Scottish Borders Council

Agenda item

Human and Economic Cost Modelling

Presentation by Fraser McKinlay, The Promise Scotland

Minutes:

5.1       Fraser McKinlay of The Promise, Scotland, joined the meeting and explained that The Money Workstream formed part of Plan 21-24 #KeepThePromise, which was designed to bring to life the approach described in the Independent Review of Care reports, ‘The Money’ and ‘Follow the Money’.  The Money workstream aimed to demonstrate that the human and economic cost modelling (HECM) approach in the care system was doable and it was about investing more strategically in children and families; using public money differently to deliver better results for children and young people, families and communities; and would be an integral part of Change Programme One, published by The Promise at the end of June 2021.   Working across three levels, this took a people centred approach to how money was used differently, and establish how money and resources were currently used and to what end (the human and economic cost); develop models for how money could be used better in future, to deliver better outcomes and better value for money; and understand the strategic investment required to move from the current position to where we needed to be, considering innovative models of investment as appropriate.  The approach would cover local places and families, service based, and national services/systems.  A bespoke approach was planned for the Scottish Borders, integrating with children and families services.  This would include –

·         Cross-partnership working

·         Gathering data on current costs and services

·         Service design and what needed to change

·         Pooling resources

·         Good governance to ensure accountability and transparency

·         Support from The Promise Scotland team. 

 

5.2       In response to a question around how this work tied in with the consequences of the Feeley Report on Adult Social Care, Mr McKinlay commented that there were a number of different versions of public service delivery and change around the care system needed to happen.  Until something specific came out of the current consultation on the proposed National Care System, work on The Money approach would continue as it was flexible and adaptable enough for any future changes.  With regard to the three local authorities involved in the work, it was helpful to have this spread of scale, rurality, etc.  The RSLs role in housing and care in the Borders was different from elsewhere and it would be helpful to test the proposition set out in national reports in a variety of local contexts.  This would very much be a partner based discussion as all were spending public resources on people.  The Care Review had laid bare the challenge of being in the care system and how disjointed it was in terms of how money/resource were used by various partners on the same families.  It made sense to take a family based view as part of a partnership review.   Mrs Hume referred to the work carried out by the Third Sector which was never costed, yet those sorts of activities with volunteers working with families was critical.  An example was given of a rounders game organised in a local village.  Mr McKinlay responded that the Care Review had recognised the role of community groups and the voluntary sector in care and the need to try to establish costs and their input.  Ms Smith, SBC Communities & Partnership Manager, advised that the Council had some analysis of funding which had come down through Covid and what had been done with this in the Borders, which could be passed on. 

 

DECISION

AGREED to note the presentation on Human and Economic Cost Modelling and to receive an update on progress in due course.

 

 

 

 

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