North Yorkshire Council
Health and Adult Services
22 November 2023
Acceptance of Funding application to DHSC for the Urgent and Emergency Care Support Fund for Local Authorities
Report of the Corporate Director Health & Adult Services.
1.0 PURPOSE OF REPORT
1.1 To request approval from the Executive Member for Health & Adult Services following consultation with the Corporate Director (Health and Adult Services) to authorise the acceptance of grant funding of £1,137,090 in respect of the Urgent and Emergency Care support fund for local authorities.
1.2 The Executive Member is taking the decision under their urgency power in paragraph 13 of the Executive Members’ Delegation Scheme due to the time constraints outlined in this report and deadlines imposed by DHSC.
2.0 BACKGROUND
2.1 On the evening of Friday 8 September, the Council received notification from DHSC that it was being asked to bid for funding known as the Urgent and Emergency Care Support Fund for Local Authorities (UECSFLA). It was able to bid for up to £1.7m.
2.2 North Yorkshire was chosen as it is defined as one of those local authorities in areas with the greatest health and care challenges and it was asked to submit proposals to say how the Council would use this funding to strengthen the resilience of urgent and emergency care services this winter. These proposals were submitted following approval by the Executive Member for Health and Adult Services and that report can be found here: Decision - Urgent and Emergency Care Support Fund for local authorities - grant application for up to £1.7m funding | North Yorkshire Council.
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2.5 The DHSC stated that it would let councils know if their bids had been successful by 13 October. This did not happen. However, on 8 November, the Department confirmed in an email an allocation to North Yorkshire Council of £1,137,090 and noted that:
“We will draw up a Memorandum of Understanding for each Local Authority, providing further information and payment details over the coming weeks, but hope that this e-mail gives you the ability to start implementing your plans for this fund.”
2.6 The timeframe for this bid has been extremely tight and the failure of the DHSC to meet its own deadlines has not been helpful. It should also be said that the bidding process put in place by DHSC is a move away from previous practice when providing funds to support the NHS and Local Authorities with winter pressures.
3.0 DETAILS OF THE BID
3.1 As stated in the application report, the grant award will enable NYC and the NHS to build on initiatives funded through the NHS Capacity Fund and Social Care Discharge Fund, and go further to avoid hospital admissions and expedite discharge and flow, through either extended or additional schemes. The schemes funded by the grant will also assist NYCs strategic objective of both supporting hospital discharge and reducing reliance on short stay residential beds.
4.0 CONSULTATION UNDERTAKEN AND RESPONSES
4.1 Proposals were co-developed through the Tactical Group between North Yorkshire Council (NYC) and North Yorkshire Place (within the Humber and NY ICB). This team is responsible for developing the joint proposals for the Social Care Discharge Fund and reports up to a joint Health and Care Board between NYC and NY Place (ICB). The proposals are also consistent with the NY Place-led winter plan, as part of the ICB system plan, which has been again co-developed at the same time.
5.0 CONTRIBUTION TO COUNCIL PRIORITIES
5.1 Existing schemes through NHS Capacity and Social Care Discharge Funds have achieved improved system performance since April 2023, but there is still considerable scope to go further. 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. We would expect significant further improvements this winter as a result of this investment.
6.0 ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED
6.1 Although there are unusual and additional reporting burdens related to this grant, it was felt that it is beneficial to go through that process to bring in extra resources to the area.
7.0 IMPACT ON OTHER SERVICES/ORGANISATIONS
7.1 The successful implementation of proposed schemes identified within the grant application will deliver a positive impact on the discharge performance across the North Yorkshire footprint, benefitting both Humber and North Yorkshire ICB and West Yorkshire ICB (covering Craven) and associated Acute Trusts and reduce escalation and risk over the winter months. It will also contribute to NYC’s goal to reduce long-term reliance upon short stay residential beds.
8.0 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
8.1 As set out in the application report, the Council will have to report on any discharge capacity bought with it within our monthly Discharge Fund capacity returns. We will also be expected to provide an interim report (in January 2024) to report on progress against planned spend and a final report in May 2024.
8.2 The grant will have to be spent by 31 March 2024. The Council will also ensure that any spend is one-off and does not cause ongoing commitments
9.0 LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
9.1 Grant terms and conditions, likely through a Memoranda of Understanding will be put in place for each local authority, setting out how funding will be used and what information the local authority will be expected to provide to demonstrate impact and value for money. This will be reviewed by legal services and if the terms and conditions present any unacceptable risk to the Council the grant would not be accepted.
9.2 The Council shall ensure any spend of the grant monies is compliant with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and the Subsidy Control Act 2022 where applicable.
10.0 EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS
10.1 Consideration has been given to the potential for any equality impacts arising from the success of this grant and the implementation of associated schemes. An equality impact assessment screening tool was attached to the paper requesting approval to bid as Appendix A. No significant adverse impact is expected for any groups of people with protected characteristics identified in the Equalities Act 2010.
11.0 CLIMATE CHANGE IMPLICATIONS
11.1 A Climate change impact assessment was completed and was attached to the paper requesting approval to bid as Appendix B. No significant change is expected as a result of the implementation of schemes under the grant, although it is noted that implementation of a discharge transport service will provide a more co-ordinated response and therefore create efficiency with a positive effect on the climate.
12.0 POLICY IMPLICATIONS
12.1 There are no policy implications for submitting the grant application.
13.0 HUMAN RESOURCES IMPLICATIONS
13.1 As stated above, any staffing costs incurred by use of the funds will be temporary and not have ongoing commitments.
14.0 ICT IMPLICATIONS
14.1 No additional ICT implications arising from this bid.
15.0 REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
15.1 To enable the Council to accept the grant of £1,137,090 which can be used in partnership with the ICB to support winter pressures.
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16.0 |
RECOMMENDATION |
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To request approval from the Executive Member for Health & Adult Services under their urgency power in paragraph 13 of the Executive Members’ Delegation Scheme and following consultation with the Corporate Director Health and Adult Services to authorise the acceptance of grant funding of £1,137,090.
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Report Authors:
Abigail Barron, Assistant Director – Prevention and Service Development
Anton Hodge, Assistant Director – Resources
Background Papers:
Appendices:
Appendix A – Equality Impact Assessment – see: Evidencing payment of due regard during COVID-19 (northyorks.gov.uk)
Appendix B – Climate Change Impact Assessment – see: Form climate change impact assessment (northyorks.gov.uk)