Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from members Katrina Boffey, Tracy Cresswell, John Denley, Marsha Foster, Lynsey Kelly, Sally Roberts and Laura Thomas.

Hannah Pawley attended for Lynsey Kelly, Rose Urkovskis attended for Tracy Cresswell and Richard Welch attended for John Denley.

Dr Mark Weaver attended virtually for Marsha Foster.

There were no declarations of interest.

[To approve the minutes of 28 April 2021 and 14 July 2021 as a correct record.]

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting of 28 April 2021 and 14 July 2021 be approved as a correct record.

[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 2021 - 2022.]

Madeleine Freewood, Stakeholder Engagement Manager, presented the Health and Wellbeing Together Forward Plan 2021 – 2022 and outlined future agenda items. It was noted that any requests for agenda items should be forwarded to Democratic Services or Madeleine Freewood, Stakeholder Engagement Manager.

Resolved:

That the Health and Wellbeing Together Forward Plan 2021 – 2022 be received.

[To approve the refreshed Health and Wellbeing Together Terms of Reference.]

Madeleine Freewood, Stakeholder Engagement Manager, presented the Health and Wellbeing Together Terms of Reference - Light Touch Review report and highlighted key points. The report outlined that the current Terms of Reference needed refreshing to reflect changes to roles in the NHS in preparation for the creation of a Black Country Integrated Care System in April 2022.

It was also proposed to reduce the quorum for meetings following the High Court ruling that all public meetings must resume in a way that enables full public access. This would make it more likely that the quorum would be met in person as, although members were permitted to join online in a hybrid model, those that attended virtually would have no vote in decision making.

As a verbal addendum, it was also proposed that the representative from NHS England remain on the circulation list but attend as an observer rather than as a member.

It was acknowledged that methodology of meetings had evolved over recent months and the virtual format not only offered greater flexibility for external partners but also a lower risk of transmission should COVID-19 infection rates rise.

It was agreed that reducing the quorum would ensure the Board could meet and make decisions in accordance with the High Court ruling whilst allowing the option to attend virtually. It was also proposed that avenues continue to be explored to enable fully virtual meetings when legally possible.

Resolved:

1. That Health and Wellbeing Together approve the changes to the quorum.
2. That Health and Wellbeing Together approve changes to the membership as outlined in paragraph 4.2.
3. That Health and Wellbeing Together approve the verbal addendum proposing that the NHS England representative be invited to meetings as an observer going forward.

4.    That avenues be explored to enable fully virtual Health and Wellbeing Together meetings when possible.

[To approve the Wolverhampton Health Inequalities Strategy for 2021-2023.]

Madeleine Freewood, Stakeholder Engagement Manager presented the Wolverhampton Health Inequalities Strategy 2021 – 2023 and highlighted key points. The report outlined that health inequalities were systematic, unfair and preventable differences in health outcomes by deprivation, protected characteristics and inclusion groups. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic had exacerbated many of these inequalities.

Health and Wellbeing Together had previously pledged to oversee the development of a Wolverhampton Health Inequalities Strategy setting out how partners would collaborate to respond to these challenges. It was established that this would be achieved by close partnership working and an agreed approach to the targeted use, capture and effective sharing of information. The final draft of the strategy was attached for approval.

In addition, Sports England had reported that lockdown had had a detrimental effect on levels of physical activity with some groups being affected disproportionately. To this end, a workshop session had taken place on 21 September 2021 which had included a wide range of Board members and partners to scope a partnership response to the rise in levels of physical inactivity reported during the pandemic and lockdown.

Thanks were extended to all involved for continued collaborative working and it was acknowledged that the City needed to lead by example and make noticeable, lasting change. It was agreed that early intervention and commitment from all partners was key.

Resolved:

That the Wolverhampton Health Inequalities Strategy 2021-2023 be approved.

[To receive a briefing note providing an overview of the Better Mental Health Fund 2021 - 2022.]

Dr Jamie Annakin, Principal Public Health Specialist presented the Better Mental Health Fund 2021-2022: Project Overview and Timeline for Delivery briefing note and highlighted salient points. The briefing note provided an overview of the ‘Better Mental Health (BMH) Fund 2021-2022’ and timeframes for the delivery of mental health projects across the City of Wolverhampton utilising this fund. An accompanying presentation outlined the four key project areas and the bodies with strategic oversight of the Better Mental Health Fund Work Plan projects.

It was acknowledged that the work was timely due to an emerging mental health crisis in the wake of the pandemic and it was felt there should be a focus on young people as they appeared to be the group most at risk. It was also noted that there had been little reduction in domestic violence cases during the pandemic but fewer young person referrals leading to fears that children and young people may have been exposed to harm, but incidents had gone unreported.

In the wake of the murder of Sarah Everard, it was thought that increased fears for personal safety had adversely affected the mental health and wellbeing of many women and girls and that this was an area of consideration to include. It was noted that the Wolves Foundation had been undertaking work targeted at women and girls and suggested that a strand around personal safety could be incorporated into this.

It was agreed that timelines would be revisited and an update would be scheduled for a future meeting of Health and Wellbeing Together.

Resolved:

1. That the Better Mental Health Fund 2021-2022: Project Overview and Timeline for Delivery be received.

2.    That an update on progress be provided at a future meeting of Health and Wellbeing Together.

[To receive a presentation providing an update on the Clinical Strategy.]

Dr Mark Weaver, Dean Howell and Laura Brookes, all of Black Country Healthcare Foundation Trust co-delivered the Black Country Healthcare Foundation Trust - Clinical Strategy Update presentation. The presentation outlined that the Clinical Strategy had been a work in progress for a number of years prior to the merger. The strategy was based on the premise that mental health goes beyond a medical perspective and was an area of which all partners had ownership, with work being led by Black Country Healthcare where possible.

Appreciation was expressed for the work undertaken so far and the engagement process. It was noted that work on the support around children and young people was especially important as there was often a gap in services in the transitional period between ages 18 – 25 for residents with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or who were vulnerable.

It was acknowledged that loneliness was a contributing factor of poor mental health and building and retaining effective support networks was key in addressing this. It was reported that research had shown those with strong social networks recovered more quickly than those without. There existed some strong social prescribing services in Wolverhampton however it was noted that more resources were needed in terms of prevention and early intervention.

Resolved:

That the Black Country Healthcare Foundation Trust - Clinical Strategy Update be received.

[To receive the Healthwatch Wolverhampton Annual Report.]

Rose Urkovskis, Health Watch Wolverhampton presented the Healthwatch Wolverhampton Annual Report 2020 – 2021 and highlighted salient points.

The report provided a review on progress made against its statutory functions throughout the year and invited comment on the impact of the delivery of Healthwatch services in Wolverhampton. The annual report focused this year on the response to COVID 19 from the beginning of the pandemic and set out plans going forward.

Also covered were changes made to a range of services following feedback from service users and working methods made essential as the result of the pandemic that proved to work better. It included the establishment of Youth Healthwatch in order to provide a voice for young people in health and social care.

The report was received and the work undertaken over the year was commended.

Resolved:

That the Healthwatch Wolverhampton Annual Report 2020 – 2021 be noted.

[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.]

There was no other urgent business raised.