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Combined funding scheme now open for applicants

Combined funding scheme now open for applicants
4 September 2014



Commissioners, the voluntary sector and providers have been invited to join the latest round of Integrated Personal Commissioning (IPC). 
IPC is a voluntary approach to joining up health and social care for people with complex needs. 
Service users are offered improved support to shape their own care, and local authorities, commissioners and providers are offered technical support and regulatory and financial flexibility to allow integration. 
People expected to be included in the first wave of IPC are: 

Commissioners, the voluntary sector and providers have been invited to join the latest round of Integrated Personal Commissioning (IPC). 
IPC is a voluntary approach to joining up health and social care for people with complex needs. 
Service users are offered improved support to shape their own care, and local authorities, commissioners and providers are offered technical support and regulatory and financial flexibility to allow integration. 
People expected to be included in the first wave of IPC are: 
 – People with long term conditions, including frail elderly people at risk of care home admission.
 – Children with complex needs.
 – People with learning disabilities.
people with severe and enduring mental health problems.
When NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens (pictured) announced the plans earlier this year, he said the scheme will extend and combine current work on the Better Care Fund, 'year of care' NHS commissioning, personal budgets for 'continuing care' and the experiences of the integrated care pioneers. 
Patients taking part in the IPC programme will have a combined NHS and social care funding endowment based on each individual's care needs. 
The funding will be contributed by local authorities and NHS commissioners. Individuals taking part in the scheme will be able to decide how much personal control they have over how services are arranged for them. 
Today, NHS England, the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) have released a joint prospectus, inviting expressions of interest. 
Referencing the Barker Commission report released today, Stevens said: "Kate Barker and The King’s Fund commission has today rightly described the need for more integrated health and social care for people who need care and their families. While the longer-term debate on how we get there is crucially important, so too is the need to deliver for people today. 
"That’s why, for the first time since 1948, from next year Integrated Personal Commissioning means we will start offering fully combined health and social care funding, under the direct control of people using those services."
ADASS president David Pearson said: “We have very much valued the opportunity to contribute to this immensely important initiative which will see personal budgets and Direct Payments – both of which an integral part of the social care offer in recent times – take a massive, decisive and encouraging step forward.
The closing date for IPC applications is 7 November 2014. They must be made jointly by one or more clinical commissioning group and local authorities, with at least one voluntary sector partner.
Local partners are expected to make a clear commitment to implementing new integrated funding models, making information and support available to their target population, and embedding personalisation in their organisations.

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