Agenda and minutes

            The Board received a presentation from the Director of People, Planning and Development of Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. The presentation outlined the Trust Strategy for Health and Wellbeing 2015/16 to 2020/21.  The Strategy aimed to improve the health and wellbeing of all the local authorities that commission Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

            The Board noted that the trust had evolved over its first year in operation, and was working in partnership with all sectors to put together a strategy for each individual partner.  The next step would be to measure the difference that was being made by the work of the Trust, with a Borough based structure responding to local need. 

            RESOLVED: That the content of the presentation be noted.

            The Board received a presentation from the Chief Executive of the Health Equalities Group on Food Act!ve.  This was a collaborative programme launched by the North West Directors of Public Health in November 2013 to tackle levels of obesity.  This would focus on population level interventions which took steps to address the social, environmental, economic and legislative factors that affected people’s ability to change their behaviour.

            The Board noted the current initiatives on offer by the Group, such as “Give up loving Pop!” and the Sugar Rush Programme, which both concentrated on the impact of too much sugar in a diet and providing an informed choice.  The Group was promoting a local government declaration to promote healthy weight.

            The Board noted that local initiatives such as “Crucial Crew” also informed teachers and students of the importance of informed food choices.

            RESOLVED: That the presentation be noted.

            The Board considered a report from the Strategic Director of People and Economy, on the progress, performance and financial aspects of the Better Care Fund Quarter 1 for 2015/2016.  The Board agreed the submission of the Better Care Fund plan in December 2014.  This was authorised by the Department of Health in January 2015 without conditions.

            The Better Care Fund plan outlined key areas for development, performance metrics and associated finance.  Progress against these areas was subject to a quarterly return to the Local Government Association and NHS England.

            The template for the return was published by the national Better Care Support Team.  The time between publishing and submission precluded review at the Health and Wellbeing Board prior to submission.  The submission was reviewed by the Better Care Board Executive Committee who monitored the plan on a monthly basis.

            The submission demonstrated that Halton had made substantial progress on the implementation of the plan, had achieved the national and local targets and was delivering within the budget as planned.

            RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

            The Board considered a report which contained the Halton Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB) Annual Report 2014 – 2015 and Business Plan 2015 - 2017.

The Annual Report provided a rigorous and transparent assessment of the performance and effectiveness of local services to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.  It identified areas of weakness, the causes of those weaknesses and proposals for action.  The report included lessons from learning and improvement activity within the reporting period.

The LSCB was currently funded via contributions from the Council, Schools, Cheshire Constabulary, NHS Halton CCG and Cafcass.  Contributions had reduced during recent years with the LSCB losing contributions from Connexions, the Child Death Grant and year on year reductions from the Schools Forum.  The LSCB was undertaking work with partners to uplift financial contributions and increase in kind contributions, as well as approaching partners who did not currently contribute financially to the Board.

RESOLVED: That the content of the report and associated Annual Report appended to the report, be noted.

            The Board considered a report from the Director of Public Health, which informed Members that in September 2014 the Trading Standards Team began work on a Scam Victims Project following receipt of a list of 190 likely victims of mail mass marketing fraud in Halton.  The report advised Members of the impact of the work to date, and the potential funding sources that were being explored to extend the project.

            The project was important as the victims the Team were working with were largely regarded as vulnerable adults – 60% of people on the list were either currently or previously involved with Adult Social Care in Halton.  The Team had undergone training to develop techniques to communicate effectively with the vulnerable and coach them towards behaviour change.  This was often a lengthy process.

            The Board were informed that the service cost £45,000 in total.  Due to a reduction in the Public Health budget the funding would not be available in April 2016.  Future options for consideration were:

·         Cease running the project;

·         Identify joint funding with partners;

·         Reduce the number of older people worked with, to target the most vulnerable and cease providing the wider prevention element; and

·         Focus on the wider prevention element and cease the help and education element for people at risk.

It was suggested that each Area Forum could be asked for £1,500 in future funding.

RESOLVED: That the Health and Wellbeing Board

1)    note the report;

2)    identify joint funding with partners; and

3)    explore the possibility of seeking £1,500 from each Area Forum.

            The Board received a report which summarised the outcomes achieved in Phase 1 of Troubled Families in Halton.  The report outlined the key criteria for Phase 2 of the programme and provided the Outcome Plan.

            An overview of the Cheshire Complex Dependency Project was included with the report, and how it supported the Early Intervention and Troubled Families agenda within the Borough.

            RESOLVED: That the Health and Wellbeing Board

1)    note the positive developments in Halton’s Troubled Families Phase 1 Programme;

2)    note and supports the key criteria and the Outcome Plan for Phase 2 of the Troubled Families Programme; and

3)    supports the Complex Dependency Project and recognises the contribution it will make to establishing multi-agency, integrated working to tackle children, families and individuals with complex needs.

            The Director of Public Health provided the Board with an update on an application to the Local Government Chronicle Awards 2016 on behalf of the Halton Health and Wellbeing Board.  The application was the “Effective Health and Wellbeing Board” category and had focused on “Tackling the Harm Caused by Alcohol.”

            RESOLVED: That the application be supported.