Welcome
In this issue we bring you details of the Total Place approach to providing public services, and how it affects adult social care.
More than ever councils are seeking to find creative solutions to meet the challenge of ensuring satisfaction with local services, while at the same time fulfilling government demands for efficiency savings.
Total Place was a high profile attempt at addressing this issue. The aim was to look at spending as a whole, across organisations, to identify where money is spent unnecessarily due to duplication and bureaucracy, and to maximise the impact by sharing funds and resources.
The approach was tested in a year-long pilot study involving 13 areas - three localities in the West Midlands, namely Birmingham, Worcestershire and a sub-region of Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire. Results show great potential for local authorities to reduce costs and improve outcomes for local people. Their focus ranged from intensive family intervention to gang crime, from frequent hospital users to high need neighbourhoods.
Recently the coalition government announced its plans for taking Total Place forward by setting up new Community Budgets: the first set will go live in April next year.
The idea is for councils and their partners to put various strands of funding into one pot from which money will be allocated to spend on priorities mutually agreed by the organisations involved.
As with Total Place, Community Budgets will operate on the premise of breaking down barriers that prevent collaborative working across and between organisations, as well as improving results for local people while reducing costs.
Greater emphasis is placed on making services more people centred – something we are familiar with in adult social care.
Community Budgets, along with moves to transfer responsibility for public health back to local authorities as outlined in the government’s Public Health White Paper, mean social care and the health services will be increasingly required to adopt a joined up approach to providing services.
Andy Hancox
Director
Improvement and Efficiency
West Midlands
Wednesday, 8 December 2010
How assistive technologies can deliver efficient social care and health
Hosted by Improvement and Efficiency West Midlands, this one day event is by invitation only and sees the launch of the West Midlands assistive technology information website.
It takes place on 4 March 2011, in The Studio, Cannon Street, Birmingham.
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It takes place on 4 March 2011, in The Studio, Cannon Street, Birmingham.
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Virtual demonstration of assistive technology
National charity, Home Farm Trust, has launched an online virtual smart house to demonstrate how technology and gadgets can be used to help vulnerable people stay independent and safe in their homes.
The site features a range of gadgets for use around the home, such as fingerprint door locks, bogus caller panic alarms, voice prompts to remind people of things to do, and environmental controls to switch on and off TVs and lights.
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The site features a range of gadgets for use around the home, such as fingerprint door locks, bogus caller panic alarms, voice prompts to remind people of things to do, and environmental controls to switch on and off TVs and lights.
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The public service challenge: implementing the lessons from Total Place
As the public sector implements the next stage of Total Place, this joint publication highlights the lessons from the pilot studies.
Produced by the Local Government Group and the 'Municipal Journal', it serves to collate all the views of the Total Place participants in one source document.
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Produced by the Local Government Group and the 'Municipal Journal', it serves to collate all the views of the Total Place participants in one source document.
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Total Place on line
Information about the latest developments in Total Place can be found on a dedicated website.
The site shares learning from the thirteen pilot sites and offers a guide to practitioners.
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The site shares learning from the thirteen pilot sites and offers a guide to practitioners.
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Facing the future with telehealth
Healthcare Without Walls: A framework for delivering telehealth at scale, is a report produced by think tank 2020health, to inform future NHS strategy for telehealth.
It looks at the rapidly developing problems for the NHS in treating people with long term conditions, and how this can be improved by using telehealth technology.
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It looks at the rapidly developing problems for the NHS in treating people with long term conditions, and how this can be improved by using telehealth technology.
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Help available with JSNAs
The Local Government Improvement and Development (LGID) webpage hosting national Joint Strategic Needs Assessments (JSNAs) resources is now live.
JSNAs are a statutory requirement. Local authorities and primary care trusts are expected to work together to identify current and future health and wellbeing needs of local populations through the JSNA process, leading to agreed commissioning priorities that improve outcomes and reduce health inequalities.
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JSNAs are a statutory requirement. Local authorities and primary care trusts are expected to work together to identify current and future health and wellbeing needs of local populations through the JSNA process, leading to agreed commissioning priorities that improve outcomes and reduce health inequalities.
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Planning for healthier lives and healthy people
Comments are invited on government plans for helping people to live longer, to enjoy healthier and more fulfilling lives; and to improve the health of the poorest people, fastest.
Details are outlined in the White Paper - Healthy lives, healthy people: our strategy for public health in England.
The strategy sets out government’s long term vision for the future of public health in England.
Plans include transferring responsibility for public health back to local authorities.
Subject to Parliament, a new integrated public health service called Public Health England will be established. Action plans will be published in 2011.
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Details are outlined in the White Paper - Healthy lives, healthy people: our strategy for public health in England.
The strategy sets out government’s long term vision for the future of public health in England.
Plans include transferring responsibility for public health back to local authorities.
Subject to Parliament, a new integrated public health service called Public Health England will be established. Action plans will be published in 2011.
Read more
Linking up in Herefordshire
A major consultation exercise has started in Herefordshire to find out residents’ views on plans to join up services provided by NHS hospitals, community health services, and adult social care.
The aim is to provide services nearer to people’s homes and set up neighbourhood teams that work closely with local GPs. Focus will be on preventing ill health and dealing with crises when they occur.
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The aim is to provide services nearer to people’s homes and set up neighbourhood teams that work closely with local GPs. Focus will be on preventing ill health and dealing with crises when they occur.
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Launch of people’s parliament in Wolverhampton
People with a learning disability will officially launch their new parliament in Wolverhampton on 10 December 2010.
The ‘people’s parliament’ has been set up to give individuals with learning disabilities a stronger voice in the City's affairs. So far 10 'MPs' have been recruited from service users, and more will be signed up in the coming months.
MPs have already met with the council's director for Adults and Community to discuss increasing employment opportunities in Wolverhampton, and how to educate employers including council managers.
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The ‘people’s parliament’ has been set up to give individuals with learning disabilities a stronger voice in the City's affairs. So far 10 'MPs' have been recruited from service users, and more will be signed up in the coming months.
MPs have already met with the council's director for Adults and Community to discuss increasing employment opportunities in Wolverhampton, and how to educate employers including council managers.
Read more
Green light for primary care sites
NHS Warwickshire’s bid to acquire two sites in Rugby, on which two new primary care centres will be built, has been approved by Rugby Borough Council.
The health service can now proceed with developing plans for the buildings.
Both centres will have minor surgery suites allowing GPs to provide services traditionally delivered in hospitals.
The bid was drawn up in partnership with local GPs, NHS Warwickshire staff and Rugby Borough Council.
The centres are expected to open in Spring 2012.
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The health service can now proceed with developing plans for the buildings.
Both centres will have minor surgery suites allowing GPs to provide services traditionally delivered in hospitals.
The bid was drawn up in partnership with local GPs, NHS Warwickshire staff and Rugby Borough Council.
The centres are expected to open in Spring 2012.
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Staffordshire adopts total approach to commissioning
Staffordshire’s Third Sector Commissioning Partnership has succeeded in securing buy-in from all of the public sector organisations operating in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
The move is a major step in making commissioning and procurement in the public and voluntary sector more transparent, consistent and efficient.
The partnership includes Staffordshire County Council, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, all eight District Councils, three Primary Care Trusts, the Fire and Rescue Service, Staffordshire Police and the Probation Service.
It has adopted a Total Place approach by mapping money spent by the public sector on voluntary sector services. The purpose is to make commissioning and procurement fairer and more transparent, and to create efficiencies by rolling multiple contracts into one.
Data received by the partnership so far reveal 26 public sector organisations have invested £70 million in 1,000 voluntary and community organisations across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
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The move is a major step in making commissioning and procurement in the public and voluntary sector more transparent, consistent and efficient.
The partnership includes Staffordshire County Council, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, all eight District Councils, three Primary Care Trusts, the Fire and Rescue Service, Staffordshire Police and the Probation Service.
It has adopted a Total Place approach by mapping money spent by the public sector on voluntary sector services. The purpose is to make commissioning and procurement fairer and more transparent, and to create efficiencies by rolling multiple contracts into one.
Data received by the partnership so far reveal 26 public sector organisations have invested £70 million in 1,000 voluntary and community organisations across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
Read more
Wolverhampton wins compact crown five years running
For the fifth time in a row, Wolverhampton Compact has won an award for excellence in the National Compact Awards, in recognition of the work it is doing for the people of Wolverhampton.
The Compact is a partnership between the city council, police, fire, health, and voluntary and community sector bodies. Its purpose is to ensure people work well together and for the good of the community when developing services.
The Compact was praised by judges for demonstrating effective partnership working in a number of areas, including:
• appointing a compact champion in each area of service provided by the city council
• working with Members to develop training that highlights the importance of listening to local people’s views and enabling communities to influence policies, procedure and practice
• preparing a compact champion support pack for the public sector
• working with the Centre for Dispute Resolution to train mediators in the city.
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The Compact is a partnership between the city council, police, fire, health, and voluntary and community sector bodies. Its purpose is to ensure people work well together and for the good of the community when developing services.
The Compact was praised by judges for demonstrating effective partnership working in a number of areas, including:
• appointing a compact champion in each area of service provided by the city council
• working with Members to develop training that highlights the importance of listening to local people’s views and enabling communities to influence policies, procedure and practice
• preparing a compact champion support pack for the public sector
• working with the Centre for Dispute Resolution to train mediators in the city.
Read more
Cuts in red tape to give councils more freedom
A raft of reporting and inspection requirements have been abolished by government to give councils greater freedom and flexibility in the way they operate.
The aim is to make local authorities more efficient and effective in delivering public services.
Removal of centrally driven targets include Local Area Agreements, National Indicators and the Comprehensive Area Assessment.
The Local Government Association estimates compliance with government data demands and inspections costs local authorities nearly £300 million a year.
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The aim is to make local authorities more efficient and effective in delivering public services.
Removal of centrally driven targets include Local Area Agreements, National Indicators and the Comprehensive Area Assessment.
The Local Government Association estimates compliance with government data demands and inspections costs local authorities nearly £300 million a year.
Read more
Community Budgets start next year
Community Budgets, set up with the specific brief of tackling social problems affecting families with complex needs, will go live in April 2011.
Covering 16 areas in England, the budgets will be controlled by and made up of funds pooled by 28 councils and partner organisations.
Money will be spent on solutions to help vulnerable families. The aim is to join up services and intervene at an early stage so that lives can be improved and long term problems averted.
Community Budgets develop the principles promoted by Total Place, and are seen by government as an opportunity to redesign and integrate front line services and management functions. Emphasis is on reducing the cost of services and improving results for local people.
The 16 areas have been chosen because of their strong track record in building local relationships with key players in public, voluntary and community organisations; and includes the West Midlands area of Birmingham.
The budgets will be rolled out nationally by 2013-14.
Read more
Covering 16 areas in England, the budgets will be controlled by and made up of funds pooled by 28 councils and partner organisations.
Money will be spent on solutions to help vulnerable families. The aim is to join up services and intervene at an early stage so that lives can be improved and long term problems averted.
Community Budgets develop the principles promoted by Total Place, and are seen by government as an opportunity to redesign and integrate front line services and management functions. Emphasis is on reducing the cost of services and improving results for local people.
The 16 areas have been chosen because of their strong track record in building local relationships with key players in public, voluntary and community organisations; and includes the West Midlands area of Birmingham.
The budgets will be rolled out nationally by 2013-14.
Read more
Total Place lives on in new Community Budgets
Principles underpinning the Total Place approach to local services will be adopted by the Community Budgets, a government initiative allowing councils and their partners to pool funding and resources with the purpose of improving services and reducing cost.
From April next year, a selected number of councils and partner organisations will put various strands of funding into a single ‘local bank account’. This will be used to set up community budgets that will be spent on services prioritised by local communities.
The initiative follows year-long Total Place pilots, testing how to improve services while reducing costs and encouraging greater collaboration between organisations, and wider involvement of local people.
Earlier this year, Secretary for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles, described Total Place as “a step in the right direction”, but says councils now have the opportunity to be more radical and innovative.
Read more
From April next year, a selected number of councils and partner organisations will put various strands of funding into a single ‘local bank account’. This will be used to set up community budgets that will be spent on services prioritised by local communities.
The initiative follows year-long Total Place pilots, testing how to improve services while reducing costs and encouraging greater collaboration between organisations, and wider involvement of local people.
Earlier this year, Secretary for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles, described Total Place as “a step in the right direction”, but says councils now have the opportunity to be more radical and innovative.
Read more
Learning lessons from Total Place
Results from 13 Total Place pilots across England show better services can be delivered at less cost, if public sector organisations work collaboratively and put citizens at the heart of designing services.
The report, Total Place: a whole area approach to public services, details work undertaken in the pilot areas, covering 63 local authorities, 34 Primary Care Trusts, 12 fire authorities and 13 police authorities. Each pilot had its own theme and mapped all of the public spending in their area.
Analysis of spending on key local priorities was also carried out, and views were sought from the customer’s perspective. This gave participating organisations a clearer picture of how benefits from spending might be enhanced.
Testing of Total Place in services for older people was led by three councils and two primary care trusts in Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole.
In addition to mapping spending, expenditure on avoidable admissions and residential care was also examined.
Ways of shifting the balance of care towards the community were identified, for example, instituting joint case management of people with long term conditions by integrated health and social care teams.
The pilot concluded savings could be made by reducing avoidable hospital admissions by 15%.
The report also outlines a new approach to delivering public services that includes:
• freedom from centralised performance and financial controls
• freedom and incentives to encourage local collaboration
• freedom to invest in prevention
• freedom to drive growth
Most of these freedoms have been taken up in the new Community Budgets to be introduced in April 2011, and have been backed up by the abolition of a raft of reporting and inspection requirements, including national indicators used to monitor council performance.
Read more
The report, Total Place: a whole area approach to public services, details work undertaken in the pilot areas, covering 63 local authorities, 34 Primary Care Trusts, 12 fire authorities and 13 police authorities. Each pilot had its own theme and mapped all of the public spending in their area.
Analysis of spending on key local priorities was also carried out, and views were sought from the customer’s perspective. This gave participating organisations a clearer picture of how benefits from spending might be enhanced.
Testing of Total Place in services for older people was led by three councils and two primary care trusts in Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole.
In addition to mapping spending, expenditure on avoidable admissions and residential care was also examined.
Ways of shifting the balance of care towards the community were identified, for example, instituting joint case management of people with long term conditions by integrated health and social care teams.
The pilot concluded savings could be made by reducing avoidable hospital admissions by 15%.
The report also outlines a new approach to delivering public services that includes:
• freedom from centralised performance and financial controls
• freedom and incentives to encourage local collaboration
• freedom to invest in prevention
• freedom to drive growth
Most of these freedoms have been taken up in the new Community Budgets to be introduced in April 2011, and have been backed up by the abolition of a raft of reporting and inspection requirements, including national indicators used to monitor council performance.
Read more
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