Health and Wellbeing Board

Minutes of 29 January 2025 meeting

 

Membership attendance at the meeting:

 

·       Cllr M Hooper * (Chair) - In attendance

·       Cllr E Rigby – In attendance

·       (Interim) Director of Public Health* (Sharon Stoltz) – In attendance

·       (Interim) Executive Director of Adults and Health * (Robert Persey) – In attendance

·       Executive Director of Children’s Services * / Thurrock Local Safeguarding Children’s Partnership or their senior representative (Sheila Murphy) - Apologies

·       NHS Thurrock Alliance Deputy Director, MSE ICP ** (Margaret Allen) – In attendance

·       Chief Operating Officer HealthWatch Thurrock * (Kim James) - Apologies

 

·       Cllr J Kent – In attendance

·       Cllr V Hartstean – In attendance

·       NHS Thurrock Alliance Deputy Director (Margaret Allen) – In attendance

·       Executive Director, Place (Claire Demmel) - Apologies

·       Director level representation of Thurrock, North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT) (Gill Burns) - Apologies

·       Chair of the Adult Safeguarding Partnership or their senior representative (Jim Nicholson) – In attendance

·       Executive Director of Community Services and Partnerships, Essex Partnership University Trust (EPUT) (Alex Green) - Apologies

·       Chief Officer Housing, Economic Development and Skills and Regeneration (Gloria Ighodaro) – In attendance

·       Assistant Director for Counter Fraud and Community Safety (Michael Dineen)

·       Partnership Director, Thurrock Council, EPUT and NELFT (Rita Thakaria)

·       Chief Executive Thurrock CVS (Mark Tebbs) – In attendance

·       Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (Michelle Stapleton – Acting Managing Director – Care Group 4; Fiona Ryan – Action Managing Director Care Group 1 and Hannah Coffey, Acting Chief Executive). - Apologies

·       Essex Police (Chief Superintendent Scott Egerton / Chief Constable BJ Barrington) - Apologies

 

Agenda Item 1. Welcome and Introduction

 

1. The Chair welcomed members and guests to Thurrock’s Health and Wellbeing Board’s 3rd meeting of the Municipal Year.  Introductions were made.

 

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

 

Apologies

 

3. Apologies were received from Kim James in advance of the meeting.

 

Agenda item 2.  Minutes

 

4. Members were advised that the Minutes of November’s Board meeting were provided at page 5 of the meeting papers.  The minutes of November’s meeting were approved as an accurate record.

 

Agenda item 3.  Urgent items

 

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

 

Agenda Item 4.  Declarations of interest

 

6. No declarations of interests were provided.

 

Agenda Item 5.  Virtual Items for consideration

 

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

 

Item 6.  Integrated Commissioning Strategy

 

8. Members were advised that a covering report was provided at page 13 of the meeting papers, along with a copy of the Integrated Commissioning Strategy.

 

9. Ceri Armstrong presented this item.  Key points included:

·       In 2024, Health and Care partnership Better Care Together Thurrock published its Integrated Care Strategy – The Case for Further Change. The strategy sets out the vision for health and care – focusing on a system that is place-based, prevents, reduces, and delays the need for formal support and delivers integrated solutions that are bespoke to the individual. The delivery of the strategy is overseen by Thurrock Integrated Care Alliance – a committee of the Integrated Care Board.

·       The Case for Further Change has a number of themed chapters. Chapter 10 covers integrated commissioning – describing how the commissioning landscape will change in line with the vision and ambitions for the health and care system

·       In response to this, we have produced a strategy based on the principles of Human Learning Systems. This represents a significant departure from our usual ways of working. What this means in practice is:

 

·       Work has already begun on the development of the underpinning plans – with strategic plans for domiciliary care, informal carers and specialist accommodation already developed. Work on the development of an Autism Strategy as part of a Neurodiversity Strategy is also underway and being led by Thurrock’s User-Led Coalition. There will be some interdependencies between strategies and plans, and these will be identified.

·       Through work currently taking place to review the Better Care Fund, further opportunities for commissioning are likely to be identified – including opportunities to commission in collaboration with partners. Work is also taking place to test how communities can have greater involvement in the identification of priorities used to identify and deliver commissioning activity. This will help to further develop the approach to commissioning across both health and social care.

 

10. During discussions the following points were made:

·       NHSE and Dept for Health and Social Care are going to issue a Strategic Commissioning Framework in April. 

·       The framework was welcomed by members.  Reassurance was provided that the Integrated Commissioning Strategy will support market development, recognising that the market is fragile.  The purpose of providing a longer contracting period will help to stabilise the market and provide reassurance to providers by committing to longer term funding.

·       Some initial feedback from providers has welcomed the intentions of the Strategy, which will also support Micro-Enterprises and smaller VCS organisations.

·       As part of recognising blended roles and the benefits of integrated working it was acknowledged that the capacity of contractors to achieve outcomes will need to be assured.  Members were reassured that we already monitor the quality-of-care that is provided by external contractors, and that this will continue and include lessons learned from contractors, what has worked well and areas for improvement.

·       It was recognised that the new way of working can be resource intensive and that some organisations may welcome support with upskilling staff.

·       Members welcomed a further update on the impact of the Strategy at a future meeting.

 

Decision.  Board membersendorsed Thurrock Integrated Commissioning Strategy.

 

Agenda Item 7.  Sport England Place Expansion 

 

11. Members were advised that a covering report is provided at page 61 of the meeting papers. 

 

12. Jason Fergus introduced this item and welcomed the relationship between Sport England and Thurrock.  Dr William Bird also welcomed working with Active Essex to support community and place-based work.  Key points included:

·       To increase physical activity, it is important to ensure residents feel safe.

·       We know that inactivity amongst children can shape the brain for the rest of their lives.  Recent research acknowledges the adverse impact of physical inactivity and the benefits of engaging with physical activity for both the individual and the local community.

·       The connection to other people is a key element of health and wellbeing and engaging in physical activity helps to reduce social isolation.

 

13. Members were provided advised that Sport England’s commitment comprises £250m over the next 5 years to expand place partnerships in up to 80 additional places via the network of people in our existing LDPs and Active Partnerships, alongside a universal offer that all places can benefit from and deepening in the existing pilot areas.

 

14. During discussions the following points were made:

·       Members supported the proposals and the connection between physical and mental wellbeing as well as being linked to other areas such as dietary advice.

·       It was suggested the programme may benefit by a communication plan that is shared across the system and raises its profile across Thurrock.  Members were reassured that the Council’s Communication Team is actively engaged and further communication activity is being developed.

·       This programme links to the work being considered as part of the Children’s Obesity Task and Finish Group reporting to the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee. 

·       The Chief Medical Officer identified that we achieve the greatest impact on the population by encouraging individuals who are not engaged in any form of physical activity to encourage behaviour change for individuals.  It was recognised that this will involve building trust for some residents, which is likely to take time.

·       The programme is targeted at three areas across Thurrock.  We know that physical inactivity across the whole of Thurrock can be improved across the borough.  Members were reassured that there has been a ripple effect in other areas benefiting people from a wider geographical area.

·       It is important to encourage people to engage in physical activity as part of their daily lives, including for example, active travel.

·       Thurrock Alliance and ICB fully support and endorse this new initiative.  The Alliance is working with impulse leisure to ensure that exercise on referral schemes continue in future.

·       Members were reassured that schools will be actively engaged in the programme through engagement of head teachers.

·       Members acknowledged that the programme needs to deliver real results for the residents of Thurrock. 

 

Members approved:

 

• The submission of a full award proposal to Sport England by Active Essex as the lead applicant for the Place Partnership programme in Thurrock. This will be developed alongside, and submitted with the endorsement of, key system partners identified within the report.

 

• The identified thematic priority areas for increasing physical activity across the Borough.

 

Agenda Item 8.  Adults Safeguarding Board Annual Report

 

15. Members were advised that a covering report along with a copy of the annual report was provided at page 95 of the meeting papers.

 

16. Jim Nicolson presented this item.  Key points included:

·       TSAB Risk register - The Board reviewed this in 2023/24. The register is a dynamic document and is therefore monitored throughout the year to ensure the Board is sighted on and properly managing strategic multi agency safeguarding risks rather than single organisation risks.

·       Assurance - Seeking assurance around safeguarding practice in partner agencies has been a theme running through all Board meetings this year, and offering support and receiving regular updates from:

·       The Board have been working to develop an Assurance and Performance Framework detailing how the Board will seek assurance on safeguarding practice across the partnership.

·       Right Care Right Person - This is a new police, health and social care initiative. The Board sought assurance that there were multi agency plans in place and that implementation is being monitored. This will continue to be monitored into 2024/25.

·       Suicide prevention - This year the TSAB have further developed links with the Suicide Prevention Oversight Group, becoming members and receiving updates on progress and looking for opportunities for joined up working.

·       Making Safeguarding Personal (MSP) - The Board discussed data around MSP and how this can be evidenced. The Board are looking at Healthwatch to undertake a piece of work to gain feedback around safeguarding, to see what’s going well and anything we can improve on.

·       Modern slavery - Following reports nationally around cases of modern slavery identified in care homes, the Board sought clarity around what processes are in place in Thurrock to prevent and identify if this is happening in terms of staff training and awareness and compliance with safer recruitment.

 

17. During discussions the following points were made:

·       The table of concerns on page 106 of the papers include a category that reflects organisational concerns.  Members were advised that this is likely to focus around safeguarding within organisations providing care. 

·       The Director of Public Health welcomed an opportunity to become a member of the Thurrock Adult Safeguarding Board.

·       Page 127 recommendation 5 could not be accessed.  The DPH requested that the recommendation is sent to her so that it can be reviewed to determine if any public health action is required.

Action Jim Nicholson

 

·       Members welcomed the next annual report considering whether financial abuse is increasing across the borough. The Chair has been considering the reporting of sexual abuse and welcomed its inclusion in next year’s report.

Action Jim Nicholson

Members noted the contents of the report.

 

Agenda Item 9.  Highlight report agreed at November Health and Wellbeing Board

 

18. Members were advised that three short reports were provided at page 149 of the meeting papers.

 

19. Sharon Stoltz introduced the Work and Health Progress Report.  The terms of reference for the Work and Health programme board that is being established was provided to members.  Feedback was sought from members on the Terms of Reference and in particular, its membership.  During discussions the following points were made:
    • There is merit in considering the economic development across Thurrock including FreePorts.    Members were reassured that this work will link with emerging economic opportunities as well as the Local Government Reorganisation arrangements. 
    • Freeport will create jobs and we need to ensure we support residents to be job ready, particularly residents that are economically inactive. 
    • The role of health partners and how they support residents to engage in employment activities.  Consideration may be provided to how GPs address the fit note issue.

 

20. Gloria Ighodaro introduced the Housing update.  Key points included:

·       The Housing Strategy and Homeless Prevention and Rough Sleeping Strategy (due to be considered by Cabinet in March).  The report captures how housing impacts on health and wellbeing across all six Health and Wellbeing Strategy domains.  The importance of partnership working was acknowledged and a whole system approach is adopted when considering the impact of housing on health and wellbeing.

 

21. During discussions the following points were made:

·       Members were advised that while there is not a local plan in place, housing development across the borough continues.  Further work, however, is being undertaken.

·       The council is making clear that it is open for business and is considering different ways to increasing support for housing, including different models of housing, across the borough.

·       It is important to ensure that the Housing Strategy recognises whole system approach.

 

22. Mike Dineen introduced the Air Quality and Domain 6 report.  Key points included:

Thurrock has signed up to the Essex wide Air Quality Strategy.  Thurrock will continue to develop its own air quality strategy which is currently being developed by an air quality officer with the expectation that a draft air quality strategy will be presented to the Board over the coming months.

 

23. During discussions members welcomed the air quality strategy being developed in partnership with Essex, given the adverse impact of poor air quality on people’s health, in particular children.

 

24. The Chair welcomed a future report being presented to the Board.

 

The Board noted and commented upon the updates.

 

Meeting closed 3.43pm