The Chair welcomed members and guests to Thurrock’s Health and Wellbeing Board’s April meeting.

Members were advised that his meeting is in person only. As a committee of the council, the meeting is recorded and streamed live on the council website.

Apologies had been received from Cllr Hartstean, Claire Demmel, Mike Dineen, Michelle Stapleton, Alex Green, Sheila Murphy, Mark Tebbs, Fiona Ryan, Gill Burns and Sharon Stoltz.  Sara Godward was deputising for Sharon Stoltz today and Sharon Hall attended for Gill Burns.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Health and Wellbeing Board meeting held on 28 January 2025.

Members were advised that the Minutes of January’s Board meeting were provided at page 5 of the meeting papers.  The Chair advised that actions that had been agreed at that meeting were now closed, as the Director of Public Health had been provided with a copy of the Thematic Safeguarding Review and Chair of the Adult Safeguarding Partnership had confirmed that sexual abuse would be considered for inclusion in the next annual report.

The minutes of January’s meeting were approved as an accurate 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.

No urgent items were raised in advance of the meeting or at the meeting.

No declarations of interest were provided.

Members were advised that there were no virtual items to be circulated after the meeting.

Members were advised that a covering report was provided at page 15 of the meeting papers, along with a copy of the Supported Housing Strategy, the Supported Housing Review and the Community Equality Impact Assessment.

Dawn Shepherd presented this item.

Since the demise of the supporting people programme, Thurrock Council has developed its supply of supported housing and services in an ad hoc manner, with little consistency or overarching strategic direction. 

Thurrock Council spends just over £8m per year on supported accommodation placements and there are no framework agreements in place. A review was undertaken in 2024, attached as an appendix. 

As a result of the review, a high-level strategy has been developed which promotes new models of housing for identified client groups. The strategy is broken down into 10 “we will” statements (recommendations). An action plan will now be developed.

During discussion, the importance of mapping out needs and joint working, for example through the Accommodation Board, were highlighted. The timescale for the action plan was discussed and it was confirmed that it would be co-produced with service users and partners.  The first draft of the action plan would be available in 3 months.

Regarding the use of the JSNA data in the preparation of the Strategy, it was confirmed that a significant refresh of the JSNA is now being discussed, as it has been some time since it was published.

It was confirmed that planning for the number of children coming through was considered as part of the strategy development.

The need to future proof the strategy in light of Local Government Reorganisation was highlighted, and it was confirmed that regular Supported Accommodation meetings across Essex, Thurrock and Southend are taking place.  Awareness if being raised with district councils in Essex about adults and children’s social care.   The importance of primary care was stressed as an “anchor”.

The Chair requested that an Action Plan come back to Health and Wellbeing Board in 3 months’ time.

Decision: the Health and Wellbeing Board noted the review and its findings, and supported the 10 recommendations.  It was agreed that an action plan would be presented to the Health and Wellbeing Board in 3 months’ time.

Members were advised that a covering report was provided at page 227 of the meeting papers.

Lee Bailey presented the item.  The Strategy first came to Health and Wellbeing Board in August 2023 for sign off. Since then, internal governance was agreed, and a Strategy Implementation Group (SIG) was established.  Main strands of work and projects were agreed. Lee Bailey, Programme Lead appointed in November 2024. A review is ongoing and will come back to Health and Wellbeing Board in due course.

Key highlights of work so far were outlined, as set out in the report, covering community accommodation, out of area placements, rehabilitation, right care right person, perinatal and maternal mental health (now moved to business as usual). A participation group has been established.

There is a strong commitment to work together across Southend, Essex and Thurrock, but there is still work to be done, in order to maximise resources and demonstrate impact.

Mamade Auckburally added that a system delay meeting is held weekly in Thurrock, working closely with partners such as housing.  There are currently no system delays in Thurrock.  There are currently only 6 patients out of area, having specialist interventions in hospital. There is good care in primary care which benefits the system in Thurrock. Mental Health Transfer of Care, supported by partners, has been developed.

A system wide workshop is planned for May and the review report will come back to the Health and Wellbeing Board by September.

During discussion, menopause was raised as a gap in the strategy.  It may emerge as a key area in the review. The impact of COVID on young people’s mental health was discussed, and whether there is a role for the voluntary and community sector at Tier 1 and Tier 2, as part of a prevention agenda.  It was confirmed that prevention is a key part of the strategy.

Although neurodiversity is currently not included in the strategy currently, this will be picked up moving forward.

Decision: The Board noted the update on progress in the delivery of the Southend, Essex and Thurrock Mental Health Strategy and agreed to receive further updates at future meetings.

Members were advised that a covering report was provide at page 237 of the meeting papers. Other papers included were a summary of information about the Programme, draft Terms of Reference for the Greater Essex Connect to Work Programme Board and the Eligibility and Suitability Criteria.

Kevin Garrod presented the item.

The programme is about access to work for those people that need additional support, through supported employment.  There is evidence that supported employment works.  There are variations in cost around the models for supported employment.  There are a group of specified cohorts with barriers to work, and access to meaningful good quality work helps them to avoid poverty and deprivation that comes with negative health outcomes. This programme works with the emerging devolution agenda and likely to become part of the mayoral authority.

Two programmes currently in operation in Essex will be rolled out to areas that do not currently have that provision. A provider from Essex is able to extend their services out to these areas. Priority areas for engagement are Southend, Thurrock, Basildon, Colchester, Tendring, Chelmsford, Harlow/Loughton.

A request has been made for a proposal from Thurrock regarding programme engagement and leadership. 

In Thurrock, within the IPS delivery for mild and moderate mental health it is expected that perhaps 300 people will access the mental health provision and 300 will access the physical and sensory and barriers to work cohorts. DWP expect that 50% of these are supported into work.

During discussion it was confirmed that although the programme is a Greater Essex programme, it is important to understand the needs in Thurrock to ensure what is delivered works for Thurrock.

In terms of Thurrock employers, Freeport would be a major one, alongside other large employers, such as the public sector. It was clarified that the Freeport is not a large employer but will help to stimulate local employment.

High quality employer engagement is key.  Proportionality between the different areas across Greater Essex will need to be determined, following the need. This is likely to see resources move from mid-Essex to South Essex (including Thurrock).

Thurrock Council is progressing a piece of work on supported employment, to be presented to key employers in Thurrock, including Thurrock Council and the NHS. 

Decision: The Board agreed to support the Connect to Work Programme and its delivery plan and noted the contents of the report.

Decision: The Board noted the Greater Essex approach for Connect to Work and Get Britain Working Again Plan – Integrated Health, Work and Skills Plan.

Decision: The Board agreed that the Connect to Work programme would become a member of Thurrock’s Work and Health Programme Board and that a representative from Thurrock’s Work and Health Programme Board would become a member of the Connect to Work Programme Board.

Members were advised that a covering report was provided at page 263 of the meeting papers. Other papers included the Better Care Fund Plan for Thurrock 2025-26 comprising the narrative plan template, the planning template, the capacity and demand template and the 24/25 Quarter 3 report. 

Christopher Smith presented the item.  Better Care Fund plans have been being prepared since 2015. A pooled fund is created, and commissioning takes place jointly from that, to meet shared objectives.   Some of the jointly commissioned services include Local Area Coordination, Integrated Locality Teams and By Your Side. The pooled fund is around £50m and is driven by the Better Care Together Thurrock Strategy.

A review has been recently undertaken; the first phase review was presented to the Board last year.  A line-by-line review is now taking place, and a final report will come to Health and Wellbeing Board later in 2025. 

During discussion it was highlighted that the By Your Side work in A&E to try to turn people around before they get admitted is already showing signs of success since it started last week.

Thurrock Council currently commissions 200 hours of the Bridging Service per month, but due to the expansion of By Your Side, it is expected that in 25/26, we will be able to disinvest in the Bridging Service and reinvest in services to keep people at home.

Decision: The Board signed off the submission of the Better Care Fund plan for 2025/26 and the Quarter 3 report for 2024/25.

The Board were advised that a covering report was provided at page 313 of the agenda pack. Other papers included the Thurrock Healthy Weight Strategy and the Community Equality Impact Assessment.

Sareena Gill-Dosanjh and Karen Balthasar presented the item.

Success of the strategy is defined as when everyone in Thurrock can eat well, be physically active and achieve and maintain a healthy weight. A number of sources were used in the development of the Strategy, included stakeholder engagement sessions. 

Two key areas of focus have been identified: levelling the playing field and reducing inequalities and tackling childhood obesity. Seven key priorities have been identified, across the themes of People and Place. A golden thread of enabling communities runs throughout the Strategy. Partners across the system need to work together to address the issues. Anchor institutions such as Thurrock Council have an important role to play, by leading by example.

The strategy aligns with the Corporate Plan, the Health and Wellbeing Strategy and the Brighter Futures Strategy. A multi-dimensional monitoring system will be developed, alongside a dynamic action plan.  It is proposed that the Health and Wellbeing Board monitors the implementation and monitoring of the Strategy.

During discussion, the ambition to support advice for women with excess weight in pregnancy was confirmed, and it was advised that a partnership approach would be required.

The Daily Mile is being progressed within Thurrock Council as an employer, and hopefully also with partners and other employers in Thurrock.  A workplace health toolkit (originally for SMEs) is already in place and on the council website.  Discussions are ongoing with Organisational Development about implementing this in for Thurrock Council employees.

Promotion of the Strategy was considered to be key. Stakeholders have already been engaged with, but further work will be needed. GPs will be able to put information about the strategy on their websites and the TV screens within surgeries. Emily Lawrence in the Alliance Team can support with this.

It was suggested that links are made with the Early Years Oral Health Programme as there is a focus on healthy foods.  A report on the Early Years Oral Health Programme will be considered by the Health and Wellbeing Board during 25/26.

Decision: The Board approved the Healthy Weight Strategy and agreed to receive annual updates on progress with the implementation of the strategy and the outcomes for Thurrock residents.