Agenda item

Roger Gough (Cabinet Member for Education and Health Reform, Kent County Council) and Karen Cook (Policy and Relationships Adviser (Health), Kent County Council) were in attendance for this item.

(1)       The Chairman welcomed the guests to the Committee. Mr Gough began by highlighting the three strands of 2015/16 Annual Report. The first was the statutory responsibilities of the board including the production of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) and Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy (JHWS). In 2015/16 both core documents were reviewed. An event was held in September 2015 to revise the JSNA to enable it to provide better support to Commissioners when making commissioning decisions; a more forward looking JSNA Plus was being developed. A mid-term review of the current JWHS was also held; work was underway to see how the new strategy could align with the Sustainability and Transformation Plan.

(2)       Mr Gough stated that the second strand of the Annual Report was the major topics considered by the Board including the Kent & Medway Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat to reduce number of detentions under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983;  Learning Disability – Joint Health and Social Care Self-Assessment Framework and update on Transforming Care (Winterbourne);  Emotional Wellbeing Strategy for Children, Young People and Adults which had articulated a new family focused model of care. The Board also reviewed the five outcomes set out in the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy: best start in life; prevention; people with long term conditions; people with mental health issues and people with dementia.

(3)       Mr Gough noted that the third strand of the Annual Report was the development of the Kent and Medway STP. The Board had been involved early on in the process and had had discussions in open and closed session. He reported that one of the strengths of the Kent and Medway STP was strong clinical engagement. There were a number of areas which fed into the Board through the STP such as workforce and estates. He explained that the STP also raised questions regarding the role of the Board going forward particularly how the Board fits into the governance process and the purpose of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy if the Kent & Medway STP was strong.

(4)       Members enquired about HOSC’s role with the STP and the impact of the STP on surrounding areas. Mr Gough explained that a further submission by the Kent & Medway STP was due on 21 October. He noted that an earlier version of the STP was submitted in the summer and reviewed by Simon Stevens (Chief Executive, NHS England) and Jim Mackey (Chief Executive, NHS Improvement) and there had been a positive discussion. He stated that there was a considerable amount of work to do in Kent and Medway particularly in creating a financially sustainable system to reflect the Five Year Forward View without new legislation and within a short time frame. He expected the CCGs to take further information about the STP to their Governing Bodies after the submission on 21 October. He reported that the Kent & Medway STP recognised the big dependencies towards London and the A21 corridor. He stated that it was important for the STP to be brought to the HOSC and the Health and Wellbeing Board.  Mr Inett noted that Healthwatch Kent was working with the STP Engagement Lead for Kent and Medway; he highlighted that underneath the Kent & Medway wide STP, local plans were being developed such as the strategy for East Kent.

(5)       A number of comments were made about the future of local Health and Wellbeing Boards and the inclusion of growth areas in the STP. Mr Gough stated that there was uncertainty about local Health and Wellbeing Boards going forward. He noted that as part of the STP, areas of growth such as Ebbsfleet which had gained Healthy New Towns status had been separated out as part of the Plan. He noted that health was an important part of growth infrastructure and investment.

(6)       RESOLVED that the Kent Health and Wellbeing Annual Report 2015/16 be noted.