To elect a Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Board for the remainder of the Municipal Year 2016/17.

Following the retirement of Councillor Jones, nominations were invited for the position of Chairman. 

Councillor Brian Spurr was nominated and seconded. 

RESOLVED

that Councillor Brian Spurr be elected Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Board for the remainder of the Municipal Year 2016/17.

The Board took the opportunity to thank Councillor Jones, for his hard work and wished him well in the future.

The Chairman had no announcements.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the last meeting held on 25 January 2017 and note actions taken since that meeting.

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the meeting of the Central Bedfordshire Health and Wellbeing Board held on 25 January 2017 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 procedures as set out in Part A4 of the Council’s Constitution.

There were no members of the public registered to speak.

To present the latest performance data in the priority areas of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

The Board considered a report that presented the latest performance data in the priority areas of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy.  The Board considered each key measure:-

·         the performance data for accessing psychological therapies gave some cause for concern as the proportion in need accessing this service was still below target and the recovery rates for those in treatment was also below target.  The Board agreed to invite the provider to the next meeting on 12 July 2017 to explain the current position, challenges and opportunities;

·         2 new indicators, Childhood Excess Weight – Reception Year Children and Teenage pregnancy, had been added to the performance scorecard for giving every child the best start in life; and

·         the Board would consider a report at their meeting on 12 July 2017 on the rising rates of diabetes and the low proportion of people with diabetes meeting their treatment targets.

RESOLVED

1.            that the progress in delivering the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy, as set out in the scorecard, be noted; and

2.            the Board would consider the following areas at its meeting on 12 July 2017:

·         accessing psychological therapies; and

·         diabetes.

To provide detail about the Employment Support Allowance and what Central Bedfordshire Council is doing to support claimants.

The Board considered a report that provided information about the Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and how claimants were being supported, including access to work. In order to claim ESA a Work Capability Assessment was undertaken by an Approved Healthcare Professional on behalf of the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).  The Assessment tested the claimant’s suitability to work.

The Board welcomed Mr Fraser, Customer Service Operations Manager, DWP to the meeting.  Mr Fraser provided the Board with information on how the DWP supports claimants and on introduction of the Personal Support Package from April 2017 that included £330 million of additional employment support over 4 years for people who due to an illness or disability were unable to work at the current time, but may be able to in the future.

This included:

• 300 new Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres across the country;
• a one-to-one health and work conversation with a Jobcentre Plus Work Coach to help raise confidence in managing a health condition, when appropriate;
• the introduction, from the summer, of a new Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Claimant Commitment for disabled people or those with a health condition who were out of work, setting out the support the Jobcentre would provide and what was expected of claimants; and
• personalised support provided to new ESA claimants placed in the work- related activity group, and new claimants of Universal Credit’s equivalent group, to help them move closer to the jobs market and, when they were ready, into work.

Central Bedfordshire Council had produced a booklet ‘Helping residents’ deal with welfare reform’ offering support to people who were impacted by the changes to the welfare system.  The Council’s Housing and Regeneration Services were helping tenants and residents back into work and supporting local businesses in filling vacancies.

RESOLVED

1.            that the report be noted; and

2.            that an update be provided to the Board at a future meeting.

To advise the Board of the requirement to produce a two year Better Care Fund Plan for 2017/18 – 2018/19.

The Board considered a report that set out the details for a two year Better Care Fund (BCF) Plan for 2017/18 – 2018/19.  Building on work to date, the Plan should also set out the local vision and approach to integration and demonstrate alignment with the Sustainability and Transformation Plan and the General Practitioner Forward View.

Guidance had been significantly delayed, it was anticipated that when it was finally published, there would lead to tight timeframes for developing, approving and submitting plans.

RESOLVED

1.            that the timetable for the submission of the Better Care Fund Plan for 2017/18 – 2018/19, be noted; and

2.            to authorise the Director of Social Care, Health and Housing and the Director of Commissioning, in consultation with the Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Board, the approval of the BCF Plan 2017/18 – 2018/19 submission.

To present the findings of the Joint Local Government Association Peer Review into Reablement and Rehabilitation, in October 2016 across Central Bedfordshire and Bedford Borough Councils. 

The Board considered a report that presented the findings of the Joint Local Government Association (LGA) Peer Review into reablement and rehabilitation.  The review took place in October 2016 across Central Bedfordshire and Bedford Borough Councils and involved representatives from the Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group and the South Essex Partnership Trust.  The review focused on the current state of the services and to understand where these might be better streamlined or duplication avoided.

The Board thanked Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire for conducting a telephone survey of 131 customers and carers.

The review noted that, at a strategic level, there was an awareness and recognition amongst partners of the need to work together better to deliver effective services and therefore better outcomes for customers.

RESOLVED

1.         that the LGA Peer Review Report on Reablement and Rehabilitation services in Central Bedfordshire be noted;

2.         that the findings and recommendations of the review be noted; and

3.         that the next steps, as set out in the report, be endorsed.

To receive an update on the Sustainability and Transformation Plan.

The Board considered a report that provided an update on the development of the Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) for Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK).  The STP aimed to address:

·         the health and wellbeing gap;

·         the care and quality gap; and

·         the finance and efficiency gap.

The BLMK submission identified five priorities:

·         Prevention

·         Primary, community and social care

·         Sustainable secondary care

·         Digitisation

·         System redesign.

Communication plans had been put in place to ensure staff, stakeholders and local people were involved and engaged in developing the plans.  At this stage the plans were very high level with specialist proposals still to be developed.

RESOLVED

1.         that the progress of the STP be noted;

2.         that progress on the priorities of the STP be endorsed on the basis that the priorities align with the Council’s aspirations for prevention; reduced reliance on acute services; primary, community and social care services delivered close to where people live; and

3.         that the plans for wider engagement on the STP be noted.

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. 

It was noted that there was a large number of items to be considered at the meeting on 12 July 2017 and some of these items might be deferred to a future meeting.

RESOLVED

that the following items be added to the work programme:

·         ELFT to be invited to the meeting on 12 July 2017 to outline the current position, challenges and opportunities for accessing psychological therapies;

·         an update on the Better Care Fund to be scheduled for the 12 July 2017; and

·         an update on the Welfare Reform Agenda be scheduled.