The Chair, Andrew Ramwell and Vice Chair, Carol Twist will report on the Healthwatch Action Plan and the progress made on it.
Minutes:
Andrew Ramwell, Chair of Healthwatch Bury and Carol Twist, Vice Chair attended the meeting to introduce themselves and update Members on the work that had been carried out in relation to the establishment of Healthwatch Bury.
Healthwatch was explained as being the new people's champion for health and social care services and will have the following aims:-
- Become an influential and effective organisation that represents local people who use health and social care services.
- Provide communities with a stronger voice to influence and challenge how health and social care services are provided in their area.
- Provide information to help people access and make choices about services.
It was explained that currently Healthwatch was operating in a shadow form until it becomes incorporated as a proper established legal entity by April 2014 at the latest.
During the shadow period the Shadow Healthwatch Board will develop the legal form and governance in order for it to be set up as a non-profit making social enterprise.
The Chair and Vice Chair of the Shadow Board had been elected and approved and working groups had been established with a task and finish approach to support the Board.
It was explained that the organisation was a members led organisation with the board acting on behalf of those members. The membership had been redesigned to include voting and non-voting members which would ensure that all interested parties can be involved.
There was a membership growth plan in place which will allow Healthwatch Bury to engage with hard to reach groups and capture individual voices.
The board had inherited a skeleton staff structure and had recently recruited a new manager. It was also explained that there would be two further members of staff recruited on a part time basis to support the manager.
The board were currently working on finalising the governance structures as well as looking at and establishing working protocols, banking and finance protocols, a business plan and other policies and procedures.
The challenges ahead had also been recognised and these included the continued austerity measures during a time when demand for health and social care was increasing, the ongoing consultations in relation to service reconfiguration, member organisations feeling the pressure and the high expectations of Healthwatch.
It was explained that the next steps were to continue the recruitment drive members and board members, finalise the staffing structure and appoint where necessary, completer the work on outstanding governance areas, transfer to new premises and finally, incorporation - then Healthwatch proper.
Members of the committee were given the opportunity to ask questions and make comments and the following points were raised:-
· Councillor O'Hanlon referred to the members that Healthwatch had inherited and recruited and asked how the hard to reach members would be recruited in the future.
It was explained that specific groups had been contacted and their contacts had been invited to join. There was also ongoing work in relation to the recruitment of an engagement officer who would look at driving up the numbers of members.
· Councillor Walker asked how many members there were to date.
It was reported that there were currently 28 organisations and then individuals on top of that.
It was agreed:
1. That the contents of the presentation be noted.
2. That Andrew and Carol be thanked for their attendance at the meeting.