Agenda item

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Communities which gave details of the work being undertaken to establish a Health and Wellbeing Service via Partnership working arrangements between the Local Authority, Halton Clinical Commissioning Group and Bridgewater Community NHS Trust.

The Board was advised that Healthy Lives Healthy People: the strategy for public health in England, set out the Government’s vision for a new, integrated and professional public health system, designed to be more effective and to give clear accountability for the improvement and protection of the public’s health. The new system would embody localism, with new responsibilities and resources for local Government to improve the health and wellbeing of their population, within a broad policy framework set by the Government. Local authorities would be expected to use their new responsibilities and resources to put health and wellbeing at the heart of everything they do, thereby helping people to lead healthier lives.

The Board was further advised that as a response to these Government plans the Health & Wellbeing Service was being developed via Partnership working arrangements and associated Agreement, a copy of which was attached at Appendix 1 to the report. 

It was reported that the Partnership Agreement set out a phased approach to implementation. Phase 1 would include the development of older people’ services and pathways as well as dementia services. It would also see a review of falls prevention services which was clearly one of the highest priorities in Halton due to the current poor performance against National indicators. Finally it would consider the emotional and wellbeing services for Adults that were already being delivered and how these would be developed in the future. This particular development would see the alignment of these services with the development of the Community Wellbeing Practice model.

It was also reported that Phase 2 would include the wider determinants of public health and influences on health inequalities. This development would take a ‘Life Course’ approach and would therefore work across adult social care, health, children and young people’s services and the voluntary sector to establish the need and where the specific work stream sits. This work would include areas such as:

·               Alcohol and promoting sensible drinking;

·               Early detection of cancer;

·               Stop smoking and tobacco control;

·               Healthy weight;

·               Expert patient programme; and

·               Breastfeeding.

In conclusion, it was reported that the implementation of the proposals/service would be monitored via the Health & Wellbeing Service (HWBS) Steering Board which membership consisted of representatives from Partner Agencies, voluntary sector and Halton LiNK. The Executive Board Portfolio Holder for Health & Adults was also a member of the Board.

The Board noted that an Expert Patient Programme was an individual with a long term condition who had been supported to take control of their own illness.

A Member of the Board suggested that in respect of Troubled Families, there was a possibility of linking up with the Children, Young People and Families Policy and Performance Board.  In response, it was reported that this had been considered and a working group would be established.

RESOLVED: That the report and comments raised be noted.