Agenda item

To consider a report on the activities of the Regional Partnerships Board during 2020/21 and its priority areas for 2021/22 (copy attached).

11:45 – 12:15

The Corporate Director: Communities (CD:C) introduced the Head of the North Wales Social Care and Well-being Improvement Collaborative (NWSSIC) to members and welcomed her to the meeting.

The Lead Member for Well-being and Independence introduced the report (previously circulated) explaining that it was a statutory report provided on an annual basis as required under Part 9 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.

The North Wales Regional Partnership Board (NWRPB) comprised of the 6 North Wales local authorities and worked in conjunction with BCUHB, other public bodies and voluntary sector services to improve wellbeing outcomes for residents of North Wales.

The CD:C gave an overview of one of the Partnership’s projects – The Children and Young People’s Transformation Programme on which the CD:C led. One of the projects that formed part of this Programme was the Bwthyn y Ddôl Children’s Residential Assessment Centre.  Denbighshire’s representatives on the project board for this Centre were the Lead Member for Education, Children’s Services and Public Engagement along with Scrutiny’s representative Councillor Christine Marston.  Whilst this project had encountered difficulties with the appointed contractor being placed in administration, plans were now in place for the design and build tender to be advertised during December 2022.  The Children’s Transformation Programme (CTP) had led to significant developments across the region. Developing a multi-agency team and improving access and information around emotional health, wellbeing and resilience.

There were four regional programmes that were part of the transformation as well as a number of working groups that had achieved significant progress in integration and improvement of service through the Regional Commissioning and Regional Workforce Boards.

The NWSSIC representative explained that there were literally hundreds of projects ongoing regionally and locally but the format of the report did not allow for their inclusion. They offered to circulate a list of projects undertaken by the Board that highlighted what had been achieved locally for Denbighshire residents.

Responding to the Committee’s questions members were advised:

·         That the NWRPB was a strategic board which did not get involved at operational level, for example with Denbighshire’s care workers during the pandemic. However, care work was a priority area at strategic level and a regional approach was being considered for improving services and support for carers.

·         The NWRPB had been agile throughout the pandemic, learning lessons and changing approach to how they worked. A forum had been established to provide mutual aid and support, devise solutions along with identifying lessons learned.

·         The NWRPB had provided regular updates throughout the pandemic to the Regional Emergency Planning Service in accordance with Civil Contingencies Act in respect of the impact of Covid on workforce, domiciliary and residential care provision and children’s mental health and wellbeing etc.

·         Examples of where the NWRPB transformation programmes had adapted their plans to meet the needs of their population group with respect of Covid included:

o   Setting up support groups for people with learning disabilities in isolation and

o   Providing iPads in care homes for residents to communicate with their families and friends.

·         The Committee could invite any of the Boards to future scrutiny committee meetings to provide examples of case studies, unfortunately case studies could not be included in the Annual Report as its format was determined by WG.

·         Plans were afoot to improve communication between the NWRPB and its partners for more regular and area specific information.

·         The Social Value Steering Group was back up and running with one of the directors stepping into the Chair position.

·         Historically the 6 local authorities had pooled funding to support regional working. Recently, over the past 18 months there had been an acknowledgement from BCUHB that it should contribute too.  It was now contributing. 

·         Welsh Government grants such as the Integrated Care Fund (ICF) and Programme Transformation Grant monies were held by the Health Board initially before being redistributed – e.g. to Denbighshire who hosted the Regional Collaborative Team. Changes to the ICF stream were planned but no details were available as yet.

·         Concerns were raised at a recent NWRPB meeting with BCUHB representatives regarding the perception that all other illnesses and conditions were being neglected in favour of treatment for Covid. To that end a letter had been received from the Health Board’s Chief Executive inviting the Lead Member for Well-being and Independence to a meeting to discuss the subject.

In response the Committee asked for the recommendations to be amended by adding their concern regarding the funding element of the North Wales Regional Partnership Board.

At the conclusion of the discussion the Committee:

Resolved: - subject to the above observations:

(i)   confirmed it had read, understood and taken into account the work required to be undertaken by the North Wales Regional Partnership Board;

(ii) register its concerns about the financial situation of the North Wales Regional Partnership Board;

(iii)                 note the work and progress in 2020-21 on the work areas being taken forward through the North Wales Regional Partnership Board; and

(iv)   schedule the North Wales Regional Partnership Board’s 2021/22 Annual Report into its forward work programme.