[To receive an update on the Communications Plan for the Board.]
Minutes:
Richard Welch, Head of Partnerships and Commercial Services (Education) and Joanna Grocott, Place Based Manager jointly delivered the Communications Plan Update with supporting presentation. The presentation provided an outline of existing and planned communications as well as an update on the Councillor and Community Champions programme.
Key messages regarding national restrictions were being broadcast across social media platforms as well the promotion of a ‘Wear It Properly’ face covering campaign and a public health representative held a weekly slot on the Community Radio channel.
Similarly, messages promoting the benefits of the vaccine and dispelling common myths were also being disseminated. A post vaccination information leaflet was also provided to everyone receiving the vaccine.
Partnership work was ongoing with West Midlands Police to engage with and support local businesses with awareness of the current guidance and upholding compliance.
The Councillor Champion toolkit had been launched in December 2020 to provide support and information to Councillors to pass on to their local constituents.
It was reported that a Community Champion toolkit had also been developed enabling the newly appointed Community Champions to provide outreach and support to over 20,000 residents, including those in hard to reach communities.
It was noted that Wolverhampton had successfully secured funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) which was intended to fund work to further develop the reach and scope of the Community Champions. The aim of this was to enhance the support provided for people most at risk from Coronavirus, including those from an ethnic minority background, disabled people and others, to follow safer behaviours and reduce the impact of the virus on themselves and those around them. Local Outbreak Engagement Board agreed to endorse this approach and receive regular update reports.
The work around targeting hard to reach communities was commended however concerns were raised around stressing the importance of compliance with regulations. The Intensive Care Unit at New Cross Hospital was still under significant pressure and deaths were still occurring raising the concern that some were still not appreciating the seriousness of the pandemic.
It was noted that heightened awareness and clarity was required around the fact that people could still potentially spread the virus even after having had the vaccine. It was noted that the medical staff administering the vaccine normally passed this message on verbally and provided an information leaflet, however it was agreed that this would be still be highlighted in further communications campaigns.
It was suggested that positive messages around the benefits of the vaccine needed to be heightened amongst the BAME community to increase uptake.
It was noted that improvements had been seen in gathering data and intelligence around why people were not accepting the vaccine which was informing the approach to targeting interventions to encourage take up.
In response to a query around mortuary capacity, it was confirmed that the Council was working closely with funeral directors, mortuaries and partners in Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust to obtain a daily overview and there was currently sufficient capacity.
A query was raised around communicating key messages to residents with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) as well as including deaf and blind communities. It was noted that these groups had been picked up amongst the work identifying key audiences and a fuller update on this would be provided for the next meeting.
Resolved:
3. That communications to key audiences with SEND would be an area of focus on the next update.