Decision Maker: Executive
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: Yes
To seek approval for Bracknell Forest Council to re-join the pan-Berkshire
shared arrangements for Public Health.
i. from 1 April 2019 to enter into an agreement with the Public Health
Shared Team to share the services of the Strategic Director of Public
Health (SDPH) and receive support from the Public Health Shared Team
for health intelligence, health protection and strategic leadership for health and wellbeing.
ii. a Consultant be recruited in the Public Health post to lead the Bracknell Local
Public Health Team reporting to the Executive Director: People.
iii. Bracknell Forest Council will continue to act as host for the Berkshire Shared Public Health Team and host the SDPH with all costs shared with the other five Berkshire
Councils.
1. There are a number of statutory duties and mandated functions that Local
Authorities are required to deliver to achieve the aim of improving the healthy
life expectancy of their residents and reducing inequalities in health between
different groups in our community. In 2013, Berkshire developed a unique
hub and spoke type model across the six unitary authorities locally.
2. All upper tier local authorities have a duty to appoint a Director of Public
Health. There is some local flexibility in the way in which the post can be
designed although in all cases the agreement of Public Health England
(PHE) is required. Appointments of DPH’s are joint appointments between
the host Council and PHE. The proposals in this report have been
discussed by the Chief Executive and the Regional Director of PHE and PHE
support them and the appointment of the existing Berkshire DPH as the DPH
for Bracknell Forest.
3. In 2013, the Berkshire Shared Public Health Agreement created a SDPH
post covering all six unitary authorities supported by a Shared Public Health
Team. Each Authority employed a Consultant in Public Health to lead their
Authorities work to improve the health of their residents. The Shared Public
Health Team staff, including the Director, were hosted by Bracknell Forest
Council.
4. In 2018, the decision was taken for Bracknell Forest to withdraw from the
arrangements. The scope of Bracknell Forest’s agreement with the Shared
Public Health Team was reduced to continuing to use the Shared Team only
for access to data and for health protection support1. A Bracknell Forest
Director of Public Health was appointed with plans to support the post with a
part time local Consultant in Public Health.
5. The Director of Public Health post holder has recently resigned and the post
is currently vacant. The context for delivering improved health has also
shifted with a supportive policy context and a new local set up. Interim
arrangements have been made by the Chief Executive and Executive
Director: People for the existing DPH for the other five Berkshire authorities
to cover the Bracknell Forest role and this is working well. This presents an
opportunity to forge a new partnership for public health across Berkshire with
benefits to be gained for Bracknell Forest residents from a more networked
approach.
1. For Bracknell to retain its own Director of Public Health.
2. For the Shared Public Health Team to be hosted by a different authority.
None
Declarations: None
Subject to Urgent Proceedings: No
Publication date: 19/03/2019
Date of decision: 12/03/2019
Decided at meeting: 12/03/2019 - Executive
Effective from: 20/03/2019
Accompanying Documents: