The Chairman had no announcements.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the last meeting held on 24 January 2018 and note actions taken since that meeting.

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the meeting of the Central Bedfordshire Health and

Wellbeing Board held on the 24 January 2018 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive from Members any declarations of interest.

None were declared.

To receive any questions, statements or deputations from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Part 4G of the Council’s Constitution.

No members of the public had registered to speak.

To receive an update on the progress of the ‘Call to Action’ outlined in the Director of Public Health’s Annual report on Children and Young People.

The Board considered a report which outlined the progress of the ‘Call to Action’ declared in the Director of Public Health’s Annual report on Children and Young People.

Progress against actions reported a year ago had been revisited and data had been drilled down into further. The overall message was that progress had been seen in some areas but because of where Central Bedfordshire was in relation to deprivation, there was still significant progress to be made.

The latest snapshots of the health of 0-4 year olds and 5-19 year olds respectively indicated that the health and wellbeing of children and young people in Central Bedfordshire remained generally better than the national average, although it should be note that there was a significant time-lag in much of the data being returned.

5000 young people across Central Bedfordshire had participated in the Schools Health Education Unit (SHEU) survey which took every 2 years. The results of this survey would be shared with the Board and would provide more robust and information about the emotional health and wellbeing needs of the young people in Central Bedfordshire. 

Homelessness and mental health were significant issues in Central Bedfordshire and would be the focus of the next public health report.

RESOLVED

1.    that the report outlining the progress of the actions in the DPH Report in 2016 be noted.

2.    that the areas and actions for further improvements be approved.

3.    that the implementation of defined actions across all services and organisations be championed.

The decision was unanimous.

To receive a presentation on the development of the draft of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

The Board received a presentation on the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy (JHWS).

The presentation captured discussions the Health and Wellbeing Board Development session in February and gave the Board the opportunity to review the outcome before moving forward to the next stage.

The Board had identified three broad areas on which the strategy should focus:

·         Growth

·         Supporting residents

·         Mental health and wellbeing

The JHWS needed to be underpinned by a greater understanding of the changes that had already taken place in Central Bedfordshire and would continue to do so over next 10 years.

Innovation should be embedded in the JHWS as the landscape is constantly changing and emerging technologies are being seen.

Next steps included consultation and engagement with stakeholders, residents of new and existing developments, town and parish councils and the voluntary sector and providers in developing and testing the JHWS. Discussions included looking at how other strategies worked, how success could be measured, outcomes and performance and ways of capturing experience.

To provide a copy of the 2016/17 Annual Report from the Central Bedfordshire Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB).

The Board considered the Central Bedfordshire Safeguarding Children Board (CBSCB) Annual Report covering the period April 2016 to March 2017.

Safeguarding children continued to be complex and challenging against a backdrop of austerity and reducing budgets. The local authority had a lead role in emphasising that safeguarding was everyone’s responsibility.

The role of the LSCB included challenging and scrutinise the partnership work of agencies and to record and monitor challenges. Marked improvement had been seen in the number of child protection conferences taking place within the 15-day time period.

The Children and Social Work Act 2017 included the following changes:

·         the replacement of Local Children Safeguarding Boards (LCSBs) with local safeguarding partners

·         the establishment of a new national Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel shared by the local authority, health colleagues and the police.

There was also a proposed new system of national and local reviews and new system around child deaths.

A draft of the inter-agency document ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ was published in April 2018 for consultation with the aim of the final document being published at the end of May 2018. Safeguarding partners have until June 2019 to consider multi agency arrangements which will then be implemented by September 2019 and the LSCB will no longer exist in its current form.

RESOLVED

to note the information contained within the 2016/17 Annual Report.

The decision was unanimous.

To receive an update on how services are working together to meet the needs of those with a dual diagnosis.

The Board considered the ongoing actions to improve outcomes for residents with co-occurring mental health and alcohol/drug problems.

In response to the emerging evidence about issues facing local people with co-occurring mental health and alcohol/drug condition, the Drug & Alcohol Partnership Board dedicated a session focusing on the issues and developing a system-wide approach to address the problems.

As a result of that session, the Drug & Alcohol Commissioners and Mental Health provider ELFT, came together to review the recent “Better care for people with co-occurring mental health and alcohol/drug use conditions” guidance document, published by Public Health England, and used it to develop a self-assessment tool for best practice standards for services.

Actions had been prioritised, with each one having an identified lead, current position and evidence of progress. Those which would have an immediate impact on delivery of services had been given a deadline for completion of 31 March 2018 and those less of a priority or needing significant work would be completed by 31 March 2020 at the latest.

Progress was being made on a number of levels.  This time last year there were more reports of serious incidents occurring on a regular basis.  In the last 9 months there had not been any reports relating to serious incidents related to drugs, alcohol and mental health. Issues are now being acknowledged and  staff are working together to resolve any areas of concern.

Next steps included the continued reporting of progress to Partnership Board and reporting to the Health and Wellbeing Board if challenges and deadlines identified are not met.

Parity of esteem was an area that need to be looked at as matter of urgency for the population of Central Bedfordshire.

RESOLVED

to review the progress of the collaborative work taking place.

The decision was unanimous.

To receive the final draft of the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment.

The Board considered the final draft of the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA).

There was the statutory requirement for the Health and Wellbeing Board to publish a Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment every 3 years.

Following a statutory consultation undertaken from 16th October to 15th December 2017 to seek the views of members of the public and other stakeholders to identify issues that affect the commissioning of pharmaceutical services to meet local health needs and priorities, the overall recommendation was that the current number of community pharmacies providing essential and advanced services was sufficient to meet the current needs in Central Bedfordshire

Community pharmacies were valued community assets and were easy to access. Their potential role should be considered as part of strategies to improve health and reduce health inequalities.

It was recognised that Central Bedfordshire was an area of housing growth.

The PNA would be reviewed during 2020 and republished in April 2021 unless there were significant changes to local need or provision in the interim.

RESOLVED

1.    that the recommendation and findings of the PNA be noted

2.    that the PNA be approved for publication

The decision was unanimous.

To receive an update on the impact of Welfare Reform.

The Board received an update on the actions taken by the Council to mitigate the impact of the Governments Welfare Reforms on the population of Central Bedfordshire.

The Council formed a Welfare Reform Board in April 2013, in order to monitor the impact on residents of the fundamental review of the welfare benefits systems which was being rolled out. The cross-cutting board consisted of representative members from across Council departments.

During Phase 1 a dashboard was created in order to map the effects of the reforms as they were introduced. This proved useful in mapping the changes throughout the entire period of reform.

As no new issues are being identified and the Board had now been disbanded, and work was continued through business as usual.

The Members Forum continued to meet on a quarterly basis in order to maintain oversight of the quarterly Welfare Reform Dashboard.

RESOLVED

That the Councils approach to mitigating the impact of the Welfare Reforms on the population of Central Bedfordshire be noted and supported.

The decision was unanimous.

To receive an update on:

·         the progress of the Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP)

·         the Better Care Fund

·         Improving outcomes for Frail Older People

The Board considered an update on the progress of the Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP) across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) and the emerging collaborative approach.

RESOLVED

·         that the progress of the Sustainability and Transformation Partnership be noted.

·         that the publication of the NHS Planning Guidance 'Refreshing NHS Plans’ 2018/19 and the use of the new term ‘Integrated Care System’ replacing Accountable Care Systems be noted.  

·         that the progress on the five priorities of the STP and Transformation projects set out in the Better Care Fund Plan be noted.

·         that the local initiatives supporting frail older people as part of the Integration and Transformation projects of the Better Care Fund Plan be noted.

The decision was unanimous.

To consider and approve the work programme.

A forward plan ensures that the Health and Wellbeing Board remains focused on key priorities, areas and activities to deliver improved outcomes for the people of Central Bedfordshire.

The Board considered their work plan for 2017/18.

RESOLVED

that the work plan for 2017/18 be approved.

The decision was unanimous.