Agenda item

The Joint Committee will receive an update on the Board’s work programme, the performance framework and priority indicators.

The South Tees Integration Programme Manager was in attendance to provide the South Tees Health Scrutiny Joint Committee (STHSJC) with an update on the Live Well South Tees Board’s work programme, performance framework and priority indicators.

The South Tees Integration Programme Manager advised that Health and Wellbeing Boards (HWBs) were formal statutory committees of local authorities that provided a forum where political, clinical, professional and community leaders from across the health and care system came together to improve the health and wellbeing of the local population and reduce health inequalities.

Members heard that HWBs provided:

·        a strong focus on establishing a sense of place;

·        instilled a mechanism for joint working and improving the wellbeing of their local population; and

·        set strategic direction to improve health and wellbeing.

The Live Well South Tees Board was unique as it involved the joining of two HWBs (Redcar & Cleveland and Middlesbrough).  It was explained that joint working had enabled the Board to establish a shared vision for the South Tees area.

Members heard that the statutory functions of HWBs included:

·        assessing the health and wellbeing needs of the local population and publishing a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA);

·        publishing a joint local health and wellbeing (HWB) strategy, setting out the priorities for improving the health and wellbeing of its local population and how identified needs would be addressed;

·        oversight of Pharmaceutical Needs Assessments; and

·        sign off of the Better Care Fund, which supported local systems to successfully deliver the integration of health and social care.

It was explained that the Live Well South Tees Board’s HWB Strategy was currently being developed, however, the Board’s vision and aims had been utilised to inform the ICB’s priorities for the Tees Valley.

Members heard that a summary of the work that had been undertaken, from July 2022 to August 2023, was contained in the submitted report and included detailed areas of focus and outcomes from the Board.

It was advised that beyond the quarterly meetings of the Live Well South Tees Board, work was undertaken by a wide range of organisations, partnerships and working groups.

In terms of the submitted report:

·        the table contained at paragraph 3.2 provided details of the Live Well South Tees Board’s proposed emerging work programme for the 2023/24 municipal year; and

·        Section 4 contained information on the Board’s performance framework and priority indicators.

A Member raised a query regarding the reported outcomes of the Live Well South Tees Board. In response, the South Tees Integration Programme Manager advised that there was an infrastructure that sat beneath the Live Well South Tees Board, which ensured the delivery of key pieces of work. The Director of Place Based Delivery explained that although the Board only met on a quarterly basis, the Board provided a platform and an impetus for officers to deliver new ways of working. It was advised, for example, that in terms of Aging Well, joint work had been undertaken to develop a single point of access. That single point of access had ultimately improved health outcomes for patients and had helped sustain hospital services. In terms of the Board’s decision-making responsibilities, the South Tees Integration Programme Manager clarified that the Board agreed the JSNA and the joint HWB Strategy, which provided a strategic framework for work across partner agencies to initiate changes in the delivery of health and wellbeing services across the town.

A Member commented that it would be useful for members of the Live Well South Tees Board to receive information on the tangible outcomes, which had resulted from the JSNA and delivery of the joint HWB Strategy. In terms of the submitted report, it was commented that the areas of focus were critical to the health and wellbeing of the local population, however, it would be beneficial for the outcomes referenced to be delivery focussed, identifying tangible results.

A discussion ensued and the importance of working collaboratively, particularly when developing a shared understanding of the health and wellbeing needs of local communities, was highlighted. It was also commented that working with partners enabled the sharing of local insight and intelligence on wider issues that affect health, such as housing.

AGREED - That the information presented to the South Tees Health Scrutiny Joint Committee be noted.