will be re-assessed six weeks later and then routinely re-assessed every 12 months.  The service is provided to all ages, if the client deteriorates and requires a different package of care, a complex package of care can be commissioned, these will be provided by a different providers and can be spot purchased.

The new model of care as detailed, will help to facilitate hospital discharge and patient flows through the system.  Previously if a patient was in hospital for 24 hours a re-assessment of their care package would need to be undertaken, this has now been extended to 72 hours.

        It was agreed:

1.   The Provider Relationships Manager would provide members of the committee with additional information in respect of:

a.    What percentage of the overall budget is the identified savings amount of between £80 and £580?

b.    The number of hours commissioned previously compared with those commissioned as a result of the new contract arrangements.

c.    A list of all providers.

2.   Deborah Yates, Provider Relationships Manager be thanked for her attendance.

3.   A further update will be provided in respect of the care at home contract in 12 months.