NHS HDL(2000)15



Health Department



Dear Colleague

INNOVATION FUND FOR CHILDREN'S SERVICES 2001/02

Background

1. NHS MEL (1998)85 outlined the arrangements for the Innovation Fund for Children's Services, which is to assist Health Boards, working in partnerships with NHS Trusts, GPs, local authorities and other agencies, to develop innovative approaches to child centred health services in their Board area. £9m is being provided over 3 financial years.

2. The annex to this letter announces the arrangements for the third round of awards under this initiative for distribution in 2001/02.

Timetable

3. Health Boards are invited to co-ordinate and submit outline bids for funding in 2001/02 by 10 November 2000.

4. Bids should be submitted through Health Boards, by e-mail where possible to uriel.jamieson@scotland.gov.uk or to Uriel Jamieson, Health Improvement Strategy Division, Room 2E(N), St Andrew's House, Regent Road, Edinburgh EH1 3DG.

5. A copy of this HDL and the application form are available on web site http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/dtc.

Yours sincerely

GODFREY ROBSON
Scottish Executive Health Department



10th October 2000
_____________________________________

Addressees

For action
Chief Executives, Health Boards
NHS Trust Chief Executives

For information
Directors of Public Health
NHS Trust Medical Directors
Directors of Education
Directors of Social Work
General Manager, Health
 Education Board for Scotland
Executive Director, SCPMDE
See Annex C

______________________________

Enquiries to:
Uriel Jamieson
Health Improvement Strategic
 Division
2E(N)
St Andrew's House
EDINBURGH EH1 3DG

Tel: 0131-244 2392
Fax: 0131-244 2051
E-Mail: Uriel.Jamieson@scotland.gov.uk
_______________________
Additional copies of this document
can be obtained from:

Lynsey Cooper
Health Improvement Strategy Division
2E(N)
St Andrew's House
Edinburgh EH1 3DG

Tel: 0131 244 2272
Fax: 0131 244 2051
E-Mail: Lynsey.Cooper@scotland.gov.uk

It is also available on the Scottish
Executive website at:
http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/dtc.
ANNEX A

INNOVATION FUND FOR CHILDREN'S SERVICES 2001/2002

Application and Assessment Criteria

1. The overall aim of the Fund remains to support innovative approaches to the development of children's health services, not core functions, so that where the innovation is successfully implemented, it will in time be established as a core activity. This year, there will be a shorter, narrower focus on specific areas which are described in paragraph 4 below. Financial support from the Fund is limited to one year only and successful applicants will need to demonstrate a commitment at senior level to continue funding of the proposed initiative subject to successful evaluation.

2. Bids should demonstrate:

  • that the project is innovative locally;

  • that there is a link between the project and the published, locally agreed, child health strategy which is consistent with the HIP, TIP and Joint Children's Services Plan;

  • that the service proposed will deliver better outcomes for children;

  • multi-agency/multi-disciplinary working;

  • a commitment to fund the project at the end of the support period;

  • how it is planned to monitor the development and progress of the project.

Application Process

3. Funding is available to support 5 or 6 projects only. The aim is to allow reasonably significant investment in each successful proposal. Emphasis will be placed on evaluation, significant success factors and best value.

  • Applications must be submitted through the local Health Board and should in the first instance be limited to an initial (maximum) 2 page outline proposal (see attached proforma at Annex B);

  • Those projects selected for further consideration on the basis of the submitted outline proposals will be invited to develop the proposal further and in fuller detail based on any additional advice and recommendations made by the Panel. There is no guarantee that all "Phase 2" submitted proposals will receive funding.

Topics

4. Applications are invited for projects/initiatives on the following topic areas:

  • Neonatal Support and the hospital/community interface;

  • Support and Services for children and families with significant morbidity up to the first year of life;

  • Accident and Emergency - hospital/community interface;

  • Influences of rurality and remoteness in children's services;

  • Transition from childhood to adulthood;

  • Child Protection;

  • Adolescent care;

  • Respite care;

  • Parent Education.

Funding Conditions

5. Successful applicants will be required to formally accept the offer of funding and the funding conditions below:

  • The Lead organisation will provide quarterly financial statements signed by the Finance Officer/Treasurer detailing actual expenditure to enable comparisons to be made with the original application;

  • Funding will be recoverable if the project is abandoned or the money used for any other purpose;

  • Any unexpected balance will be surrendered;

  • All target dates for submission of reports will be observed;

  • The Lead organisation will confirm a project start date, time span, any delays or changes to the project as it progresses.

Monitoring And Evaluation

6. As before emphasis will be placed on monitoring and evaluation of the project.

  • Each project should have a built-in evaluation process;

  • Health Boards should monitor the development and progress of the project including services provision and financial details;

  • Health Boards should submit an end of funding report with recommendations for the future.

7. Outline applications should be limited to submission of the completed proforma (Annex B). An application for funding should be co-signed at senior management level on behalf of the Health Board and relevant partner agencies who have committed themselves to the scheme. It is expected that funded projects should reflect, and be reflected in, Health Board Improvement Plans.

ANNEX B

INNOVATION FUND FOR CHILDREN'S SERVICES
Project Proposal Outline
(2 pages maximum, including this page)

1. Title



2. Total Costs



3. Health Board

Name
Address

Chief Executive

Is Commissioner with responsibility for children's services taking the lead?


Signature                                                              Date

4. Co-applicant's names and posts held if multi-disciplinary/ multi-agency

Name:                                                                   Name:

Post:                                                                      Post:



4. Justification for project selection by Health Board?




5. State briefly the objectives of the project and how they relate to the local child health strategy

6. What are the likely outcomes and benefits?

7. Proposed start date?

8. Who is to evaluate and what is the methodology to be used?

9. How does the project relate to existing arrangements in child health provision?





10. Does the proposal represent a mainstream core function? If so, state why the proposals should be separately funded nonetheless.

11. What arrangements are being made for funding for future years if the applications is successful?





ANNEX C

Royal College of General Practitioners
Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh
Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh
Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons, Glasgow
Royal College of Midwives, Scottish Board
Royal College of Nursing, Scottish Board
Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, Scottish Committee
Scottish Association for Community Health Care
Scottish Committee of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health