Update from the Integrated Care Board (ICB)
To receive an update from the Chair and Chief Executive of the Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board ahead of the imminent implementation of the Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB).
Minutes:
Graham Urwin, Chief Executive of the Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB) attended the meeting via Microsoft Teams. Clare Watson (current Accountable Officer of the Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) was also present on the Teams call in her new capacity as Assistant Chief Executive of the ICB).
The Committee were shown a presentation that covered the new integrated care structure, Place development, staff consultation, the close down and transition of the CCG (the ICB will have the statutory functions of the NHS), staff transfers (in total there will be 1200 officers transferred to the ICB and includes 9 CCGs plus Cheshire and Merseyside Healthcare Partnerships, and preparation for Day One of the ICB on the 1 July 2022 including the risk and governance.,
Most of the Executive Team are appointed or in place for the ICB.
The Chief Executive explained to the Committee that the current default position weas that if something could be done at a Place level then it should be done at a Place level. The ICB would work with partners in most effective way possible and the integration of Care boards and integration of Government White Papers would join up local services unlike ever before.
Some things will not be done at Place level for example, post-pandemic the long waits for treatment, the catch up for operations would mean hospitals working together on waiting list management unlike ever before.
The appointment of ICB chair was taking place, until now David Flory had supported the ICB as interim Chair. Interviews had taken place and had included two Local Authority representatives on the panel. A recommendation for preferred candidate was made to the Secretary of State who would be making the final decision.
The Committee asked questions related to the 1200 staff within the Cheshire and Merseyside footprint. The Chief Executive advised there could be no Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) of staff until the bill is passed through Parliament, and then there will be a full scale consultation. Employment was guaranteed for those beneath senior level.
Where possible the ICB will work to avoid any form of redundancies.
The Committee were advised that there would be a continuation of the hybrid working model, sometimes in-person and sometimes remotely.
The voluntary and community sector were acknowledged as an important ally within the health system and whilst there was no formal seat on ICB there was room for observation at a strategic level and the right to address the Board. Infrastructures were being planned to enable the public voice to be heard and represented.
The Committee had some concerns about the perception of the Cheshire and Merseyside model becoming Merseyside-centric and wanted to ensure the services being delivered across Cheshire East would be maintained. The Chief Executive gave assurances that the NHS had a very clear funding formula for the allocation of resources this could be broken down to show each part of Cheshire and Merseyside to show a fair-share of national resources. There was ... view the full minutes text for item 28