Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence are noted above.

Members of the Health and Wellbeing Board are asked to consider whether they have an interest in any of the matters on the Agenda, and if so, to formally declare that interest.

There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting.

Questions are invited from members of the public present at the meeting on any matters for which the Board is responsible.

Approximately 30 minutes will be set aside for Public Question Time, if required.

There were no public questions asked at the meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 12^th November 2024 are attached.

It was agreed:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 12^th November 2024 be approved as a correct record.

There were no matters arising.

Verbal update from Jon Hobday, Director of Public Health.

Jon Hobday gave an update on progress since the last meeting, highlighting:

·         The Cost of Living Summit on 4^th November, which discussed distribution of the Household Support Fund, with agreement that the funding should be focussed towards free school meals, food and fuel vouchers and targeting of specific groups.

·         A review of the Equality Action Plan had been undertaken, which outlined the actions required over the next 18 months.

·         Discussions on use of the Household Support Fund Fund, which was to be used to support local organisations to deliver cost of living support.

·         Pension Credit drop-in sessions held at various venues across Bury.

·         Launch of the Work Well programme.

·         Warm Hubs – the Bury Directory had been updated to outline their location and 450 winter well packs had been distributed to older people across Bury. Grants for utility costs had also been provided to the 24 Warm Hubs across Bury.

·         Resolve Poverty – money advice referral tool had been updated.

·         Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) – the CAB had been working with GP Practices.

·         School Uniform – Grants had been provided to voluntary organisations who provided support to families unable to afford uniforms.

·         Support relating to white goods had continued.

The Board discussed the update, particularly the white goods offer, and any potential issues for tenants in social housing, which Jon Hobday agreed to pick up with the Head of Revenues and Benefits. It was noted that there was information on the Council and VCFA webpages about cost of living support, but more work was needed to promote the availability of support, particularly to Councillors, who could spread the message about support available. Jon Hobday agreed to pick this up with the Comms Team for the Council website and Andrea Tomlinson in terms of the Members Newsletter.

Jon Hobday also agreed to speak to the Head of Revenues and Benefits about holding Pension Credit drop-ins at places such as Whitefield, and identifying suitable venues.

It was agreed:

That the update be noted and that Jon Hobday progress the action relating to cost of living support promotion.

Presentation by Tracey Flynn, Service Manager – Business and Investment.

Tracey Flynn, Service Manager, Business and Investment, delivered a presentation on the Work Well Vanguard.

The NHS GM Work Well Vanguard was one of 15 national sites, with the three main objectives being:

·         Objective 1: Design and deliver an early intervention work and health service providing assessment, light-touch holistic support for health-related barriers to employment and a single joined-up view and pathway into services that are available locally to tackle specific individual and cohort needs.

·         Objective 2: Take forward an integrated work and health strategy.

·         Objective 3: Be part of a national learning programme.

The presentation also detailed:

·         An overview of the GM Work Well Partnership Model

·         The Bury Work Well model of referral, onboarding and delivery

·         Bury Works – single access point, and a case study was presented outlining the support given to a recent referral.

·         Building a Bury Work, Skills and Health Ecosystem

·         Performance information

·         Submission of a bid for funding from the Economic Inactivity Trailblazer Test and Learn Pilot which aimed to accelerate local led approaches to tackle economic Inactivity in 25/26.

·         Trailblazer bid – next steps.

The Health and Wellbeing Board welcomed the positive work reported. It was noted that the in terms of work with Children in Care and Care Leavers, work was ongoing with Business Engagement Team to ensure readiness for employment.

Capacity wise, the intention was to have a light touch approach, to intervene early and triage as part of the Single Access Point Model, and signpost people to appropriate support.

Will Blandamer welcomed the approach and outlined the linkages to related work in this area across GM, and suggested that a future update could look at the wider landscape. Jon Hobday advised that in terms of identifying cohorts and how to reach them, work was ongoing with the DWP and Primary Care to target groups and people.

It was agreed:

1.    That the presentation be noted and circulated to all Board Members; and

2.    That Simone Starr and Shelley Caulfield be invited to a future meeting to present an update on their work in this area.

Adrian Crook, Director of Adult Social Services gave an overview of the Better Care Fund Quarterly Report and performance against key objectives for Quarter 2. Retrospective approval was sought for the Quarter 2 reporting template, the deadline for submission to the NHSE Better Care fund team was 30th October 2024.

It was agreed:

1. To note the content of the Quarter 2 reporting submission.
2. That the Better Care Fund 2024/2025 Quarter 2 reporting submission be retrospectively approved and the decision to submit to the national Better Care Fund team for assessment be ratified.

There are no items for consideration under this quadrant.

There are no items for consideration under this quadrant.

Presentation by Jon Hobday, Director of Public Health.

Jon Hobday delivered a presentation which reflected on the items discussed in 2024 across the four quadrants.

The topics discussed reflected the key drivers for reducing inequalities, and the role of the Board was noted as a forum to challenge, support and promote ongoing work.

The presentation also suggested Forward Plan items for 2025 across the four quadrants, and Jon highlighted the importance of using the Outcome Framework to track progress, and this would be brought to the Board at least twice during 2025 to enable a deep dive on challenging areas.

Board Members discussed the presentation, and comments included:

·         The importance of housing on health – if people did not have a secure home this could affect their health, and Jon Hobday agreed to speak to the Homelessness Partnership Forum about looking at this aspect.

·         Will Blandamer suggested that an update on school readiness would be useful during 2025/26.

·         Smoking cessation – Jon Hobday agreed to look at the Bolton approach (Alan Carr).

·         Jeanette Richards suggested that the Outcomes Framework include care leavers as well children in our care.

·         Adrian Crook stressed the importance of the JNSA driving the agenda, and the important roles of the Health and Wellbeing Board and Locality Board in taking the lead on appropriate areas of focus. Will Blandamer noted overlaps in remits, but also noted the important role of the Health & Wellbeing Board, and the need for it not to be swamped by NHS matters, and agreed that a Health and Wellbeing Plan would be worth investigating.

·         Helen Tomlinson highlighted the important contribution of the VCFA to Health and GM Live Well and the wider determinants of population health.

It was agreed that the presentation and Forward Plan items be noted.

Jon Hobday, Director of Public Health to provide a verbal update.

Jon Hobday, Director of Public Health, provided an update from the Greater Manchester Population Health Board.

The Board discussed distribution of funding in the voluntary sector, and Helen Tomlinson advised that work was ongoing on a Memorandum of Understanding with partners and that the incoming Procurement Act references such approaches.

It was agreed:

That the update be noted.

Any other business which by reason of special circumstances the Chair agrees may be considered as a matter of urgency.

There was no urgent business, but it was noted that attendance for the meeting was less than for a Teams meeting.

It was agreed:

That an item be included on the next agenda to review the decision at the September 2024 meeting to alternate between online and in person meetings, taking account of the fact that items requiring a decision needed to be agreed at in person meetings.