Proposed decision
That the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health approve the adoption and implementation of the Infant Feeding Strategy
Reason
The requirement from the Department of Education (DfE) is to co-create and embed an infant feeding strategy which ensures services are tailored to the local communities and there is a coherent and joined-up approach between staff and organisations.
Background
The requirement to develop a co-created Infant feeding strategy has provided opportunity to bring stakeholders together from across the system, to raise awareness of infant feeding and identify where there are gaps in support. The strategy has been made available for a period of eight weeks for public consultation during February – April 2024.
How the proposed decision supports the Council’s Strategy 2022-26
Securing Kent’s Future
The proposed decision aligns with Objective 3 of securing Kent’s Future: Policy choices and scope of Council’s ambitions
Decision type: Key
Decision status: For Determination
Notice of proposed decision first published: 18/06/2024
Decision due: Not before 17th Jul 2024 by Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health
Reason: To allow 28 day notice period required under Executive Decision regulations
Lead member: Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health
Lead director: Dr Anjan Ghosh
Department: Social Care, Health & Wellbeing
Contact: Wendy Jeffreys, Consultant in Public Health Email: wendy.jeffreys@kent.gov.uk or 03000 416310 Email: wendy.jeffreys@kent.gov.uk.
Consultees
Public Consultation
In February 2024 Kent County Council (KCC) launched a public consultation on two co-created strategies to gain a better understanding of whether the strategies were accessible and presented a vision that was agreed on.
Cabinet Committee Consultation
The proposed decision will be discussed at the Health Reform and Public Health Cabinet Committee on 2nd July 2024
Financial implications: To support the delivery of the Family Hub Transformation Programme, Kent County Council (KCC) has received a grant from the Department for Education (DfE) to March 2025 which is to support system transformation including work-force development and enhancement of services.
Legal implications: The council entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department for Education (DfE) which creates obligations to meet specific deadlines and timescales set by the DfE. Access to the associated funding, depending on the type and level of transformation activity progressed, is conditional on compliance with the terms of the MoU and demonstration of progress toward an effective Family Hub Model. The Council will enter into a number of contractual agreements to support delivery in line with Spending the Council’s Money and Public Contract Regulations 2015.
Equalities implications: Equality Implications: An Infant feeding strategy EqIA identified that there were impacts across all the protected characteristics. Suggested mitigations are wide ranging including training in person centred and cultural awareness, guidance on communication and sensory needs to be included in any notes. Data Protection implications: General Data Protection Regulations are part of current service documentation for the contract and there is a Schedule of Processing, Personal Data and Data Subjects confirming who is data controller/ processor.