Agenda item

This report is being provided as a general update regarding the Local Area Coordination and Social Prescribing Programmes introduced in the city in 2016.

Members considered a report that provided a general update on the Local Area Coordination and Social Prescribing programmes introduced in the city in 2016.

The Head of Communities, the Senior Local Area Coordinator and the Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive of York CVS outlined a summary of the current status and work of both strength-based programmes, including what they were achieving separately and in collaboration.They highlighted how the programmes had evolved and worked together and reported that;

·     Local Area Coordination and Social Prescribing were recognised as strength-based programmes that applied person centred approaches and supported people to achieve more healthy, happy and connected lives.

·     The teams were primarily funded through the Better Care Fund (BCF).

·     Local Area Coordination was an internationally recognised approach to creating networks of support around people to increase independence and reduce dependence on statutory services.

·     The cost of living crisis was creating an unprecedented demand on both services, particularly for advice and support.

·     The Local Area Coordination Team had supported 4630 people since the programme began in 2016. The programme was currently supporting 2193 people, even though the full caseload capacity for the team was 660.

·     Mental health and wellbeing had been prevalent in the reasons for referral to Local Area Coordinators and the Social Prescribing service.

·      A mixture of stories, key metrics and reporting data were used to evidence the work that the Local Area Coordinators undertook but the complexity of the work was hard to capture and reflect in the data.

·      The stories demonstrated how the model was good at working with people who would otherwise be incredibly marginalized and the strength-based approach allowed Local Area Coordinators to build trust with people to address all the practical issues.

·      Poverty and financial issues were becoming more common in referral to Local Area Coordinators and the programme was also seeing an increased demand from statutory services.

·      York CVS had grown Social Prescribing in York, identifying gaps in the system where patients required additional holistic support. The team had grown exceptionally to support the most vulnerable across the four city Primary Care Networks and within Foss Park Hospital and York District Teaching Hospital. 

·     Social Prescribing empowered individuals to take more responsibility for their own health and wellbeing and to identify support networks within their community.

·     The Ways to Wellbeing team were also funded through the Better Care Fund, and they were commissioned to deliver Social Prescribing to patients referred through secondary care health professionals.

The Director of Customer and Communities reiterated the key pressures across the teams and the challenging funding cycle.

In answer to various questions raised about the Better Care Fund programme, the workforce, systemic change, sustainability, volunteers, the demand for the service, the resources available within rural villages and the cost of living crisis, Members were informed that:

·        A review of the BCF and the move to a multi-year funding agreement set out in the NHS White Paper allowed for the Local Area Coordination team to move to permanent contracts.

·         Additional resource would assist both services to help sustain the large caseloads and provide job security, as the current funding programme was a continuing concern.

·        The use of volunteers was an outstanding resource and although volunteering numbers had declined, some services were starting up again, such as the buddy role.

·         Both teams had built strong strategic partnership relationships across the whole health and adult social care system and York CVS continued to locate funding from various sources. This funding supported York CVS’ sustainability and allowed them to offer dedicated support to ensure a robust volunteer and community sector.

·         Historically, funding streams had never been provided for   core costs, but conversations were underway to reflect the current cost of living crisis.

·        The local area coordination model included community building, which addressed areas that had no assets by actively building connected communities through strategic partnership working. York CVS also supported community development and had secured a small community transport fund.

Members commended officers for the service they provided, and they recognised how both teams sought to save costs across the whole health and adult social care system, and not just within the council.  They agreed that the funding programme required a whole system solution, and Members welcomed an ambition to provide a whole city-wide local area coordination service.  The Director of Public Health agreed to begin discussions with the Integrated Care System and the York Health and Care Partnership.

Resolved:

(i)          That the report and latest performance reports be noted.

(ii)         That there be an ambition to provide a city-wide Local Area Coordination service.

(iii)        That Local Area Coordination and Social Prescribing be discussed with the Integrated Care Service and the York Health and Care Partnership.

Reason: To keep the Committee updated on Local Area Coordination and Social Prescribing.