Health, adult social care and ageing bulletin: 2 February 2012
Dear colleagues,
Welcome to the fifth edition of the Health, Adult Social Care and Ageing Bulletin.
The Local Government Association's (LGA) Community Wellbeing Board met on 18 January where we discussed, among other issues, the future funding of adult social care with theme leads from the Department of Health's (DH) 'Caring for the Future' engagement exercise. There was widespread agreement that the LGA should re-invigorate its lobbying, and seek clarity around future levels of funding. Partnership working and or integration based on individual needs were seen to be crucial to finding a sustainable solution.
A few days later, I signed a joint letter to the editor of the Daily Telegraph with Age UK, the Association of Directors of Social Services and Bupa Care Homes to challenge Health Secretary Andrew Lansley's claim that there is no funding shortfall for social care services in England. The letter reiterated that urgent action is needed to avoid the risk of a funding crisis, and acknowledged the reconvening of cross-party talks as a first step.
On 19 January, I launched the Adult Social Care Efficiency programme with Improvement Board colleague Cllr Ruth Cadbury. The final number of applications (52) surpassed expectations and key themes emerging across the board included, tackling the cost of high cost LD placements, the interface with healthcare, preventative services and commissioning.
Adult Social Care Efficiency programme
The LGA has established a high-level Local Government Health Transition Task Group, comprising chief executives representing each region to advise the LGA and the DH on transitional impact of the health reforms. Geoff Alltimes, former Chief Executive of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, chairs the task group and he will also contribute to our work on integration, complementing his existing work with the NHS Future Forum.
Rt Hon Andrew Lansley MP, Secretary of State for Health, recently announced £5.2 billion for total spending on public health in 2013, £2.2 billion of which will be allocated to local authorities. We are currently working with our financial advisers to assess the adequacy of this allocation to meet our new public health responsibilities. The LGA will continue its work lobbying for the distribution of funding to local government be made according to need rather than historic arrangements. We will also continue to scrutinise the costs and liabilities associated with the return public health, and if necessary remind Government of the new burdens doctrine.
He also announced the publication of the Public Health Outcomes Framework, which gives details of the 66 indicators and the two headline outcome targets for public health. We have published a briefing which summarises and comments on the Outcomes Framework and the Secretary of State's announcements on public health.
I will be speaking at the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) 2012 Year Ahead conference on 2 February to outline local government's leadership role in transforming public health in England. I will have three key messages for the year ahead:
The demographic and economic challenges facing local government are a driver for change, not an excuse to retreat into silos.
Political and professional leadership is vital.
Local government is ready to take on public health but we must be given the freedom, power and resources to do so.
On 28 February we shall welcome the Secretary of State for Health to Local Government House for the LGA Public Health annual conference 2012. Focusing on political and managerial leadership in public health the event offers expert speakers from across the DH, National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH), CIEH and the NHS. We will be launching 'From transition to transformation in Public Health' a web-based resource to support local authorities and their partners prepare for the transfer of public health to local government. The resource will be available on the LGA website from 28 February.
To book your place at the conference, please visit local.gov.uk/events or call 020 7664 3000 and ask for the Events team.
The bulletin provides further updates on our work across the health, adult social care and ageing sectors. Please do feel free to email me at david.rogers@local.gov.uk with your suggestions and contributions.
Councillor David Rogers OBE
Chairman, LGA Community Wellbeing Board
Stories
Draft statutory guidance on joint strategic needs assessments (JSNAs) and joint health and wellbeing strategies.
This draft guidance provides a framework for NHS and local government to work together to undertake JSNAs and joint health and wellbeing strategies. Feedback is welcomed and views are sought on the guidance which should be fed back by 17 February 2012.
Guidance on joint strategic needs assessments and joint health and wellbeing strategies
The Adult Social Care Efficiency programme
The LGA's Adult Social Care Efficiency programme was launched on 19 January. Applications for the programme surpassed expectations. The original external programme budget was £600,000, including £300,000 of match funding from the DH, which was intended to support 30 authorities. Given the number and quality of the applications, existing LGA funds have been reallocated so that 42-43 individual authority bids, two joint bids covering a further five authorities, one regional bid, and 1-2 sub regional bids (subject to final discussions on bids) at a cost of just over £1 million can now be supported.
Applications were received from a range of different sized authorities and there was a good regional spread. Just under half outlined proposals for whole system efficiency reviews; of the other applications, most retained an efficiency focus but narrowed this to specific areas. Key themes emerging included reducing high cost learning disability placements; the interface with health care; preventative services; and commissioning. More information about the programme can be obtained from Ellie Greenwood.
The Adult Social Care Efficiency programme
The Health and Wellbeing Board programme
The LGA's Health and Wellbeing Board organised a successful design workshop on Tuesday 25 January. The workshop aimed to share the new programme 'offer' from the LGA to support health and wellbeing board (HWB) leadership development and to receive feedback and comments on the proposal.
The meeting endorsed the core offer, which includes:
- web-based learning resource for health and wellbeing boards
HWB peer challenge
master class / good practice
customised local leadership academy
peer mentoring
HWB chairs' network.
We will work with local areas in designing the specific content, recognising that boards and localities will be facing different challenges, are at different stages in their journey and that the support delivered will therefore need to respond to diverse needs.
We are working with LGA colleagues, associates, peers and local networks to identify HWB development needs, promote and deliver the programme offer.
The programme will be rolled out between January and September 2012, for more information contact Lorna Shaw.
LGA and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) views on commissioning support for Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGS)
The health and social care reforms provide us all with a unique opportunity to transform the health and social care system so that integrated commissioning is the norm in improving outcomes, and that this integrated commissioning is devolved as close to the front line as possible. Whilst there are some risks, councils are central to delivering efficiency savings through collaboration and local leadership.
Help for councils to make better places for older people
Next month the LGA will be launching new resources, including publications and toolkits, to help councils make their areas better places in which to grow older.
Regional seminars are being held throughout the country during February and March to bring together the learning from the two year Ageing Well programme which the LGA has been running with funding from the Department for Work and Pensions. The seminars will bring together case studies from some of the councils that have taken part in the programme as well as some of the experts who have been working with them.
Localism
Healthwatch England membership consultation – view
Stakeholders and the public are being asked to contribute to the development of the Healthwatch England membership regulations. Deadline for responses is Friday 2 March 2012.
Publications
Improving outcomes and supporting transparency – LGA response
The new public health outcomes framework is in three parts and outlines local authorities enhanced role in public health.
Improving outcomes and supporting transparency – LGA response
Summary of latest guidance on public health transition – DH
The Government issued a series of factsheets on the new public health system, including: a letter on reform of public health system, a summary of the new public health system, public health in local government, Public Health England's operating model and public health transfer of staff from PCTs to local authorities.
Guidance on public health transition
Design of the NHS Commissioning Board
The NHS Commissioning Board recently published a key document, Design of the NHS Commissioning Board. This document sets out proposals for the organisational design, structure and ways of working for the future NHS Commissioning Board, subject to the passing of the Health and Social Care Bill.
Events
LGA Public Health annual conference 2012 – political and managerial leadership in public health
28 February 2012 | London
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley MP will be the keynote speaker at this timely national conference. As we prepare for the transfer of public health to local government in 2013, the conference will offer a valuable opportunity to analyse future implications.
Physical activity conference – the changing shape of public health
13 March 2012 | London
Increasing participation in physical activity leads to improved health and wellbeing outcomes. This conference will help councils understand the new public health and physical activity landscape, exploring how they can best join up initiatives and work with partner agencies to deliver their goals and local targets, or simply as part of an understanding of the benefits of active people. This conference is free to LGA members.
Reducing health inequalities for children and young people conference
22 March 2012 | London
This important national conference will offer a valuable opportunity for delegates to analyse the implications of the transfer of public health responsibilities to local government. The conference is free to LGA members.
In the Knowledge Hub
National Learning Network for Health and Wellbeing Boards' Community of Practice (CoP)
John Wilderspin, National Director of Health and Wellbeing Board Implementation, will be hosting his fourth Q&A session online on Thursday 9 February 12.00 to 1.30pm. The topic for the session will be released closer to the date. To read the transcript of previous Q&A sessions, including January's Q&A about public engagement including Healthwatch.
National learning network for health and wellbeing boards CoP
In the media
LGA launches fund to drive £50 million care efficiency programme
Councillor David Rogers, Chair of the LGA's Community Wellbeing Board, said councils were facing the pressure of insufficient funding, growing demand and escalating costs.
LGA statement on public health funding
Councillor David Rogers, Chair of the LGA's Community Wellbeing Board, responds to Andrew Lansley's announcement on public health funding for councils.
Council care bills 'punish pensioners'
Commenting on adult social care, LGA strategic adviser Andrew Cozens told MPs on the health select committee that the system was "close to collapse, if not fundamentally broken because it is not able to properly respond to the demands on it."
Carers 'missing out on support' says charity
Responding to a story that said people looking after someone with cancer are missing out on "vital support and benefits", Cllr David Rogers, Chair of the Community Wellbeing Board, was quoted on BBC online.
Service message
Please note that the old LGA website ( www.lga.gov.uk) will be closing down on 3 February 2012. We have completed a migration of the relevant content that is aligned to the LGA's current corporate priorities and this can be found in the LGA's website at www.local.gov.uk. Content relevant to health, adult social care and ageing can now be found at www.local.gov.uk/topic-health-adult-social-care-and-ageing.
If you have any queries, please don't hesitate to contact info@local.gov.uk.
30 January 2013
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