Hampshire County Council Health and Wellbeing Board Meeting

Apologies were received from Jason Avery, Donna Jones, Terry Norton, Graham Allen, Ron Shields and Sam Burrows.

Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter considered at the meeting they must declare that interest at the time of the relevant debate and, having regard to the circumstances described in Part 3, Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members' Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code. Furthermore Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Personal interest in a matter being considered at the meeting they considered whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 5 of the Code, considered whether it was appropriate to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.

The minutes of the meeting held on 2 March were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

A deputation was received from Mrs Teresa Skelton regarding Agenda Item 7 – the Hampshire Mental Wellbeing Strategy and Suicide Prevention Plan. Mrs Skelton highlighted sections of the report and spoke to these.

The Chairman noted that she had recently signed off the 22/23 Better Care Fund (BCF) outturn position for Health and Social Care for the pooled funding arrangement of £155.6million and that a short summary of what it contained would be included with the notes of this meeting. The Chairman noted that the 2023/24 BCF submission would be a 2-year plan which was due to be submitted to the National team later this month, by the 28 June and that, after she had signed it off, a summary would be circulated to the Board.

Following the Place Assembly in March, which focused upon older adults and aging well, Members received a short update of the topics which were covered.

The Chairman reminded Members to feedback any comments on the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB) Forward Plan, which had been circulated to all Members, directly to the ICB as had been set out within the email.

Members noted that the Health and Wellbeing Board Annual Report was expected to be brought to the October 2023 Board meeting. The Chairman encouraged Members to support the development of the report throughout the drafting process, working with the Board Manager, Victoria Brown. Furthermore, it was noted that the current Health and Wellbeing Board Strategy was due to end in December 2024 and that planning for the new strategy would commence throughout 2024.

The Board receieved the report of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service setting out their recently updated Community Safety Plan.

It was also noted that the Fire and Rescue Service were due to enter into a planning phase for their Safety Plan 2025-2030 and that this could align with planning for the new Health and Wellbeing Board Strategy and the new Public Health Strategy which each had a similar timescale.

RESOLVED:

That the Health and Wellbeing Board:

1. Notes the priorities within the Community Safety Plan and the information contained within the attached documents and slides.

2. Engages with the Community Risk Management Plan process, share experiences and provide relevant feedback to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service as outlined within the slide pack.

The Board received the report of the Director of Public Health setting out the Hampshire Mental Wellbeing Strategy and Suicide Prevention Plan.

The Board were grateful to receive a short introduction to the item from Angela Forster, a member of the Voices collection of People with Living Experience of Suicide, and who runs the charity Sasha’s Project. Angela spoke regarding her daughter, Sasha, who had died by suicide and about the inspirational work undertaken by Sasha’s Project in supporting those affected by suicide.

Throughout the item, there was discussion on the importance of talking,  holding difficult conversations and the significance of asking the question, ‘Are you ok?’. A suggestion was made to develop a shared language guide/piece of e-learning/support module aimed at staff and employees and which could be used by all organisations and Board partners enabling a collective approach to informing and supporting staff on the topic of suicide. Board Members were very supportive of this suggestion.

RESOLVED:

That the Health and Wellbeing Board:

1. Notes the priorities within the Hampshire Mental Wellbeing Strategy (2023-28) and key mechanisms for delivery.

2. Notes the areas for action within the Hampshire Suicide Prevention Plan and key mechanisms for delivery.

The Board received a report setting out progress and developments with the Dying Well theme of the Health and Wellbeing Board Strategy.

It was noted that the Palliative and End of Life Care (PEOLC) Strategy draft document was due for publication in September 2023 and that this timeline would align with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board Forward Plan. Additional ongoing work included the development of a PEOLC data dashboard, the implementation of PEOLC Single Point of Contacts for the ICS and the launch of the Death and Bereavement Campaign on Autumn 2023. Board Members were encouraged to help in sharing the launch information for this campaign within their respective organisations and sectors as it becomes available.

In response to Members’ questions, it was noted that:

·         Supporting people at home, as opposed to hospice care, was a priority.

·         Identifying vulnerable groups and being proactive in ensuring that they are engaged in conversation about dying well was extremely important.

RESOLVED:

That the Health and Wellbeing Board:

1. Notes the progress of the Dying Well partnership working over the last year.

2. Acknowledges and support the plans to continue working together on the programmes of work outlined.

RESOLVED:

The Board received and noted the Forward Plan.