Decisions

The need to retain quality teachers in Doncaster underpins the successful delivery of all four priorities in our Doncaster OA plan.
The aim of the project is to support the health and wellbeing of teachers in order to retain experienced teachers both in the profession and in Doncaster and to do so in in a way that integrates and compliments both our own broader OA delivery and the wider support that will be available across the Borough.

To provide funding (£95,000) to support a second round of the Teacher Health & Wellbeing Programme, which provides a bespoke package of Health & Wellbeing support developed in collaboration and to meet the specific needs of schools.
This project will support around 25 schools. It is anticipated that these will come from a combination of schools new to the programme and some continued support for schools from the initial round of the programme. As in the previous round all schools would be eligible to apply and invited to do so through and EOI process. Participants will then be selected based on demand and need.
Due to its success, the programme will follow the same methodology as previously as far as the contractor and head teacher will agree a bespoke programme of training targeted to meet the needs of the school.
As before to ensure a co-ordinated approach and to foster a spirit of unity and team building, it is envisaged that the majority of these training modules would be delivered within the school and arranged around the needs of school (either twilight, training days, morning staff meetings, etc.).

The Better Care Fund (“BCF”) is a programme spanning both the NHS and local government to improve the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in our society, placing them at the centre of their care and support, and providing them with ‘wraparound’ fully integrated health and social care, resulting in an improved experience and better quality of life. The Improved Better Care Fund (“IBCF”), and Disabled Facilities Grant are additional elements to the Better Care Fund, which are paid as direct grants to Councils, but must be pooled into the local BCF plan and regulated by a Section 75 Agreement pursuant to partnership arrangements permitted under the NHS Act 2006.

The varied Clause 2.3 of the Agreement allows the existing fund transfer arrangement and the related budget and governance arrangement of various schemes to be extended for a further 12 month period by the agreement of Doncaster Council and DCCG through the Better Care Fund Partnership Board.

This ODR concerns the BCF, IBCF and Disabled Facilities Grant pooled budgets between DCCG and Doncaster Council for the financial year 2021/22.

To vary the Agreement as follows:
a) To vary clause 2.3 to allow the extension of the Agreement for one further period of 12 months for the period 1st April 2021 – 31st March 2022;
b) To update the terms of reference in schedule 2 of the Agreement;
c) To update Schedule 5 of the Agreement to reflect post COVID 19 systems of working;
d) To update the policies attached at schedule 7 to include the Council’s Work, Experience, Internship and Volunteer Worker policy;
e) To allow the option of further variations to schedule 5 and schedule 6 to reflect future published governmental guidance regarding the operation of the Better Care Fund.

To extend for a period of 12 months the existing 2020/2021 Section 75 Better Care Fund and Improved Better Care Fund Framework Partnership Agreement relating to the pooling of funds between DCCG and Doncaster Council for 2021/2022 in accordance with the proposed varied clause 2.3 of the Agreement and ODR Decision - Reference AHWB.056.2019_S75_Council_CCG_2019-20 2020_21

The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (‘DoLS’) team has an allocated assessment budget to ensure that the Council’s statutory duties (pursuant to the DoLS framework) are met. To authorise a deprivation of liberty as lawful and proportionate, each client that has been referred to the team requires six assessments.

Pursuant to Doncaster Council’s DoLS process, the BIAs complete 4 of the 6 assessments and the Mental Health Assessors (‘MHA’) complete 2 of the 6 assessments. All MHA assessments are completed by independent MHA’s via Reed agency and the assessor is paid per assessment. BIA assessments are completed via a combination of BIA trained staff employed by Doncaster Council and a cohort of independent assessors via Reed. Reed assessors are paid per assessment and Doncaster Council employed staff members receive a graded salary.

Reed sourced the independent assessor team and continue to manage the project against a set of deliverables, ensuring resource availability (where possible) in line with our weekly requests. This project was set up via an order against the overarching contractual framework agreement that Doncaster Council has with Reed. This order was placed in January 2019 and is to run for a period of three years.

On 22 March 2021 Doncaster Council will change its adult social care case management system and the Council is taking steps to increase its internal BIA workforce. On that basis, and for the remainder of the contract duration, the number of BIA referrals will gradually be reduced and phased out (with the project continuing to its end date providing MHA assessments only).

On that basis, and over a period of 12 weeks starting w/c Monday 5 April 2021, the number of BIA assessment requests will be reduced on a weekly basis. The gradual reduction will be confirmed via email on a weekly basis (and a week in advance of the assessors being required) so that Reed can confirm that it has a sufficient supply of assessors to meet the current demand.

During this 12 week transition period it is not anticipated that the number of MHA assessments as predicted in the original order will increase/ decrease. If the position does change, Doncaster Council will provide Reed with 2 weeks’ notice of any change.

A variation to the order placed has been completed in writing and signed by both parties confirming the above.

To utilise the team’s assessment budget in an alternative way; to procure fewer Best Interest Assessor (‘BIA’) assessments via Reed agency (pursuant to the current DoLS team order against the overarching framework) and instead use the available budget to employ more BIA staff in the team on fixed term contracts.

An ODR2 has been completed as the value of the change equates to approximately £74,000 of the budget that will be used to employ members of staff within the team, and will not be used to pay for BIA assessments procured via Reed.

The Council have received notification from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner that the Safer Stronger Doncaster Partnership (SSDP) will receive a Community Safety Grant of £129,391, which is allocated every year to fund initiatives and projects agreed by the partnership and linked to Partnership and OPCC priorities.

The Safer Stronger Communities service within Doncaster Council administers the grant funding on behalf of the partnership, gaining approval from the OPCC for proposed activity; submitting bi-annual financial returns and monitoring underspends. The use of underspends from the grant requires approval from the OPCC and any unspent funds have to be returned in line with the terms of the grant from Central Government.

At this stage the SSDP have proposed the activity below for the 2021-22 funding allocation. This is a similar approach to last year, which worked well and has been discussed and agreed informally with the OPCC:
• The continuation of the Workforce Development Officer post - £36,507;
• The continuation of the OCG Co-ordinator post - £31,800
• Support to strategic theme groups within the SSDP structure - £50k (£10k per group to allow them to respond to emerging issues throughout the year);
• Retention of an initiatives pot to allow the wider partnership access to funding for any initiatives/activity that may be required throughout the year - £11,084

To approve the receipt of grant funding from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC), which will enable the Safer Stronger Communities Service to administer this fund on behalf of the Safer Stronger Doncaster Partnership (SSDP).

Ownership of the network was transferred to Doncaster Council Officers shortly after its creation. Since then, the Doncaster Green Space Network (DGSN) has been organised and coordinated by various DMBC Officers, but there is no dedicated Officer support.

Currently, there is no dedicated Officer support for the DGSN. Through consultation both Doncaster Council and the community groups involved in the network have recognised the need for committed support to the DGSN. Additional support would provide the resources, skills, and
attention to facilitate the development of the DGSN. This would increase the capacity and effectiveness of the network, whilst also providing Officers with additional capacity as the network grows in efficiency and sustainability.

Working with an external organisation aligns with our values of collaboration and partnership-building. Stepping away from the current Council-centric approach, we will work collaboratively to embed strength and sustainability within the Green Space Network and Green Space Volunteering.

The strategic aims of the DGSN are to build community capacity and sustainability within its community groups to support the development of, and improve community engagement in, Doncaster’s parks and green spaces. This will also support wider priorities within the Public Health agenda by increasing physical activity and improving health and wellbeing.

This is an opportunity to improve our ways of working with the DGSN. It is important to ensure that Get Doncaster Moving’s key strategic values are incorporated in the decision-making process.
We also wish to involve members of the GSN within the subsequent recruitment or tendering process. We will continue to seek the views of members of the GSN in the future and incorporate these perspectives into future development of the network and its governance.

Appoint to the post of the Doncaster Green Space Network Co-ordinator through by an external organisation via a procurement exercise.

A suitable partner will be sourced to support and facilitate the running of the Doncaster Green Space Network over the course of the Future Parks Programme. The purpose of the network is to provide a space for community groups to collaborate, share learning, and develop their volunteering capacity.

The funding for this role is in place through Get Doncaster Moving - Doncaster Future Parks.

GDM has £165,150 funded from Sport England over 5 years, to provide a Coordinator.

See attached Officer Decision Record for full details

To utilise the team’s assessment budget in an alternative way; to procure fewer Best Interest Assessor (‘BIA’) assessments via Reed agency (pursuant to the current DoLS team order against the overarching framework) and instead use the available budget to employ more BIA staff in the team on fixed term contracts.

An ODR2 has been completed as the value of the change equates to approximately £74,000 of the budget that will be used to employ members of staff within the team, and will not be used to pay for BIA assessments procured via Reed.

There is a statutory requirement to publish a Post 16 Transport Policy Statement by 31st May each year in accordance with the Home to School Statutory Travel and Transport Guidance published by the Government in 2014.

There is a statutory requirement to publish a Post 16 Transport Policy Statement by 31st May each year. Following legal advice a consultation on the proposed policy for the 2021/2022 Academic year was approved and undertaken in January 2021.

There were no changes proposed within the consultation for 2021/22 and only one response was received from South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) this contained suggested wording in relation to the bus passes and tickets which they currently offer. These updates have been made to the draft policy and a copy is attached for information.

Approval is now required to publish the policy in May 2021 in accordance with the guidance.

Ownership of the network was transferred to Doncaster Council Officers shortly after its creation. Since then, the Doncaster Green Space Network (DGSN) has been organised and coordinated by various DMBC Officers, but there is no dedicated Officer support.


Currently, there is no dedicated Officer support for the DGSN. Through consultation both Doncaster Council and the community groups involved in the network have recognised the need for committed support to the DGSN. Additional support would provide the resources, skills, and
attention to facilitate the development of the DGSN. This would increase the capacity and effectiveness of the network, whilst also providing Officers with additional capacity as the network grows in efficiency and sustainability.


Working with an external organisation aligns with our values of collaboration and partnership-building. Stepping away from the current Council-centric approach, we will work collaboratively to embed strength and sustainability within the Green Space Network and Green Space Volunteering.

The strategic aims of the DGSN are to build community capacity and sustainability within its community groups to support the development of, and improve community engagement in, Doncaster’s parks and green spaces. This will also support wider priorities within the Public Health agenda by increasing physical activity and improving health and wellbeing.

This is an opportunity to improve our ways of working with the DGSN. It is important to ensure that Get Doncaster Moving’s key strategic values are incorporated in the decision-making process.
We also wish to involve members of the GSN within the subsequent recruitment or tendering process. We will continue to seek the views of members of the GSN in the future and incorporate these perspectives into future development of the network and its governance.

Appoint to the post of the Doncaster Green Space Network Co-ordinator through by an external organisation via a procurement exercise.
A suitable partner will be sourced to support and facilitate the running of the Doncaster Green Space Network over the course of the Future Parks Programme. The purpose of the network is to provide a space for community groups to collaborate, share learning, and develop their volunteering capacity.


The funding for this role is in place through Get Doncaster Moving - Doncaster Future Parks.


GDM has £165,150 funded from Sport England over 5 years, to provide a Coordinator

REASON FOR THE DECISION
Information

Social and economic challenges such as rising demand for services, fewer resources, an ageing population and more people aged under 18 over the next ten years, has led to statutory health and care partners working more collaboratively to improve and modernise services and the way services are delivered.

Doncaster Council and Doncaster NHS CCG (CCG) has a long history of working together to achieve positive change for Doncaster residents.
In 2017, the Council entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the CCG to establish shadow joint commissioning arrangements to take forward seven areas of opportunity, (originally described in the Doncaster Place Plan) where joint commissioning and delivery could be tested.

The seven areas of opportunity were across all life-stages from birth to old age where joined up care and support is required to have a stronger impact on outcomes for individuals. The seven areas of opportunity are Urgent and Emergency Care, Intermediate Care, Complex Lives, Learning Disability, Starting Well first 1001 days, Vulnerable Adolescents and Dermatology. All the areas of opportunity have been progressed to varying degrees of success with the exception of dermatology where plans are being developed to deliver services closer to home within general practice rather than in hospital.

A formal Joint Commissioning Agreement was put in place in April 2018 to enable the Council and the CCG to jointly commission services. This Agreement expired at the end of March 2021.

A refreshed Joint Commissioning Agreement has been developed between the Council and the CCG. This ODR is seeking approval to enter into the new Joint Commissioning Agreement from 1st April 2021.
The JCA underpins the level of integration needed to ensure services are joined up at key points in the lives of Doncaster residents when they need that most.

Joint Commissioning Strategy and Deliver Plans

To support the Place Plan, in April 2019, the Council and the CCG implemented a Joint Commissioning Strategy (JCS) and detailed delivery plans, aligned with the NHS Long term Plan. The JCS sets out the direction of travel and priorities for the Council and the CCG to 2022, it seeks to reduce duplication and make the best use of local resources.
The JCS is underpinned by guiding principles to shape the way partners work together. The Joint Commissioning Strategy is part of the JCA and is the vehicle by which the requirements of the JCA will be delivered.

Place Plan

The Doncaster Place Plan originally published in December 2016, described a 5 year ambition to achieve integrated health and social care, underpinned by the following key strands of work:-
- Identifying areas where residents could benefit most from integration (Areas of Opportunity)
- Developing formal Agreements to create commissioner and provider collaboration
- Revising governance arrangements and developing delivery arrangements to support integration

The Place Plan was refreshed in 2019, with an increasing focus on people as opposed to services. This means that instead of looking at where care is delivered, we are now thinking about local communities and their needs.

The refreshed Place Plan has the same vision and partnership working commitments at its core. It highlights how services will continue to work together to ensure seamless, coordinated services for the people of Doncaster.

The Place Plan refresh is based on a four layered model, focusing on:

- Supporting communities to thrive, working much more closely with the voluntary, community and faith sector, investing in social prescribing to improve health and emotional wellbeing
- Developing a ‘front door system’, where there is no wrong door to access health and care services. This will help get people to the right place, first time
- Joining up care and support at home.
- Help ensure our specialist services can be used more appropriately, across all three life stages thus reducing the demand and need for hospital and emergency care.

The Joint Commissioning Agreement

The Agreement is between the Council and CCG setting out our joint commissioning arrangements across three life stages of Starting, Living and Ageing Well. The Agreement enables the Council and CCG to prepare for formal joint commissioning of services under a Section 75 (S75) agreement. A S75 Agreement is an Agreement made under section 75 of National Health Services Act 2006, which allows the pooling of resources, the delegation of certain NHS and Council health related functions to the other partner, joint and/or lead commissioning of services and the pooling of budgets. In essence the JCA:-

a. Is a legally binding commitment to develop integrated commissioning and builds on the previously agreed JCA between the Council and CCG.
b. Sets out the work required to support the parties to deliver effective joint commissioning whilst providing the necessary legal assurances for both the Council and CCG. This provides the strategic commitment to bring commissioning together for the benefit of Doncaster residents, and to jointly address the financial challenges in the system.
c. Commits both parties to work together during 2021/22 to support joint working arrangements including integrated working and joint contracting of services where sensible to do so
d. Sets out the areas of joint development, the aims, integration goals and commissioning actions.
Governance

The governance framework is contained in the JCA. The governance processes include regular reports to the Health and Well Being Board and to the Joint Commissioning Management Board.

The current Joint Commissioning Agreement expired at the end of March 2021.

This ODR renews the Joint Commissioning Agreement from 1st April 2021 for up to 12 months to 31st March 2022. The Agreement will underpin current joint commissioning arrangements and enable Doncaster residents to increasingly experience seamless, joined up care and support.