Agenda item

Further to the Panel meeting of 29 September 2016, to receive a progress report on the actions arising from the peer challenge of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

The Executive Member for Adult Social Care, Health & Housing reported that the Health & Wellbeing Board (HWB) had participated in a peer review. The first session had been facilitated by Andrew Cozens, who had considerable experience in independent social care and health policy improvement.

He stated that the recommendations that had resulted from the peer review, were as follows:

·         The role of the HWB should be to generate high level, system wide plans for addressing key priorities.

·         It should bring together partners in a way that makes them more than the sum of the parts, with every partner able to contribute something to the overall strategy.

·         Each partner should have clarity on what their individual responsibilities were within that strategy and commit to ensuring that these are reflected in their organisation’s plans.

·         In doing this, it will also seek to address barriers to progress.

The Executive Member reported that the HWB had already made a number of changes including changes to its membership to incorporate providers. The Board was conscious of the need to maintain a lean profile to continue to be successful and to not be seen as a committee of the Council. The HWB had therefore taken the decision to take Board meetings on the road and have meetings at partner venues across the borough.

The last meeting of the HWB was held at The Priory, Ascot and had been successful. The HWB had also adopted a new format whereby once formal business was completed the Board would have a workshop discussion which focussed on a particular topic. The last meeting had focussed on the emotional health and wellbeing of the borough. This had been a successful session facilitated by Andy Bell from the Centre of Mental Health, with lots of ideas generated.

In response to members’ queries, the following points were made:

·         Members expressed concern that the HWB hadn’t been fulfilling its role to date. The Executive Member reported that the HWB were conscious that they were not operating to their optimum level and as a result had requested this peer review. The recommendations that arose from the peer review were anticipated and allowed the Board to refocus its effort.

·         The Consultant in Public Health reported that the HWB was made up of high performing agencies, however they weren’t quite managing to become a sum of all parts and this was what the HWB would be focussing on as it moved forward.

·         The HWB would also be moving away from outputs and outcomes and moving towards more genuine outcomes. For example, how did a person feel as a result of a particular healthcare intervention, therefore a move towards qualitative data and considering people’s life stories and the changes in peoples lives as a result of any healthcare interventions.

·         Members found the Brighter Berkshire event to be very informative and important in raising the profile of mental health.

·         The Consultant in Public Health reported that social isolation was being tackled in a range of ways. The Community map was a useful tool for residents to find local groups and activities. There was also work taking place to inspire or enable residents to start up new groups. Social prescribing was also a resource used by GPs.

The Chairman thanked officers for the presentation and stated that she was pleased that the HWB would be taking a more holistic role.

The Panel noted the report.