Council and democracy

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Health and Wellbeing Board meeting held on 9 February 2015

The Minutes of the Health and Wellbeing Board held on 9^th February 2015 were approved as a correct record.

To receive additional items that the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency, in accordance with Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

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Future of Thurrock’s Walk-in Service

 An update was provided on the consultation of the future of Grays Walk-in Service.  Two events have been held to date, but concerns were raised that attendees were not representative of the service’s users. Future consultations will include engaging with young people.

The purpose of the report was to inform the Board about the development and focus of Thurrock’s CASSH bid – phase 2.  The Board were reminded that Thurrock had submitted a successful bid as part of phase 1 with the funding being used to develop 25 purpose-built flats for older people in Derry Avenue, South Ockendon.

Phase 2 of the CASSH fund will focus on specialist affordable housing for adults and young people aged over 18 with Learning Disabilities, Mental Health and Autism. A bid of up to £120m will be submitted before 29th May 2015. A joint working group will be established including representatives of– the CCG, Adults Social Care, Public Health and Housing.

The Board were made aware that the bid would be underpinned by a number of core documents – including the Housing Strategy.  It was agreed that the Autism Strategy would also be referred to and consideration would be given to the inclusion of education, skills and training (CL to provide a link person).

It was felt that if successful, the fund would help to provide a local offer to people with needs that often had to be met out of Borough.

RESOLVED: Recommendation agreed.

To bring the completed bid to the June Board meeting

The report was presented by Kelly Jenkins, Commissioner for Learning Disability and Mental Health.

The Self-Assessment tool is a national tool that focuses on three main areas: Staying Healthy, Saying Safe and Living Well. The self-assessment is extremely challenging but provides a means of identifying areas of improvement.  Thurrock has made progress on the ratings (rated as ‘red’, ‘amber’ and ‘green’) Ratings for this year include 2 red, 17 amber, and 5 green.  An action plan will be developed to respond to the red and amber-rated areas and will be overseen by the Disability Partnership Board.

Concerns were raised that two of the red-rated areas related to the Criminal Justice System.  Similar concerns had been raised at the Children and Young People’s Partnership Board.  Stronger links needed to be forged with the Probation Service in particular.  RH agreed to consider how stronger links could be made.

The Board were made aware that learning disabled residents were identified via GP registers – but that some development was required.  There was also a Learning Disability nurse at the Hospital.

It was agreed that a report detailing how amber and red-rated areas will be progress will be brought to the September Board.

RESOLVED: Recommendation agreed. 

Report to be presented at the September Board

Care Act 2014

The Care Act 2014 comes into operation from April 2015 and the key changes were summarised for Board members. From 2016, there will be a £72,000 cap on care which could have a significant financial impact on the Council.

Better Care Fund

The Better Care Fund is focused on transforming the health and care system which includes integration between health and social.  The Fund will be managed through a Section 75 agreement between the CCG and Council.  This has now been agreed by Cabinet.  Significant progress has already been made through initiatives such as the Rapid Response and Assessment Team (RRAS), Joint Reablement Team (JRT), and Local Area Coordination (LAC).

All areas have been asked to complete a readiness self-assessment which has to be signed off by the Board.  It was agreed that the self-assessment would be circulated and that final sign-off would be delegated to the Chair on behalf of the Board.  The CCG and Council would also be signatories and the Board asked that the self-assessment be shared with Healthwatch prior to submission.

Whole System Redesign         

A ‘case for change’ is currently being developed which will outline the future health and social care landscape.  The current health and social care system is extremely challenged and there is a need to work as a system as well as thinking of radical new ways of working and accelerating work that has already begun – for example self-care.

The ‘case for change’ will be brought to the June Board for discussion.

The Chair noted that there was already evidence of joint working making a difference, and shared the contents of a letter praising the work of the RRAS.

RESOLVED: Recommendation agreed. 

This was Andrea Atherton’s last meeting as Thurrock’s Director of Public Health and the Chair thanked her for her contribution. Interviews for a Thurrock Director for Public Health have been arranged for the 13th March.          

The report presented is an annual report on the health of people in Thurrock.  The report was welcomed by the Board.

Members felt that Thurrock’s councillors could play a more active role – e.g. for signposting of information.

The Board discussed private home ownership and that a range of housing options for all age groups were being progressed as opposed to sheltered housing complexes.

The Board suggested that a discussion with the planners was required to review how Section 106 monies could be used to achieve flexibilities.. It was also suggested that within the planning agreements 10% of homes developed could be specially adapted for older people. 

A representative from the Planning Team would be invited to a future the Health and Wellbeing Board meeting. 

RESOLVED: Recommendation agreed. 

The report was presented by Teresa Goulding and Justin Daniels. The Troubled Families initiative was first announced by the Prime Minister December 2010. Thurrock’s target, set by the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG), was to ‘Turn-Around’ 360 families by May 2015.

The Troubled Families team look for innovative ways of working in a family centred approach to meet specific and often complex needs.

The number of families supported has increased to 360 over three years (2012-

2015) and is expected to increase to supporting 1160 families over five years (2015-2020). The Board was updated on the Phase 2 programme as the Phase 1 had been completed.

It was noted that this programme is successful on a national scale. The total number of families supported through this programme increased from 169 (47%) to approximately 306(85%).

Phase 2 of the programme which commences in April 2015 works on the Lessons Learnt from Phase 1. Phase 2 of the Troubled Families programme, which commences in April 2015, was only possible for Local Authorities achieving 75% of their target by February 2015. 

Recommendation summarised to focus on the Framework Planning where Thurrock Council and partners work collectively.

The Board enquired about the families that may not be identified and may be missed. Data sharing is seen as a national barrier and a policy has been drafted. A Health Champion will be assigned to the Thurrock area.  

Andrew Carter Head of Children Services will undertake the Risk Assessment.

The Board noted the work of the Troubled Families Team.

RESOLVED: Recommendation agreed.

The report was presented by Maria Payne, Health Needs Assessment Manager.  Two JSNA documents were presented to the Board.

The Children and Young People’s JSNA had already been discussed at the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership Board.  The document was agreed by the Board and would now be published.

The Board agreed to defer the Demography JSNA to the June Health and Wellbeing Board.  

RESOLVED: Recommendation 1.2 agreed for Children and Young People JSNA

The Charter for Older People will be presented at Council by Cllr Rice and Cllr Halden and aims to build on the success of the Veterans’ Charter.

The Chair (Cllr Rice) requested that the Charter be amended with a space for signatures. 

The Charter has been consulted on including at a specific engagement event and at the Older People’s Parliament.

Suggestions were made by the Board on the wider circulation of the Charter.

Thurrock is one of a small number of councils to have an Older People’s Charter.

RESOLVED: Recommendation agreed. 

The purpose of the report was to inform the Board about the development and focus of Thurrock’s CASSH bid – phase 2.  The Board were reminded that Thurrock had submitted a successful bid as part of phase 1 with the funding being used to develop 25 purpose-built flats for older people in Derry Avenue, South Ockendon.

Phase 2 of the CASSH fund will focus on specialist affordable housing for adults and young people aged over 18 with Learning Disabilities, Mental Health and Autism. A bid of up to £120m will be submitted before 29th May 2015. A joint working group will be established including representatives of– the CCG, Adults Social Care, Public Health and Housing.

The Board were made aware that the bid would be underpinned by a number of core documents – including the Housing Strategy.  It was agreed that the Autism Strategy would also be referred to and consideration would be given to the inclusion of education, skills and training (CL to provide a link person).

It was felt that if successful, the fund would help to provide a local offer to people with needs that often had to be met out of Borough.

RESOLVED: Recommendation agreed.

To bring the completed bid to the June Board meeting

Next meeting 15th June

Reports within the notes agreed by the Board will be added to the forward plan.