Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to a report of the Strategic Director of Reform which sought approval to award a contract for an Innovation Partnership for three years, to work with Oldham Care Alliance partners and the Voluntary, Community Faith and Social Enterprise sector (VCFSE) to co-design, establish, deliver and further develop the provision of social prescribing across the Borough of Oldham as part of the Thriving Communities Programme.

Members were advised that the Social Prescribing Innovation Partnership would support the Oldham Cares vision and would focus upon building and further developing existing strength based approached to support improved self-care.

It was envisaged that the partnership would help to achieve significantly improved health outcomes for residents and as such people engaged in socially prescribed activity and support would not require as much support from traditional services.

The target cohort for social prescribing attended their GP between 10-13 times per year and attended Accident and emergency on average 3 times a year with several non-elective unplanned overnight stays. The roll out of the Social Prescribing Innovation Network across the Borough would create a system benefit in terms of deflections including GP appointments, Accident and Emergency attendances and non-elective bed days freed and also benefits across the wider system including policing, mental health and education.

The Board was advised that evaluation would be undertaken using information from those who access the socially prescribed activity and support via interviews and self-reporting.

It was also noted that information would also be captured using systems and business intelligence.

The Board agree that the Partnership was to be celebrated and the benefit of using ‘lessons learnt’ from elsewhere in the Country was key to success of the roll out of the Partnership in Oldham. The ability to utilise data and live reporting would provide ongoing analysis of the partnership against outcomes. Options/Alternatives considered

Option 1 – To cease commissioning the Social Prescribing Innovation Partnership.

Option 2 – To award contacts to the most economically advantageous tender in accordance with the result of the tendering exercise.

RESOLVED – That the Commissioning Partnership Board would consider the commercially sensitive information contained at Item 13 of the agenda.