Agenda item

Report and Slides attached from Kath WynneJones NCA-NHS

Kath Wynne?Jones had sent her apologies. Will Blandamer, Executive Director of Health and Adult Care and Deputy Place Lead (NHS Greater Manchester), attended to support the item.

Will provided a paper and slide deck giving an overview of current planning for neighbourhood working. This included the national policy context, the GM and NHS guidance on neighbourhood working, and how the neighbourhood model sits at the heart of locality planning. Members were reminded of the locality plan and the progress made to date.

The update highlighted two key elements. Firstly, the opportunity to strengthen partnership working at neighbourhood level by bringing together cohorts, assets and services already operating locally. This includes learning from existing partnership forums and recognising the benefits of integrated neighbourhood teams, particularly in reducing unplanned care. It was noted that Bury has one of the lowest rates of hospital admissions, attributed in part to strong neighbourhood working, community health services, social prescribing, and broader partnership approaches.

Secondly, the model of neighbourhood working across Prestwich, Whitefield, Radcliffe, Ramsbottom and the remaining neighbourhood was outlined. This model creates opportunities to connect additional cohorts and address risk earlier, including closer working with housing, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, and police colleagues. Integrated neighbourhood teams, supported by local councillor leadership (including Cllr Smith), were emphasised as a way of driving place?based activity and responding to local priorities rather than operating at overly specialist levels.

Reference was made to the NHS national 10?year plan and its focus on multidisciplinary working, including GPs, paediatricians, educational psychologists and others. The importance of focusing resource and energy where neighbourhood working makes the biggest difference was stressed. A further element highlighted was the Live Well GM programme and the Mayor’s commitment to connecting neighbourhood working with broader prevention and wellbeing ambitions. The alignment between integrated neighbourhood teams and Live Well implementation was seen as particularly important.

Cllr Smith welcomed the update and emphasised the importance of schools being actively involved, noting that neighbourhood working should strengthen integration rather than represent a change to children’s services. Questions were raised about Live Well Centres, including the risk that they could become single hubs rather than supporting all neighbourhoods, and concerns about avoiding a “tick?box” approach to defining what a centre is. Clarification was sought on timing for a Live Well Centre in Whitefield, particularly following a recent visit by the Secretary of State for Education to Bury.

Members expressed enthusiasm for strengthening links with schools and cautioned against duplication with family hubs. It was emphasised that Live Well should not simply be about buildings, but about networks, relationships and connecting people to services. Helen added that work is ongoing to understand local priorities and the services currently available. Members were reassured that a further update would be brought back in June.

Adrian Crook supported the need to bring the item back, including clarity on neighbourhood footprints and the developing model. It was noted that several key elements would need to be returned to in a future report.

It Was Agreed:

• The update be noted.
• Officers to bring back an update in June