Agenda and minutes

Report of the Director of Public Health

The Director of Public Health presented the draft Terms of Reference which included the designated Membership of the Panel.

In discussion there was reference to Board’s “appreciative inquiry” approach to the informal in-depth examination of issues affecting the local area and the Director encouraged Board Members to submit suggested topics. The Healthwatch representative requested that a forward programme of appreciative enquiries be shared so that Member organisations could coordinate their work. There was also discussion around the possibility of holding Board meetings around the district, potentially dovetailing with Community events. 

Resolved: that the Terms of reference be agreed and adopted.

Resolved: that Colin Bradbury, Director of Strategy, Partnerships and Population (BNSSG Integrated Care Board), be confirmed as the Vice-Chair for the 2023-24 Municipal Year.

A Member must declare any disclosable pecuniary interest where it relates to any matter being considered at the meeting. A declaration of a disclosable pecuniary interest should indicate the interest and the agenda item to which it relates. A Member is not permitted to participate in this agenda item by law and should immediately leave the meeting before the start of any debate.

If the Member leaves the meeting in respect of a declaration, he or she should ensure that the Chairman is aware of this before he or she leaves to enable their exit from the meeting to be recorded in the minutes in accordance with Standing Order 37.

None.

Minutes of the Health and Wellbeing Board Meeting on 1 March 2023 to approve as a correct record.

Resolved: that the minutes of the meeting of 1 March 2023 be approved as a correct record

Report of the Consultant in Public Health

Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy – Quarterly Update (Agenda Item 7)

Dr Georgie MacArthur, Consultant in Public Health (North Somerset Council) presented the report which provided an update on implementation of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy, including the original actions, those included in the refresh of the action plan of 2022 (phase 1), and the actions being shaped as part of phase 2.

Since the joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy reached the end of its timeline in 2024, this paper sought to provide a foundation for discussion around the scope, design and content of the next joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2024-2028.

In opening discussion, the Director of Public Health emphasised that the Board continued to track the Strategy Action Plan and that the aim now was mainly about engaging with stakeholders and communities on how to further develop the strategy. A timeline would be provided to Members in due course.

Members commented as follows:

·       the need to evidence where the strategy was making a difference together with the importance also of capturing qualitative data to demonstrate that improvement was being perceived (felt) in communities;

·       the need to leverage budgets across other Council directorates and other partner organisations around delivering wider determinants of health outcomes;

·       it was not just about money but also hearts and minds.  The appreciative inquiry approach represented a useful opportunity to galvanise purpose and approach across the partnership.

In concluding discussions the Director of Public referenced the comment about leveraging other Council directorates, emphasising that the Integrated Care Strategy (which would be picked up later on the agenda) was challenging the Health and Care system to behave differently with focus on prevention and the need for practical impact.  The Board was exploring ways of delivering this focus across North Somerset.  

Resolved:

(1)      that the Board note the ongoing progress in implementing the joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy and the refresh of the action plan and the process for advancing the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion workstream.

(2)      that the Board approve the recommendation to evolve and refresh the joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy building on the existing structure, guiding principles, overarching themes and priority topic areas, and responding to recent strategic development in the system, rather than developing an entirely new structure and strategy.

(3)      that Board Members feedback views and perspectives about any critical considerations, strategic developments, insight and engagement activities and/or health and wellbeing needs to be taken into account during development of the next joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2024-2028.

Report of the Consultant in Public Health

Dr Georgie MacArthur, Consultant in Public Health (North Somerset Council) presented the report providing an overview of the structure, ambitions and actions included in the Mental Health Strategy and the next steps regarding finalisation, approval and publication.

Members sought and received clarification on the following:-

• the need to reference mental health impacts of the menopause;
• communication issues around cross-border and private schools in the district.  The Consultant in Public Health acknowledged that these had not specifically been considered so far but a pilot scheme had been established to better identify people and link them up with services through peer support and virtual hubs;
• how to address a lack of understanding around mental health in the community – the Director of Public Health referred to the issue as a “design problem” that could be resolved by targeting the issue more broadly, more effectively mobilising communities around wider understanding and application.

Resolved:

(1)      that the timeline and next steps for engagement, approval and publication, including plans for the formal consultation be noted.

(2)      that Members feedback suggestions on any additional groups or forums with which dedicated engagement should be completed regarding the final draft; and

(3)      that in considering the high-level theme areas suggested for funding, Members feedback views on where this fixed-term investment could most effectively be targeted to address gaps in support.

Report of the Consultant in Public Health

Samuel Hayward, Consultant in Public Health (North Somerset Council) presented the report which described the commissioning plan for integrated sexual health services that North Somerset Council was a party to. The report also summarised the approval for the recommissioning of the North Somerset elements of the BNSSG Integrated Sexual Health by the Council’s Executive on 21^st June 2023.

In discussion, Members sought and received clarification on engagement with digital providers (given the reference in the report to providing more online services). 

The Director of Public Health commented that, whilst the strategy sought to address complex needs, there was also significant focus on prevention.  He referred by example to current issues around toxic masculinity and the need to encourage healthy relationships.  The Board was looking to do something around leveraging wider partnership around prevention. 

Resolved: that

(1)      that the outcome of the key decision from the Executive on the 21st June 2023 which agreed to North Somerset Council participating in the recommissioning of the BNSSG integrated sexual health services be noted;

(2)      that the outcome of the related agreements from the Executive on the 21st June 2023 be noted; and

(3)      that findings from the North Somerset Sexual health services workshop held on 9th June 2023 be noted.

Report of the Head of Woodspring Locality and the Head of One Weston, Worle and Villages Locality

The Head of Locality One Weston, Worle and Villages was unable to unable to attend the meeting and present the report, which outlined plans and work that the ICB localities in Weston Worle and Villages and Woodspring participate in and conduct with partners, was therefore taken as read.

Resolved: that the report be noted.

Report of the Associate Director (Partnerships), BNSSG ICB

Ros Cox, Associate Director, Partnerships (BNSSG Integrated Care Board) presented the report which summarised the work done to date by the Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) to develop a comprehensive strategic approach to improving the overall health and wellbeing of the residents of BNSSG. The first step was to develop a Strategic Framework which was approved and published by the Integrated Care Partnership in December 2022.  The system-wide Editorial Group, which oversaw the production of the Strategic Framework, was then reconvened to coordinate the development of the first edition of the Integrated Care System Strategy which was due to be reviewed by the Integrated Care Partnership board on 16 June.  The final document would then be published on 30 June, in coordination with the Joint Forward Plan, and would be circulated to all partners.

There was discussion around the role of the improvement groups and how their work would be reported back to the Health and Wellbeing Board.  Members emphasised the need for assurance that the strategy was being actioned effectively.  The Associate Director said that governance arrangements were still being worked through and confirmed she would report back the Board’s views back to the ICB. 

Resolved: that the report be noted.

The Director of Public Health reported that the Board’s Operations Group would be developing ideas for the work plan and reiterated his request that Members put forward suggestions for appreciative inquiry topics.

Suggestions for items at forthcoming Board meetings included:

• the Better Care Fund as a standing item on all agendas;
• preparedness for Care Quality Inspections (including self assessment and risks);
• Special Educational needs and disabilities (SEND) Improvement Plan progress

Resolved:  that the Director’s update be received.

To review the meeting using the tests set out on pages 9 and 10 of the Terms of reference report listed above (Agenda Item 1)

Members reviewed the meeting against the three questions (criteria) set out in the Board’s terms of reference.

There was discussion around the importance of building on common themes that had emerged at the meeting, particularly around a whole-system approach to health and wellbeing - with greater focus on prevention and the wider determinants of health - and how progress might be evaluated in terms of whole-system impact.