Issue - meetings

To provide an update on Home First (Intermediate Care) development across Dorset to the Health and Adult Social Care Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

The Director of Adult Social Care and the Deputy Director – UEC and Flow, Operations Directorate – NHS Dorset presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The purpose of the Report was to provide an update on Home First (Intermediate Care) development across Dorset to the Health and Adult Social Care Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

The Committee discussed the report and comments were made, including:

• In response to a query regarding Pathway 3, the Committee was advised of the whole system process of identifying and supporting that small number of complex patients who were not able to return home due to identified risks.  The support would be provided through an appropriate care and support package and providing a structured recovery programme to enable individuals who were able to return home.  Further information regarding the different Pathways and what they entailed was provided to the Committee.
• In response to a concern regarding the reduced level of funding, the Committee was advised that there had been a system wide reduction in funding, however work had been undertaken to ensure the funding was targeted at the schemes which were felt essential such as rapid response to help people leave hospital and return home.
• The Committee was advised that some of the reduction in funding was due to the lack of the one off funding pots which had previously been received to bolster funding, however it was important to note that the whole system was working collectively across health and social care to ensure the resources available were more efficiently utilised.
• In response to a concern about the data detailed in the report of 20-25% of acute beds being blocked by patients not meeting the criteria to reside in hospital, the Committee was advised that numbers were coming down and the system had a target to halve that figure over the next year and the work that was being down to reduce that figure was detailed.
• The Committee was advised about one of the five key areas of focus was setting an expected date of discharge from hospital with the multi disciplinary team working towards and monitoring that target.
• The Chair requested that a copy of the Better Care Fund report going to BCP Health and Wellbeing Board be circulated to the Committee for their information. ACTION.

RESOLVED that the Committee note the update, with a further update to Committee in May 2025.