Agenda item

The Chairman introduced the first substantive item on the agenda.

The Board received a presentation from Dr Tamara Djuretic, Director for Public Health on the achievements, challenges, next steps and future aims of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

Under Objective 1 of the Strategy, Improving outcomes for babies, young children and their families – the Board noted the challenges around childhood vaccination coverage. Selina Rodrigues, Head of Healthwatch spoke about the need to emphasise the reasons for vaccination as a result of feedback from families, in order to help increase coverage.

The Board considered the proposed priorities and business as usual aims on p.55 of the Agenda.

In relation to immunisation, Dr Djuretic informed the Board about the multi-facetted partnership approach to engage with specific communities to form a clearer picture and improve immunisation uptake.

Dawn Wakeling, Strategic Director for Adults, Communities and Health informed the Board about the outreach work undertaken by Communities Together Network on the issues that are preventing immunisation uptake and the actions that can be taken to address these issues.

Dr Clare Stephens, Barnet CCG suggested that schools can be used as a practical place and platform for parent participation to help improve immunisation uptake.

The Board noted the launch of the oral health campaign for conception and one year olds. Ms Rodrigues stated that feedback has shown a lack of understanding among parents on the appointment process, costs of dental care appointments and oral health services for children.

The Strategic Director for Children and Young People, Chris Munday highlighted the importance of continuing to improve outcomes for children and young people, including Looked After Children and Children In Need.

Board Members noted the ongoing work of the BOOST programme to support people looking for work to improve their health and wellbeing and help shape the offer from Job Centre Plus.

Ms Wakeling informed the Board about ‘Joining Old and Young’, an intergenerational initiative which presents a great opportunity for collaborative partnership working to tackle social isolation and bring people together. The Board agreed to hold a focused discussion on social isolation at a future meeting. (Action: Forward Work Programme)

The Chair of the Barnet Safeguarding Children’s Partnership, Andrew Fraser noted that going forward, a continuous focus is needed in respect of the items listed under business as usual on p.55.

The Board agreed the priorities of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy as follows, with changes in bold: 

Priorities:

– Mental health and wellbeing - Lifecourse approach

– Healthy Weight - Health in All Policies Approach

– Health and Care Integration – Place based approach (tackling unhealthy behaviour and embedding prevention in CHINs)

–Improving Children’s outcomes

Areas for Continued Improvements:

– Immunisation and Screening

– Sexual Health

– Tuberculosis

– Tobacco control

The Chairman thanked the Board for the discussion. Dr Djuretic noted further discussion will be held based on the agreements of the Board at the Joint Commissioning Executive Group meetings and updates will be reported back to the Board at a future meeting. (Action: Forward Work Programme)

It was RESOLVED:

1.    That the Health and Wellbeing Board noted the achievements of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy implementation over the last three years and agreed the high level priorities for 2018/19 and 2019/20.

2.    That the Health and Wellbeing Board delegated responsibility to Senior Officers across partnership to develop specific objectives and delivery plans under the agreed priorities and update the Board on progress at the next meeting.