Agenda item

To receive an update on the final Integrated Care Strategy.

William Pett, Associate Director of Policy & Strategy for the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW) Integrated Care Board (ICB), presented the final Integrated Care Strategy (ICS) to the Board. The item covered the following matters:

·       It was confirmed that the document included within the Agenda Pack had been slightly amended and subsequently approved and published by the ICB on the day of the meeting. However, it was emphasised that the structure and fundamentals of the ICS remained the same.

·       An overview of the ICS was given, reminding Members of the details of the vision, 3 objectives and Care Model. It was emphasised that the ICS would not go into specific details, those would instead be covered in the ICS implementation plan which officers were intending on publishing in June 2023.

·       It was explained that the ICS was not prescriptive and did not dictate how each of the populations in BSW should deliver the strategy over the next 5 years, but instead provided a guide for how partners should work together and the ICB’s expectations.

·       It was explained that the Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) would monitor the ICS over time and would respond and make improvements or changes where necessary to ensure the delivery of a high quality service that targeted action and resources on those most vulnerable.

·       The aim was to provide more integrated services, responsive local specialist services, and would prioritise mental health support as much as physical health.

·       It was reiterated that the ICP first met in October 2022, and as such the ICS had been developed in a relatively short time frame. However, the ICB had mitigated such a constraint by engaging with the public and partners such as the BSW Health and Wellbeing Boards and Integrated Care Alliance (ICA), as much as possible during that time.

·       Members were informed that the intention of the ICS was that it would evolve each year based on feedback and performance monitoring and as such, it was not a finalised document.

During the discussion, points included:

·       The scope of the ICS was highlighted, and Members asked how people with complex disabilities would be supported within the strategy. It was emphasised that the ICS was broad in nature to reduce the complexity and length of the document and that the specificities would be addressed in the implementation plan. However, Members were reassured that across the BSW there would be particular focus areas targeting those in excluded groups, and that over time, feedback and updates on specific groups could be given at future meetings.

·       The importance of prevention and intervention was highlighted, and it was noted that the shift around funding was a challenging but crucial area of focus.

·       The proposed publication date of June 2023 for the implementation plan was raised alongside the aspirational and logistical challenges in delivering both the ICS and implementation plan documents in the short time frame.

·       The importance of continued and innovative engagement methods and making the documents as accessible and clear as possible was emphasised, to ensure that the public and partners understood the plan, how it will affect them and what it will look like on a community level.

·       Members were informed that the ICS would have 4 different forms: the full document, an easy-to-read version, an executive summary version, and a one-page document with just the basic overview graphic. All of which were expected to be used extensively across the partner system. Furthermore, the record of engagement would be published to show progress to date alongside a broader, more interactive communications approach.

·       It was noted that the ICS would promote positive language and encouragements to support individuals in taking responsibility for their own health.

·       It was further reiterated that performance measures would be included in the implementation plan.

Decision – The Wiltshire Health and Wellbeing Board accepted the following recommended proposals:

i)               The Board discussed the report, noting its implications.

ii)             The Board considered the report’s alignment with the Wiltshire Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy.