Agenda item

To receive a report from the Director of Adults and Health which presents an update from the Leeds Health and Care Partnership on the HomeFirst Programme, including outcomes delivered and proposed next steps.

The Director of Adults and Health submitted a report which presented an update from the Leeds Health and Care Partnership on the HomeFirst Programme, including outcomes delivered and proposed next steps.

The following were in attendance:

·  Councillor Fiona Venner, Executive Member for Equality, Health and Wellbeing

·  Councillor Salma Arif, Executive Member for Adult Social Care, Active Lifestyles and Culture

·  Councillor Adrian McCluskey, Support Executive Member

·  Caroline Baria, Director of Adults and Health

·  Victoria Eaton, Director of Public Health

·  Shona McFarlane, Deputy Director Social Work and Social Care Service

·  Nick Earl, Director of Strategy, Planning and Programmes (Interim), Leeds Integrated Care Board

·  Andrea North, General Manager; Specialist Business Unit, Leeds Community Healthcare Trust.

The Chair invited the Executive Member for Adult Social Care, Active Lifestyles and Culture to provide some introductory comments and then invited the Director of Adults and Health and other invited contributors to give a brief overview of the key points set out within the appended briefing paper, which was presented in the form of a PowerPoint presentation.

In summary, the following key points were highlighted:

Ø  The HomeFirst programme brings together health and care partners with support from an external partner, Newton Europe, to create a sustainable, person-centred, home-first model of intermediate care across Leeds that is joined up and promotes independence.

Ø  A significant focus in the Programme has been on bringing people together with a shared focus on how to build a better offer focussed on a home first ethos and with the person at the centre. 

Ø  The ambition is to improve outcomes for over 3000 Leeds residents each year, resulting in an annualised financial saving of £17.3m to £23.1m.

Ø  The Programme is now in the embed and sustain phase.

Ø  The Board was briefed on the programme financial KPIs and programme financial opportunities.  It was highlighted that performance indicators are tracked monthly and will change as performance moves.  The performance data for August 2024 was shared with the Board, which showed that overall programme delivery is ahead of target.

Ø  The HomeFirst Programme Team has developed a draft Blueprint for Intermediate Care Services in Leeds, which sets out a proposed work plan covering the near term (2024-25), medium term (5 years) and longer term (10 years).  Such plans will need to respond to predicted demographic changes and the demand profile for intermediate care services.

During the Board’s discussions, the following issues were also raised:

Ø  Supporting people to live in suitable accommodation – Importance was placed on supporting people to live in accommodation that best suits their needs.  Linked to this, the Board discussed the issue of housing supply and the Director of Adults and Health advised that system partners, including health, social care and housing work collaboratively on this issue and agreed to provide further information for Board Members.

Ø  Staff surveys and communications – While acknowledging that 76% of the staff surveyed had agreed that the new model benefited the patient, the Board was advised that not all staff will have maintained contact with a patient throughout their journey and particularly at the point of witnessing them receiving support at home.  Importance was therefore placed on communicating effectively with all staff and sharing positive case studies.  Having been advised that a further staff survey was being undertaken, the Board requested to receive the findings once available.

Ø  Monitoring patient re-admission rates – Members requested information surrounding patients linked to the programme who had been sent home but were subsequently re-admitted to hospital.

Ø  Delivering savings in the system –Members were advised that the level of savings being realised will vary across different services and that each respective partner organisation will need to work through and sign off such savings.  The Director of Adults and Health explained that any in-year savings achieved by the directorate will contribute towards reducing other existing financial pressures within Adults and Health.

Ø  Sharing learning and celebrating impact – Members were informed that a system wide event is taking place on 4^th October 2024 to reflect on progress made since the start of the programme.  This will coincide with formal evaluation of the programme’s impact and opportunities to be able to share learning regionally and nationally.  An invitation to this event was also extended to Board Members.

Ø  Co-ordinated support planning – Members were advised that a case manager is allocated to an individual to ensure connections are maintained between the partner agencies and support is delivered in a co-ordinated way.  This is facilitated through a single Recovery Plan so that all staff who are supporting the person on the ward can understand the situation and next steps and also share clear information with the person and family/carers.

Ø  Patient involvement – It was reported that feedback relating to the person being involved in their discharge plan and someone discussing the plan with them does require further focus and improvement. Surveys will continue to be undertaken as this work progresses to understand trends and impacts.  A refreshed approach to identifying and involving carers has also been developed across the West Yorkshire partnership and is being implemented in Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust alongside the Transfers of Care Project.

Ø  Tackling No-Reason-To-Reside (NRTR) lengths of stay in Recovery Hubs – Members were advised that by having social work staff more engaged throughout an individual’s journey, this will also help to improve NRTR performance figures relating to Recovery Hubs.

The Chair thanked everyone for their contributions and reiterated the Board’s commitment to continue tracking progress.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report, along with Members comments and information requests, be noted.