Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Professor Farzad Amirabdollahian; Emma Bennett; The Leader, Cllr Ian Brookfield and Professor David Loughton CBE.

Sally Evans attended in person for Professor David Loughton CBE.

There were no declarations of interest made.

[To approve the minutes of the previous meeting as a correct record.]

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting of 26 April 2023 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

[To consider any matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting.]

There were no matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting.

[To receive the Health and Wellbeing Together Forward Plan 2023 - 2024.]

Madeleine Freewood, Public Health Partnership and Governance Lead presented the Health and Wellbeing Together Forward Plan 2023-2024 and outlined future agenda items and items to be scheduled.

Members were invited to suggest items for presentation at future meetings by contacting either the Chair, Madeleine Freewood or Democratic Services.

Resolved:

That the items on the Health and Wellbeing Together Forward Plan 2023-2024 be noted.

[To approve the Wolverhampton Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2023- 2028.]

Madeleine Freewood, Partnership and Governance Lead presented the Wolverhampton Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2023 – 2028 report and highlighted key points and milestones. The report sought the Board’s approval for the refreshed Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2023-2028 attached at Appendix 1, which had been developed to set the strategic direction for the Board over the next five years.

The agreed priorities were detailed as well as the themes, outcomes and delivery leads for each. It was also proposed that the next full Board meeting be dedicated to a closed development session to support the implementation of the Strategy.

Board members commended the strategy and agreed that the priorities, particularly around addressing inequalities, were sound and aligned with those of their respective organisations and Council service areas. It was acknowledged that this was an opportunity to use the partnership to enact change and make a difference.

Resolved:

1. That Health and wellbeing Together approve the Wolverhampton Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2023 - 2028.

2.    That the proposal to hold a Board development session to support strategy implementation be endorsed.

[To receive the Terms of Reference for the Wolverhampton Integrated Commissioning Committee.]

Paul Tulley, Black Country ICB and Becky Wilkinson, Director of Adult Social Services jointly presented the Development of the Wolverhampton Integrated Commissioning Committee report and highlighted key points. The report detailed the development of an Integrated Commissioning Committee for the City, including the Integrated Commissioning Committee’s Terms of Reference.

It was reported that the work of the Integrated Commissioning Committee would act to support, develop and streamline integrated commissioning intentions to progress shared priorities including those outlined in the Health and Wellbeing Together Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2023 - 2028.

The Chair welcomed the new development and noted that the inclusion of the Better Care Fund was positive. 

Resolved:

That the Terms of Reference for the Wolverhampton Integrated Commissioning Committee be received.

[To receive a presentation providing an overview of the Start for Life Offer.]

Alison Hinds, Deputy Director for Social Care delivered the Family Hubs and Start for Life Programme presentation. The presentation provided an overview of the project’s aims, governance, financials and plans for delivery. It was noted that the programme was designed to provide support in communities to parents and carers to ensure the best start in life for their babies and children and improving health and education outcomes for all. 

It was reported that there would be eight family hubs based around the City which would all be in operation by the end of July 2023. The Hubs would deliver a range of services specifically to support the 1001 Days pathway such as Antenatal/Postnatal Care and Support; New Birth Registrations; Infant Feeding; Child Development Clinics and Support; Perinatal Mental Health Support; Stay and Play Sessions, and Parenting Programmes. 

In addition, access to other services such as Housing Services, Domestic Abuse Support, Financial Wellbeing and more was available as part of an enhanced offer. Revised opening hours and a virtual offer were also planned to increase access opportunities.

The programme was commended for improving accessibility and its wide-ranging scope in provision.

Resolved:

That the Family Hubs and Start for Life Programme overview be received.

[To receive a presentation outlining the outcomes from the Physical Inactivity Needs Assessment.]

Richard Welch, Head of Partnerships (Public Health) and Hettie Pigott, Senior Public Health Specialist jointly delivered the Physical Inactivity Needs Assessment presentation which provided an update on the work undertaken to address physical inactivity in the City.

This included research carried out to understand levels of physical inactivity in the City, the creation of task and finish groups with associated action plans, key successes and next steps.

Health and Wellbeing Together partners agreed to support and engage with the Physical Inactivity needs assessment consultation.

The work was commended by the Chair who also commented on how the needs assessment identified opportunities for residents across the City to become more active and to remove barriers for them to do so. It was added that this undertaking was not just about addressing physical health and obesity issues as increased physical activity had many mental health benefits as well.

It was acknowledged that the increased sign-up for the leisure centres was a huge positive. A query was raised around opening school sports facilities to the public however it was noted that this may be a decision for the individual schools to make, particularly in the case of independent schools.

In response to a query around addressing physical inactivity for care home residents, it was confirmed that an ICB funded Active Care Home project was currently underway.

Resolved:

That Health and Wellbeing Together agree to support and engage with the Physical Inactivity needs assessment consultation.

[To receive an overview of the findings of the Adult Mental Health Joint Strategic Needs Assessment.]

Dr Jamie Annakin, Principal Public Health Specialist and Nicola Palin, Senior Public Health Specialist jointly presented the Adult Mental Health Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) Update which included the outcome report for the Wolverhampton JSNA for Adult Mental Health 2023 itself as Appendix 1.

The briefing note summarised the findings gathered from the Wolverhampton Adult Mental Health JSNA and reported on how it had identified key priority areas of focus and informed plans to improve adult mental health and wellbeing in Wolverhampton going forward.

In response to a query around how the City’s statistics compared nationally, it was noted that Wolverhampton was similar to the national picture in terms of self-reported low levels of happiness, feeling life is worthwhile and life satisfaction, as well as high anxiety.

Marsha Foster, Black Country Healthcare Foundation Trust commented that the statistics of premature mortality levels in people with serious mental health illness in the City was concerning. It was noted that disappointment had been felt among the mental health community around recent notifications that mental health would no longer have its own national strategy but would however feature as part of a Major Conditions Strategy due for release later in the year.

It was considered that mental health was a complex matter although it was important to work together in partnership to exert influence over the factors that could be controlled.

It was recognised that depression appeared to be an escalating issue nationally and that promoting the understanding that mental illness can affect anyone and everyone at some point in their lives was key. The Board engaged in discussion during which factors such as social isolation, maintaining a positive work / life balance, lack of time for oneself, poverty and deprivation were acknowledged as contributors affecting mental health and wellbeing.

In response to a query around whether the voluntary sector was included as a key stakeholder, it was noted that the Wolverhampton Mental Health Stakeholder Forum and Wolverhampton Suicide Prevention Stakeholder Forums had been included in engagement and consultation exercises as part of the needs assessment task and finish group. The Mental Health JSNA will clearly reflect this.

The work undertaken was commended, particularly around inclusion, diversity and how to address the issue collectively.

Resolved:

1. That Health and Wellbeing Together note the Adult Mental Health JSNA findings and future areas of priority focus.

2.    That Health and Wellbeing Together note the proposals to work with local partner organisations, including statutory and voluntary sector groups, to determine activities and interventions required to address priority areas for mental health identified by the Adult Mental Health JSNA.

[To consider any items of business by reason of special circumstances (to be specified) that in the opinion of the Chair are matters of urgency.]

John Denley, Director of Public Health provided a verbal update on Professor Chris Whitty’s visit to Wolverhampton the previous week. It was reported that the visit included a tour of the Better Health: Rewards scheme, Mander Health Hub, the One Wolverhampton place-based partnership and to see health checks being undertaken at Central Library. The Chief Medical Officer fed back that he was pleased to see the partnership working taking place across the City to improve residents’ health and wellbeing and would take examples back to central government. Thanks were extended to all who had participated in the visit.

The Chair noted that Ian Darch of Wolverhampton Voluntary and Community Action would be retiring from the end of August 2023 and took the opportunity to express thanks on behalf of the Board for his contributions to Health and Wellbeing Together and the community over the years.