Agenda item

To discuss the recommendations set out in section 7 of the report

(Joanna Fathers (Kent Graduate Programme) and Mark Lemon (Strategic Relationship Adviser were in attendance to present the report)

(1)       The Chairman introduced the report which provided an overview of the review of the relationship between the Kent Health and Wellbeing Board and the local health and wellbeing boards.  He made particular reference to the wide ranging consultation with partners and the issues that had arisen including a need for clarity in relation to the roles of the Kent HWB and local health and wellbeing boards particularly in relation to taking forward specific areas of work, the development of a Kent workplan and its relationships to the work plans of local boards.

(2)       Joanna Fathers thanked all those who had contributed to the insight gathering which had shaped the proposals in the report.

(3)       During discussion, the need for a more systematic approach to planning agendas for the Kent Health and Wellbeing Board meetings and greater clarity about local health and wellbeing boards’ role in reviewing services was acknowledged.  It was suggested that as far as practicable, meetings of the chairmen of the local and Kent health and wellbeing boards should take place before or after other scheduled meetings.

(4)       Resolved that:

(a)        An outline work programme for the Health and Wellbeing Board be produced for the start of each year to enable local boards to plan their activity accordingly;

(b)        The means by which local issues can be escalated to the Kent Board be clarified;

(c)        Relevant issues be referred by the Health and Wellbeing Board to local boards with clear expectations regarding further action at a local level;

(d)        Policy support be provided by the Health and Wellbeing Board to the local boards to assist in the development of relevant substructures and work programmes;

(e)        Opportunities for development work for both chairs of the boards, and individual boards themselves, be investigated and made available to local board members;

(f)         Data and information be provided by the Health and Wellbeing Board through its sub-group, the Multi-Agency Data and Information Group;

(g)       The chairmen of local health and wellbeing boards meet with the chairman of the Kent Board every six months.  This meeting to include consideration of the workplan of the Kent Board, and its relationship to the work plans of local Boards;

(h)       Each LHWB sends a representative to every Kent HWB, to update the Kent board on their activities locally, and to take any relevant information from the Kent board back.  This representative would also be responsible for liaising with the Kent Board concerning issues and matters that would benefit from consideration at the Kent Board;

(i)        Proceedings of the Kent Board to be a standing item on all local board meeting agendas with particular reference to issues referred from the Kent Board for local consideration and action;

(j)         All agenda items that came to the Kent Board would be considered as to how local boards could and should be involved in their future progression; 

(k)        All local boards provide an annual report to the Kent Board regarding how they have been progressing with the five outcomes of the Kent Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy, and their engagement with the commissioning plans of their constituent organisations. The report would also describe how issues referred from the Kent Board had been considered and how local implementation of any necessary activity had been supported;

(l)         All local boards develop a work programme for the coming year that relates to:

·         the five outcomes of the Kent Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy

·         the health and wellbeing priorities of the area as identified by the Kent Public Health department

·         the health inequalities within the area and between the area and others in Kent

·         Engagement with the development of commissioning plans of the organisations represented on the board.

(m)       Engagement with the commissioning plans of partner organisations should focus on opportunities to promote integration, especially between health and social care services. Whether the plans offer the best possible approaches to local issues should also be considered.

(n)       All local health and wellbeing boards to have agreed terms fo of reference by March 2016. Proposals for terms of reference, be drafted following discussion at a meeting of chairmen of boards, and be brought to the Kent Health and Wellbeing Board at its meeting in January 2016;

(o)        Local boards review their membership, substructures and associated working groups to ensure they are fit for purpose. Substructures should provide capacity to deliver the activity required to implement the work of the board to deliver the five outcomes of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy and allow proper oversight of commissioning plans. The substructure may include the local Children’s Operational Group(s) and Integrated Commissioning Groups. The responsibilities of groups in a local board’s substructure for reporting to the board on specific outcomes from the Health and Wellbeing Strategy should be clearly defined;

(p)        Relationships between the local boards and other meetings of commissioners and providers be clarified;

(q)        The substructure adopted by the local boards must ensure that the appropriate relationships with service providers within the area are properly represented.

(r)         Appropriate relationships with representatives of other important sectors and organisations to be reflected in the membership of the board or within its substructures. These should include the voluntary and community sector and could include other local stakeholders such as parish councils.

(s)        The Chairman be authorised to follow up issues of concern raised by some stakeholders outside the Board meeting.