Agenda item

The Board gave consideration to a report which provided an update on Place Based Integration.  Place Based Integration was about teams in public services, working in an integrated way, out in communities to better meet the needs of people and communities.  Oldham had championed placed based integration which included Community Health and Adult Social Care Integrated Multi-Disciplinary Teams (IMDTs) (Community Providers) were operating in the borough, there were placed based sites at ward level or below in Holts, Lees, Westwood, North Chadderton and Hollinwood.  There were other emerging placed-based models such as Oldham Family Connect.  Placed Based Integration was not as joined up to the scale required.  The report set out how Oldham could move towards a model of integrated public services delivery on five common footprints covering populations of 30 – 55,000. 

Learning, either locally, Greater Manchester or nationally had shown the necessity to take a different approach to building cooperative services, thriving communities and an inclusive economy.  Previous approaches had been focused on specific organisations, issues or funding.  Place-working was not new to Oldham and in the past few years new forms of multi-agency integration had been taking shape.  These included Community Health and Social Care, focus place-based teams, long-established district working model, early help service with placed-based elements, focussed care model in Fitton Hill and Hollinwood, and an emerging children’s operating model based on the Oldham Family model.

Placed based integration relied on a twin track approach to people, place and prevention.  The first track was to identify and work with those individuals and families who were not coping but did meet the necessary threshold for specialist services.  To proactively prevent future need, early intervention and prevention would need to be tracked in identifying and working with those at risk.  People were also influenced by where they lived.

It was envisaged that relevant services from health and social care, children’s, housing, policing, districts and environment would be in scope for place-based integration.  It would not include all services, but those that were best deployed.  It would need to be understood how the wider system would be integrated alongside Oldham Cares.  These have been packaged in to themes as follows:

a.       The Oldham Family Connect Model (children’s, schools and early years)

b.       Neighbourhood and Place based services (neighbourhood policing, district teams, housing, community safety, environment, fire, probation, etc.)

c.       Inclusive Economy

d.       Thriving Communities

Integration was dependent on many enablers as follows:

·       Geographical alignment

·       Single leadership and accountability

·       One co-operative workforce

·       Systems, tools and enablers

·       Pooled, aligned and in view budgets and commissioning.

This was an ambitious and long-term programme and some clear next steps were required over the next three months.

Members were reminded of the financial challenges across the public sector and that placed based reform had evolved from the Troubled Families Programme.  Sound foundations were in place but a whole system model to work in an integrated way was being developed from placed based working. The model outlined six footprints for public services with not just health and social care but also policing, housing, mental health, environment, interaction with community groups and schools.  Resources would be aligned as much as possible but particular communities may needed to be focussed upon.

Members commented on interaction and trust being developed. Colocation was not integration and some services were easier with alignment.  It was recognised that integration would be a long journey with phasing.

Members recommended more discussion between members, district teams and placed based teams to share information.  Members expressed frustration with repeated problems and blockages and provided an example related to private rented accommodation. 

Members commented that they had not had the opportunity to understand the detail and issues raised through placed based integration, district model and impacts on the future and that districts will not have the same issues.  Members were informed that the first step was geographical alignment.  Members suggested and agreed a separate session to discuss Placed Based Integration.

RESOLVED that:

1.       The report on Placed Based Integration and the information provided at the meeting be noted.

2.       A separate session on Placed Based Integration be organised for January 2020.

NOTE:  Councillor Surjan declared a pecuniary interest in this item.  Councillor Surjan left the meeting and did not take part in the discussion or vote thereon.