Issue - items at meetings - Sussex Community Trust

Presentation on progress regarding integration with West Sussex community services

60.1    This item was presented by Clodagh Warde-Robinson, Acting Chief Executive of Sussex Community Trust (SCT). Ms Warde-Robinson outlined recent developments at the trust, including the establishment of three locality teams, plans to work more closely with colleagues in public health to deliver services based on population need, developing closer working relationships with Adult Social Care and with 3^rd sector providers, and seeking to introduce pathways which cut across sectoral and organisational boundaries to give the best possible care to service users. The trust does face some major challenges, including managing its estates, maintaining effective IT systems, dealing with commissioner ‘block contracts’, and reducing its vacant posts.

60.2    In response to a question from the Chair about plans to link more effectively with Public Health teams, members were told that understanding population heath needs was key to developing effective community services which continued to meet evolving health requirements. This is not an exclusive conversation: other relationships – e.g. with the local medical school – are equally vital.

60.3    In answer to a question from Mr Brown on how the Trust would cope with the requirement to make savings, the committee was told that the focus would need to be on running services more efficiently. A move away from block contracts to tariff-based commissioning would be helpful here as the block contract system does not encourage efficient provision.

60.4    In response to a query from Cllr Barnett on care for the frail elderly, members were informed that this was a priority for SCT and one of the Sussex Together priorities. The aim is to support frail elderly people in the community wherever possible, using intermediate beds and home in-reach services, and liaising closely with GPs and acute providers. For this client group, hospital admissions can easily lead to a loss of independence, with a severely negative impact both on individuals and the local health economy.

60.5    The Chair thanked Ms Warde-Robinson for her contribution.