Form climate change impact assessment

Appendix B - Climate change impact assessment

The purpose of this assessment is to help us understand the likely impacts of our decisions on the environment of North Yorkshire and on our aspiration to achieve net carbon neutrality by 2030, or as close to that date as possible. The intention is to mitigate negative effects and identify projects which will have positive effects.

This document should be completed in consultation with the supporting guidance. The final document will be published as part of the decision making process and should be written in Plain English.

If you have any additional queries which are not covered by the guidance please email climatechange@northyorks.gov.uk

Title of proposal	Funding application to DHSC for the Urgent and Emergency Care Support Fund for Local Authorities
Brief description of proposal	Submission of a funding application for urgent and emergency care funding to support a range winter discharge schemes (see Executive report for details of each scheme)
Directorate	Health and Adult Services
Service area	Integration
Lead officer	Abi Barron
Names and roles of other people involved in carrying out the impact assessment	Abi Barron, Anton Hodge
Date impact assessment started	27/09/23

Options appraisal

Were any other options considered in trying to achieve the aim of this project? If so, please give brief details and explain why alternative options were not progressed.

The schemes proposed within this funding application were identified based on existing discharge pressures and performance issues. Whilst OPEL levels for acute Trusts are better than the equivalent period last year, the number of people who are Not Meeting Criteria to Reside in acute hospitals is only reducing slowly. Similar schemes last winter proved to have a positive impact on these system pressures.

What impact will this proposal have on council budgets? Will it be cost neutral, have increased cost or reduce costs?

Please explain briefly why this will be the result, detailing estimated savings or costs where this is possible.

If agreed this funding proposal will support the Council budgets by ensuring the most appropriate discharge pathways are followed and reduce the requirement for long term social care support.

How will this proposal impact on the environment? N.B. There may be short term negative impact and longer term positive impact. Please include all potential impacts over the lifetime of a project and provide an explanation.		Positive impact (Place a X in the box below where relevant)	No impact (Place a X in the box below where relevant)	Negative impact (Place a X in the box below where relevant)	Explain why will it have this effect and over what timescale? Where possible/relevant please include: · Changes over and above business as usual · Evidence or measurement of effect · Figures for CO₂e · Links to relevant documents	Explain how you plan to mitigate any negative impacts.	Explain how you plan to improve any positive outcomes as far as possible.
Minimise greenhouse gas emissions e.g. reducing emissions from travel, increasing energy efficiencies etc.	Emissions from travel	X			The implementation of a discharge transport service and targeted homecare support (one of the proposed schemes) will provide a more co-ordinated response and therefore create efficiency with a positive effect on the climate.	Encourage care providers to consider emissions reduction when developing rotas for homecare
	Emissions from construction		x		Implementation of schemes within this funding application will not involve construction
	Emissions from running of buildings		x		Organisations who are contracted with will not be required to increase emissions from running of buildings as a result of this project.	Providers may be encouraged to consider best practice in terms of building efficiency in line with government guidance, or to make changes as result of new legislation if required.
	Emissions from data storage		x		Organisations who are contracted with will not be required to store additional data as a result of this project.		Providers may be encouraged to store data locally where possible in the future.
	Other
Minimise waste: Reduce, reuse, recycle and compost e.g. reducing use of single use plastic			x		Schemes are not expected to generate more waste		Providers will be encouraged to minimise waste in their day to day operations. This will be done by promoting messages from the Council’s waste teams.
Reduce water consumption			x		Schemes are not expected to consume more water
Minimise pollution (including air, land, water, light and noise)			X		Schemes will not impact negatively on pollution		Providers will be encouraged minimise pollution in their working practices
Ensure resilience to the effects of climate change e.g. reducing flood risk, mitigating effects of drier, hotter summers		X			Organisations will be required to more rigorously plan to ensure their resilience for a range of business continuity scenarios to support the wider UEC programme over winter.
Enhance conservation and wildlife			X		Schemes will not impact on practices in relation to conservation and wildlife.
Safeguard the distinctive characteristics, features and special qualities of North Yorkshire’s landscape			X		Schemes will not impact on practices in regard to this category.
Other (please state below)

Are there any recognised good practice environmental standards in relation to this proposal? If so, please detail how this proposal meets those standards.

Environmental sustainability within Adult Social Care is an area subject to growing research. Key findings from a King Fund paper can be found on the following link :

https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/sustainable-health-and-social-care

Summary Summarise the findings of your impact assessment, including impacts, the recommendation in relation to addressing impacts, including any legal advice, and next steps. This summary should be used as part of the report to the decision maker.

This funding application is not expected to have a negative impact on climate change, however it is recognised that creating more efficient schemes to support the growth in hospital discharge activity will create some benefit in terms of reduce emissions due to coordinated transport and home care delivery.

Sign off section

Authorised by relevant Assistant Director (signature): A Barron

Date: 27/09/23