Agenda and minutes

            The Minutes of the meeting held on 12 October 2022 having been circulated were signed as a correct record.

          The Board received a report from the Director of Public Health regarding the new Health and Wellbeing Board guidance, which was introduced in November 2022 following the changes to the NHS and, in particular, the establishment of Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and Integrated Care Systems (ICSs).

          The intent of the guidance was to support ICB and ICP leaders, local authorities and Health and Wellbeing Boards to understand how they should work together to ensure effective system and place-based working.  Joint working of these agencies would determine the integrated approach that would best deliver holistic care and prevention activities, including action on wider determinants in their communities.

          The guidance provided examples of case studies that illustrated how other Health and Wellbeing Boards had adapted to the changes introduced by the Health and Care Act 2022. 

          RESOLVED:  That  the report and guidance document be noted.

          The Board considered a report of the Executive Director, Adults, which presented the Adult Social Care Annual Report 2021/22.  Whilst this was not a mandatory requirement, it remained supported as good practice by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS).

          The Local Account took stock and reflected on how services had developed and been delivered throughout the period.  It also assessed the impact on adults in the Borough who had care and support needs. 

          The report incorporated both responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and the re-opening of services when restrictions had been lifted. 

          RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

          The Board received a presentation from Lucy Gardner, Director of Strategy and Partnerships, Warrington & Halton Hospitals (WHH) which provided updates on:

Anchor Institutes – Anchor institutions were large organisations such as NHS trusts, which are unlikely, by their nature, to relocate, have a significant stake in their local area as a result, and have sizeable assets which can be used to support local community health and wellbeing, including tackling health inequalities.

WHH was an anchor institution.  This meant that WHH had an opportunity to positively influence the health and wellbeing of the patients and local communities. A Board level commitment was in place to use the Trust’s position and influence to work with others in responsible ways, to have an even greater impact on the wider factors that created happy, healthy and thriving communities.

An overview was provided on the WHH journey as an anchor institution and how this work was delivered through several initiatives, including the Halton Health Hub, the Community Diagnostic Centre and the emerging Health and Education Hub.

The presentation provided a progress update as WHH continued to mature as an anchor institution and advance the Trust’s commitment to tackling health inequalities, whilst striving to achieve the NHS Green Plan objectives and boosting opportunities to make a positive social impact.

The Board received an update following the completion of the project to develop an out-of-hospital hub to deliver clinical outpatient services from Runcorn Shopping City and opportunities for future development. 

Halton & Warrington Community Diagnostic Centre - The Trust had been successful in bidding for brand new capital and revenue funding from NHS England to develop a Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) at the Halton site, to deliver capacity for an additional c211,000 diagnostic tests by the end of 2024.

Phase 1 was the CDC Fast Track, planned to be operational by March 2023.  This was to design and build a new multi-storey car park and refurbish the Nightingale Building to create:

·       3 x cardio-respiratory rooms;

·       2 x ultrasound rooms;

·       1 x phlebotomy room;

·       1 x point of care testing room;

·       1 x medical records store;

·       1 x IT room; and

·       Adequate waiting areas.

Phase 2 was the large scale CDC and it was anticipated that this would be completed by July 2024.  Further updates would be provided in due course.

Halton Health Hub – In November 2022 the Trust welcomed its first patients to the Halton Health Hub which was a result of a partnership between WHH, Halton Borough Council and the Liverpool City Region.  The services delivered in the first instance were:

·       Paediatric Optometry / Orthoptics;

·       Paediatric Dietetics;

·       Adult Optometry / Orthoptics;

·       Adult Dietetics; and

·       Over 55 Hearing Screening and Assessment.

Progress of the Development of the Runcorn Health and Education Hub - WHH, in partnership with Halton Borough Council (HBC), Riverside College,  Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BCH) and Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, developed a project to create a Health and Education Hub in Runcorn as part of Reconnecting Runcorn Town Deal project.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

          The Board received a presentation from the Operational Director, Economy, Enterprise and Property, which provided an overview on Place Shaping for Healthier Communities. 

          Place shaping was defined as putting an individual stamp on an area.  This derived from the Lyons Enquiry (2004-2007) which suggested that Local Governments’ should as the voice of a whole community and as “an agent of place”.  Place shaping was fundamental to enabling vibrant communities, planning for what assets, housing and infrastructure would facilitate wellbeing, healthier communities and support communities facing inequalities.

          The Board received presentations from Hitesh Patel from Citizens Advice Halton and Joseph Chow from Community Shop.  Both of these services located in Halton Lea Ward and served the whole Borough.  The presentations described the assets of each service and how they impacted the residents of Halton.

          RESOLVED:  That the report and contents of the presentation be noted. 

          The Board considered a report from Nicola Goodwin, One Halton Senior Programme Manager, regarding the launch of the One Halton Community Grants scheme in January 2023.

          One Halton developed a community grants programme which was agreed by the Finance and Performance Committee in November 2022.  This would support engagement with One Halton at grass roots enabling community led activity to directly relate to the strategy’s objectives and ambitions around:-

• Starting Well - supporting families in financial hardship and enabling child development for speech & language and school readiness through play and family engaging activities;
• Living Well – changing lifestyle factors to improve health and wellbeing, increasing levels of physical activity,  support to increase employability skills i.e. volunteering opportunities, digital skills development;
• Ageing Well – to support people to live an independent life, support people to regain independence following a change in circumstances.

The grant fund was £70,000 and initially available until 31 March 2024.  This would provide an indicative allocation of £17,500 for Runcorn and Widnes each year.  The grants programme would be administered by the Council’s Community Development Team on behalf of One Halton.

          Half-yearly reports on the grant delivery would be reported to the One Halton Finance and Performance Group and periodic reports would be brought to the Health and Wellbeing Board as necessary.

The Board was asked to promote these grants across their respective networks.

          RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

          The Board received a report from the Executive Director, Adult Services regarding the Adult Social Care (ASC) Discharge Fund Plan 2022/23. 

          Due to the national issue of delayed discharges from hospitals, funding had been allocated to local areas to help try and reduce delayed discharges over the Winter period.  It was noted 40% of the allocations to local areas had been distributed directly to Local Authorities, based on the Adult Social Care Relative Needs Formula (RNF) and 60% of the funding had been distributed to Integrated Care Boards, targeted at those areas experiencing the greatest discharge delays.  The available funding was expected to be pooled into local area Better Care Funds. 

          The first tranche of funding (40%) was received in December 2022 and the second tranche (60%) was received in January 2023.  Halton’s planned spending report outlined the prioritised approaches that would be most effective in freeing up the maximum number of hospital beds and reducing bed days lost. 

          RESOLVED:  That the report and appendix be noted. 

          The Board considered a report from the Executive Director, Adults regarding the Halton Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2021/22.

          Under the Care Act 2014, all Safeguarding Adults Boards are required to produce an annual report which summarised all of the key achievements and priorities the Board had been working towards over the past 12 months.  The report set out the national and local developments on safeguarding adults at risk.  This included work undertaken to support asylum seekers and refugees; supporting National Safeguarding Week and hosting a strategic planning event for Board members to agree key priorities for the Safeguarding Board going forward.

          The report also contained key performance information, taken from the Safeguarding Adults Collection; a statutory return for all local authorities.  It was noted that there had been a 10% increase in the number of safeguarding concerns received in 2021-22 compared to the previous year.  In Halton, an adult at risk is most likely to be a female aged over 65 and living in their own home.  There was also a 32% increase in the number of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard applications compared to 2020-21.

          RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.