Decision details

Ian Crabtree, Director of Adult Social Care Transformation, presented a report providing an overview of progress of the Transforming Care Programme for People with Learning Disabilities and Autism and the County Council's contribution to the programme.  An update was also provided on the funding position taken by the County Council in relation to discharges and progress on a pooled budget arrangement.

The Transforming Care Programme had originated from the abuse scandal at Winterbourne View in 2011, highlighted by the BBC Panorama programme.  The Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services supported the plan which publicly committed to a programme of a review of inappropriate and outmoded in-patient facilities, with the aim of establishing stronger support in the community.

It was reported that the discharge trajectory set by NHS England was 89.  There were 97 individuals in hospital as at February 2018; this was the first quarter where the trajectory had been markedly missed.  However, it should be noted that this was not a true reflection of the success of the programme, which had discharged 50 of the original cohort of 107 individuals who had been in hospital at the start of the programme in April 2016.  It was reported that no discharges had been held up due to the funding position taken by the County Council of no longer contributing to funding for those discharged from learning disabilities inpatient facilities, until there was clear, legally binding commitment from the NHS to fund the full lifetime cost of these services for those awaiting discharge through a newly developed pooled budget.

The Committee noted that the County Council were taking the lead on the Flexible Agreement framework which supported the Transforming Care Programme.  The aim of the framework was to improve the quality of the providers selected to support individuals who were previously in-patients, commission new models of care for individuals which created efficiencies by commissioning for more than one individual, alongside delivering quality care and support which focussed on developing individuals' independence and safe access to their community.

It was reported that medium secure environment placements were currently based at the Calderstones in Whalley, but that these would move to the Ashworth Hospital site in Maghull, although his may only happen in 2021.

Resolved:  That the Cabinet Committee note:

(i)  the progress on discharges of people with Learning Disabilities & Autism;

(ii)  the funding position taken by the County Council in relation to the non-funding of discharges; and

(iii)  the progress made so far in developing a pooled budget with partner

organisations for people with Learning Disabilities & Autism.