Agenda item

A Recent governance review has taken place to refine, clarify and improve governance arrangements. These are inclusive, initially focused on the NHS organisations within the partnership.  Discussions are underway around the future of commissioning across the STP. This follows the creation of the Central Sussex Commissioning Alliance and a shared Accountable Officer across Clinical Commissioning Groups. The Board will receive a presentation on the partnership as attached.

36.1  The Board received a presentation from Dominic Wright, a Board Member and representing Coastal West Sussex Clinical Commissioning Group,  on the Sussex and Surrey Transformation Partnership (STP) (slides appended to the Agenda and available on the website)  that outlined the recent Governance review that had taken place to refine and clarify governance arrangements.  These were  inclusive and  initially focused on the NHS organisations within the partnership.  It was noted that discussions were underway around the future of commissioning across the STP. This followed the creation of the Central Sussex Commissioning Alliance and a shared Accountable Officer across the Clinical Commissioning Groups.

36.2  It was stated that the new arrangements included the formation of an Operational Delivery Group, which was described as the “engine room” of the STP where the work of the workstreams was co-ordinated and discussed.  Due to the changing nature and dynamics of STP development, the new arrangements would be regularly reviewed to ensure they are working effectively and remain fit for purpose.

36.3 The The workstreams were aligned to the agreed immediate priorities of the STP and outlined as:

•       Mental Health

•       Urgent and emergency care

•       Medicines Management

•       Clinically Effective Commissioning

•       Continuing Healthcare

•       Back office functions

•       Estates

•       Digital

•       Workforce

•       Communications and Engagement

•       Finance

36.4  It was reported that some workstreams were more advanced than others – particularly the Mental Health and the Clinically Effective Commissioning Programme. The mental health workstream had formed an STP Programme Board and a case for change.   The Clinically Effective Commissioning Programme was a Sussex-only piece of work but assurance was given that it was working very closely with the Surrey Collaborative to ensure there would be consistency across the boundaries.

36.5  Board Members were informed that a review of the STP governance had taken place and refined arrangements had been designed, developed and accepted by the STP Executive, Programme Board and Oversight Group.  These arrangements aimed to define and embed roles and responsibilities of the STP leadership, give greater clarity around accountability and provide assurances around progress and delivery of STP programmes and local plans. The arrangements were intended to compliment the accountability of individual partner organisations.

Due to the changing nature and dynamics of STP development, the new arrangements would be regularly reviewed to ensure that they were working effectively and remained fit for purpose.

36.6  It was concluded that the STP Executive were discussing the strategic and longer-term priorities of the STP for the year ahead. Work was underway to develop a case for change for the STP, which identified the key challenges and areas that needed improvement across our local health and care system.   It was reported that a lot of work had taken place around the case for change within local transformation plans and specific areas, such as mental health, but this was the first time a unified case for change had been developed across the STP.  It was noted that this was being led by the STP Clinical Cabinet and would be an important reference point for all the partnership organisations and will be a focus for engagement with the public and stakeholders. It was stated that the final draft of the case for change was being reviewed by the STP Clinical and Professional Cabinet and the STP Executive with a view to final sign off. 

36.7 The Chairman thanked Dominic Wright, Coastal West Sussex CCG, for this update.