Issue - meetings

The Panel will receive a presentation on this item from the Director of Adult Social Care and Becky Brooks, Director of 3SG. 

The Director of Adult Social Care and Kate Morton (Chief Executive - Bath Mind and Chair of B&NES 3SG) addressed the Panel and highlighted the following points to them from their presentation.

Director of Adult Social Care:

·  Review carried out with the 3^rd Sector as contracts are due to expire in April 2025.

·  Savings target of £802k still to be achieved across Adult Social Care & Housing.

·  Lack of engagement with the Council cited by 3SG at the September CAHW Panel meeting.

·  Funding allocation of £3,439,048 from three sources (Council, ICB & BCF) make up the indicative total.

What the Commissioners have done so far…

·  Contract Management - A detailed review of the richness of the existing information, intelligence and insight.

·  Data Review - A detailed review of service specific data held by B&NES Council and HCRG Care Group.

·  Service on a Page - Produce concise, detailed overviews of existing services, reviewed by commissioners.

Contract Baselining

·  Information, advice and guidance 

·  Prevention & Early targeted support including independent living support

·  Support for Carers

Kate Morton:

·  Since September 2024 Panel meeting a great deal of co-production and collaboration has been carried out between the Council and the 3^rd Sector.

Market Engagement Events

·  24th September 2024 - Engagement with incumbent 3rd sector providers.

·  8th October 2024 - Market engagement event opened to organisations from wider market.

·  Two further events facilitated by Stone King Solicitors

o  30th October 2024 - Engagement event led by 3SG with Council commissioners on the art of the possible.

o  1st November 2024 - Engagement event with the 3rd sector providers, well attended (over 30 people).

Key Themes from the Engagement Events

• Focus on the joint purpose
• More alignment with the ICB
• Equal partnership and seeking to understand the needs of both the third sector and the Council
• Requires a strategic partnership approach
• Lack of Council appetite for risk as concerns about fear of challenge
• Over complicated processes - less transactional arrangements
• Open book approach to partners
• Concerns about new providers joining the market and then sub-contracting to local providers
• Wellbeing Hub is a great example of how well we work together

Next steps

·  Research those Councils who have managed to change their model and what lessons they have learnt

·  Develop commissioning models with the sector

·  Analyse themes from two market engagement events to inform the community support model

·  Develop commissioning intentions and commissioning model for 2025/26

·  Continue engaging with residents and service providers on bridging current contracts and future community support arrangements 

The Chair commented that this was a very positive message for the Panel to hear.

Councillor Liz Hardman asked what the status of the current contracts were and what will happen from April 2025.

She also asked if it was known whether Julian House would have to close, asked if there was a revised timeline for the Commissioning Model to be in place and what the impact will be on 2025/26 budget.

The Director of Adult Social Care replied that contract bridging arrangements will be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53