Background.
The Health and Social Care Act 2012 established a new consumer
champion for users of health and social care services, called
Healthwatch. Local Authorities with responsibility for social care
were required to commission an independent organisation in order to
deliver the vision. Doncaster Council implemented its statutory
duty to establish a Local Healthwatch from the 1st April 2013. The
current contractual arrangements with Doncaster Healthwatch CIC is
in place until 31st July 2022.
Separately, Doncaster Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) have had a
funding agreement and reporting mechanisms in place with the
provider.
Reason for Decision.
Doncaster Council and CCG have for some considerable time moved to
a more integrated approach as reflected in, for example, The Joint
Health and Social Care Commissioning Strategy that sets out how our
collective action can achieve our vision for the future of health
and social care in Doncaster.
Formalising the CCG involvement via the Council’s Contract
with Doncaster Healthwatch CIC clearly demonstrates the willingness
to work in a joined up manner that is mutually beneficial to all
parties. Doncaster Healthwatch CIC have been involved as
appropriate in the conversations to move this forward. They welcome
having one performance reporting mechanism that will capture the
key performance indicators, but importantly the outcomes for people
accessing health and social care.
A section 256 funding agreement under the NHS Act 2006 will be put
in place between the Doncaster CCG and the Council. Thereby
enabling the Council to recharge Doncaster CCG. Although Doncaster
Council will manage the contract, Doncaster CCG will be have active
representatives at contract meetings.
The Service Specification will be revised to reflect the
requirements of Doncaster CCG and a variation to the contract will
be put in place reflecting the changes.
Decision type: Non-key
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Notice of proposed decision first published: 16/11/2020
Decision due: 14 Aug 2020 by Director of Adults, Health and Well-Being
Contact: Phil Holmes, Executive Director of Adults, Wellbeing and Culture Email: phil.holmes@doncaster.gov.uk.