Agenda item

This report updates on progress with developing the Health and Wellbeing Board’s Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2016-2021 (JHWS) and the outcomes of the period of public consultation which have been used to inform the next draft of the plan

Councillor Lukey welcomed Harley Collins, Health and Wellbeing Manager, who presented the report. This was a joint report between the Council and the CCG and set out the development details of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy, 2016-21 and emerging priority areas including mental health, children, young people and families and long term conditions.  The development process had been structured in three phases: The first, from January to March, involved a large scale review of the evidence of need; the second phase, covering April-May, included a series of workshops with patients and stakeholders; the third phase has included a fourteen-week period of public consultation during July-October. 

It was explained that consultation and engagement has been a key principle throughout all stages of the work. During the public consultation, an online questionnaire was set up and sent to over 500 local organisations.  40 responses had been received from a mixture of businesses and individual residents. Responses indicated strong support for the four draft priority areas and for a preventative approach that sought to proactively keep people well rather than reactively treat people who are sick. 

Feedback had been received as the report had navigated governance processes from within the Council.  The report had been considered by the Business Development Team, which had sought greater reference in the report to the link with social inclusion, the Worklessness and Poverty Commission report and reference to the regeneration work undertaken in Children’s Services and across the Council.  HASCSIPAC (20^th October 2016) had highlighted the lack of reference to older people as a separate, 5^th priority, which was currently being considered.  Further comments from the Committee included references to welfare reform and the need to formulate a communications strategy and implementation plan. 

Vanessa Andreae commented that the strategy would require monitoring in terms of measuring precisely how it would impact on outcomes and make a difference.  Councillor Lukey explained that this would be the next phase of work, to develop detailed operational and implementation plans, with examples of how we might deliver, key performance indicators and with more information about outcomes. Vanessa Andreae responded that the strategy was detailed and outward facing but that it was important to recognised that it should not be promising to deliver outcomes that had not been considered.  Any statements would need to be clearly evidence based and benchmarked.  Mr Collins confirmed that the next phase would more closely involve Public Health and commissioning colleagues in developing a ‘dashboard’ which would guide the work of the Board.   Councillor Lukey added that this was intended to be a high level documents, with the next step being to translate it into a delivery plan. 

Commenting on the governance arrangements, Ms Andreae highlighted the need to consider to properly signpost the reporting arrangements.  Sarah McBride responded that it was important to note that HWB was not the delivery vehicle for the JHWS, it’s role was to monitor and ensure proper governance. 

Councillor Vaughan recapped some of the points of the discussion around priorities.  It was acknowledged that it was important to understand how services were making a difference and affecting the required outcomes.  Councillor Vaughan concurred that the next phase would be prove more difficult and took the view that it worth reflecting on whether older people should be a 5^th priority.  He also expressed interest in applying indicators as to how outcomes had improved.  Ms Andreae commented that children and young people were selected as a single priority (Giving children and families the best possible start), older people could be referenced in three of the other priorities, particularly LTC and social isolation and loneliness, which were key borough priorities.  Ms Andreae speculated as to whether older people could be articulated into one of the existing areas.  Ms McBride endorsed the comments, noting that the whilst there should be reference to prevention and treatment there was a risk that the strategy would be too broad.  It was accepted that it would be helpful to set aside time in January to articulate a development plan.  It was anticipated that the strategy would be signed off by the end of the year but it was recognised that some realignment was required to include the concerns of older people more clearly, whilst at the same time, not offer too much in terms of what was deliverable. 

RESOLVED

1.    That the Health and Wellbeing Board endorse the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy; and

2.    That the report be noted.