Inverclyde HSCP launches public engagement to find £5.2m
The Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) delivers community health and social care services across Inverclyde.
The partnership faces a significant budget gap for the first time and needs to save £5.2m over the next two years.
To find these savings, the HSCP will review how it delivers services. Regrettably, it cannot continue as it is, and some difficult decisions are ahead.
To aid their decision-making, they want to understand what matters most to residents and have launched a questionnaire to gather views. It will be live from today, Friday 1 March 2024, until 12pm on Friday 8 March 2024. The questionnaire can be found at www.inverclyde.gov.uk/yoursay or directly via the link in the Other Websites section of this page.
Three themes guide the budget-saving process:
- Cost price increases: charging more for paid-for services.
Proposals include increasing community alarm costs or charging more for Day Services and transport.
- Service redesign: thinking about how we can do things differently with less.
Proposals include reviewing management roles and integrated services - including our advice service and a redesign of Day Service.
- Service reductions: reducing or even removing services.
Proposals include reviewing adult self-directed support (SDS), Homemaker, and anti-poverty services.
Cllr Robert Moran, Chair of the Inverclyde Integration Joint Board (IJB), said: “The HSCP is in a really tough position. £5.2m is a considerable amount of money to find, especially when our services are already stretched.
“We remain committed to protecting our service users, staff, and partners and will work hard to find efficiencies and new ways of working to continue to support those that need us the most. Understanding what matters most to residents and our staff will go a long way in helping the Board make its final decisions.
“Across Scotland, HSCPs face financial challenges, so Inverclyde is not alone in facing difficult decisions.
“Please take the time to fill out our questionnaire; there are only seven questions, and your input will help now and for future budget-setting cycles.”
The IJB will use the results of this engagement process as part of their decision-making on which proposals to take forward as savings. This will take place at a seminar on 18 March. These will be announced to HSCP staff and residents shortly after this date.
About the HSCP
The HSCP is governed by an independent body, the Integration Joint Board (or IJB), which will make the final decision on the savings we take, and you can read more about the IJB and its members at Inverclyde Integration Joint Board - Inverclyde Council.
The HSCP is funded by Inverclyde Council and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
Complete list of savings to be considered by the IJB
|
Service |
Saving type |
Savings title |
Summary |
|
THEME 1:
|
Cost price increases |
Charging more for paid for services |
|
|
Community Care & Health |
Increased charging |
Community Alarms pricing |
Increase service charge from £3.00 to £5.00 per week over 2 years (£1 each year) |
|
Community Care & Health |
Increased charging |
Day care charging |
Implementation of additional charge in relation to transport |
|
THEME 2:
|
Service redesign |
Doing things differently with less |
|
|
Community Care & Health |
Service redesign |
Day Service redesign |
Redesign of the internal older people’s day service at Hillend centre |
|
Community Care & Health |
Service redesign |
Independent living services |
A service redesign to consider efficiencies in the delivery of services, particularly small equipment, and adaptations |
|
Community Care & Health |
Service redesign |
Supported Living Services |
Review Supported Living services across the HSCP, including our in-house Inverclyde Supported Living Service for adults with Learning Disability who require sleepover arrangements. |
|
Community Care & Health |
Service redesign |
Review of integrated front doors |
Conduct a review of the skill set required to develop a fully integrated front door, including our advice services. |
|
Finance Planning & Resources |
Service redesign |
Business Support Review |
The HSCP is currently working on the review of business support |
|
All |
Service redesign |
Review of HSCP senior staff structure |
A review of the roles and responsibilities of the HSCP senior staff with a view to improving shared learning, maximising the skill mix available, and ensuring revised structures are fit for purpose to deliver the ongoing transformational change required to meet our strategic outcomes. |
|
THEME 3:
|
Service reductions |
reducing or removing services |
|
|
Children & Families |
Service reduction |
Education placement support |
To cease funding of education placement support funded by the HSCP |
|
Children & Families |
Service reduction |
Children’s community supports |
Through redesign, we will support disabled children and young people in moving towards greater use of community alternatives. |
|
Community Care & Health |
Service reduction |
Review of respite services |
Decommissioning Hillend Respite Unit, which has been closed since March 2020 |
|
Community Care & Health |
Service reduction |
Residential/Nursing care home beds |
A reduction of 6 long-term care beds over two years during 2025/26 and 2026/27. |
|
Community Care & Health/Finance Planning & Resources |
Service reduction |
Redesign of Strategic Services |
A redesign of strategic services - health improvement will be incorporated within the function of the Strategic Planning team to deliver savings. |
|
Finance Planning & Resources |
Service reduction |
Anti-poverty initiatives |
This saving would involve the HSCP reviewing all its budgets for anti-poverty initiatives. Removal of the enhanced provision through anti-poverty budgets |
|
Community Care & Health/Mental Health |
Service reduction |
Homemakers Service |
It is proposed that within the social care service, the functionality of Homemaker across the HSCP will be absorbed in this line management structure. |
|
All |
Service reduction |
Review of Commissioning arrangements |
Commissioning arrangements are to be reviewed for efficiencies as and when contracts come up for renewal. |
|
All |
Service reduction |
Review of long-term vacancies |
Complete a review of any long-term vacancies held in both Council and Health structures for more than six months. |
|
All |
Service reduction |
Adult services self-directed supports |
A complete needs assessment for all self-directed support packages, including any new supports, with a focus on the need and safety of service users while working with families and service users to ensure a focus on keeping well for longer through the use of appropriate carers support, signposting, and technology |