Agenda item

1.    Dr Ghosh introduced the report which provided an update on the development of the Integrated Care Strategy Shared Delivery Plan, which in turn encompassed the Delivery Plan for Kent’s Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy. The final iteration of the Shared Delivery Plan was due to be completed by June 2024 and would be presented to the Integrated Care Partnership for approval before going through the various governance routes of the partnerships within the Strategy. The Shared Delivery Plan had been developed in conjunction with the log-frame matrix which outlined the key health improvements identified in the Strategy. Dr Ghosh noted the challenges with creating a document that synthesised the actions required across both Kent and Medway whilst also encompassing both the local and hyperlocal geographical footprint. However, the Shared Delivery Plan was developed to capture the action in train, and what was required across the whole system to deliver the outcomes agreed, with each health alliance accountable for developing a number of deliverable priorities within their district.

2.    Ms Varshney expressed her thanks to Mr Gogarty for the work carried out across the partnerships. She noted that from an NHS perspective, there was a legislative requirement for Integrated Care Boards and their partner trusts to develop a joint forward plan, however, given the strength demonstrated through the joint Integrated Care Strategy, the Integrated Care Board agreed that the Shared Delivery Plan perform the role of the forward plan and this would be submitted from the NHS to NHS England. The draft Shared Delivery Plan was still in the developmental stage and therefore comments were invited from the Board to inform the final edition.

3.    Mr Gogarty commended the action plan and advised that everyone had a responsibility in helping to drive the actions forward.

4.    In response to comments and questions from Members of the Board, it was noted:

(a)  There needed to be a holistic approach when delivering on those ambitions set out within the Shared Delivery Plan, specifically in relation to early diagnostics. Whilst measures could be put in place to ensure the population received early diagnostics, it was essential that  the appropriate infrastructure was in place to then manage those diagnostics effectively and efficiently.

(b)  In relation to Children’s Services and the way in which it was regulated, there needed to be a clear separation between Kent and Medway. Mr Gogarty confirmed that engagement had taken place with the Children’s, Young People and Education Directorate Management Team and confirmed that a separate Kent and Medway plan would be developed to clearly reflect this.

(c)  Concerns were raised regarding the extensive level of commitment and ability to ensure that all organisations who had agreed to lead on those actions could contribute in a meaningful way.

(d)  In response to the effectiveness of utilising Kent Association of Local Councils (KALC) as a means to promote the work being done and ensuring there was a clear and consistent message being relayed to individuals in recognising their responsibility in improving their own health and outcomes, Mr Gogarty advised that the local parishes and districts were all aware of their role, however, the Integrated Care Strategy provided a new approach to the way in which communities and individuals held themselves to account to improve their own health and the new way of working needed to be driven from the bottom up.

(e)  In relation to queries regarding how the ambitions set out within the Shared Delivery Plan would be achieved, with specific reference to tackling loneliness and isolation, Dr Ghosh advised that a number of the district plans had prioritised this and a KALC Strategy had been developed to deliver on a number of initiatives in association with tackling loneliness.

(f)   Dr Ghosh acknowledged the point made in relation to why the Public Health team was not listed within the ‘led by’ column and confirmed that whilst Public Health did not commission any services for loneliness and isolation, this was delivered indirectly through Live Well Kent and through the Public Health mental health work. The Shared Delivery Plan would be updated to address this.

(g)  In response to concerns regarding the level of support in place for those Young People no longer managed through the Criminal Justice System but with severe Mental Health needs, Mrs Hammond (Corporate Director for Children’s, Young People and Education) confirmed that there was an increasing cohort of adolescents whom prior to Government reforms would have been managed through the criminal justice system or would have been held in a secure tier 4 hospital. Work was carried out by agencies to increase the number of those living out in the community, however, for many young people this equated to being placed in an alternative institution with increased levels of loneliness and isolation. A collective response was required to ensure those young people led meaningful lives. In addition, Mrs Chandler (Cabinet Member for Integrated Children’s Services) highlighted the ambition of the Family Hub work which emphasised the need for alternative intervention at an earlier stage in a child or a families life to prevent longer term harm.

(h)  Dr Ghosh advised that a future expectation would be to hold an annual summit which brought together the districts as well as health and care partnerships to both reflect on the achievements and discuss future ambitions of the heath alliances. However, there needed to be democratic accountability.

(i)    Ms Varshney noted that the Shared Delivery Plan did not replace the detailed action plans which were the responsibility of the sovereign organisations to deliver on. These were not included within the Shared Delivery Plan as this was primarily focused on a partnership perspective.

(j)    In response to comments made around the enablement teams, Ms Varshney advised that the Integrated Care Strategy would be a catalyst for the transformation of services to improve outcomes for the local population, which included finding efficient ways to provide care closer to home.

(k)  Ms Varshney agreed to deliver on an action and ensure Mr Gogarty was acquainted with the Director of Primary Care.

(l)    Ms Varshney agreed to deliver on the action to share the Delivery Plan with the provider collaboratives.

(m)Members of the Board were asked to send any additional comments to Dr Ghosh,  for inclusion in the final iteration of the Shared Delivery Plan prior to formal submission.

5.    RESOLVED to:

(a)  Note the progress and proposed work in developing a Shared Delivery Plan for the Integrated Care Strategy

(b)  Consider their role as partners in delivering the strategy and how this could be reflected in the delivery plan

(c)  Support the continued development of the Shared Delivery Plan, alongside the log-frame matrix, to support assurance on delivery of the Integrated Care Strategy; and

(d)  Agree that a positive statement from the Health and Wellbeing Board be included within the Shared Delivery Plan