Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from A. Blair, R. Nightingale, Councillor V. Jones and K. Waring.

Minutes of the meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board held on Thursday, 8 August 2024 as circulated, to be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board held on 8 August 2024, as circulated, be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

Unless already entered in the Council’s Register of Members’ interests, members are required where a matter arises at a meeting;

a.    Which directly relates to Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (‘DPI’) as set out in Appendix B, Table 1 of the Code of Conduct, to disclose the interest, not participate in any discussion or vote and not to remain in room. Where members have a DPI or if the matter concerns an executive function and is being considered by a Cabinet Member with a DPI they must notify the Monitoring Officer and arrange for somebody else to deal with the matter.

b.    Which directly relates to the financial interest or well being of a Other Registrable Interest as set out in Appendix B, Table 2 of the Code of Conduct to disclose the interest and only speak on the matter if members of the public are also allowed to speak at the meeting but otherwise must not take part in any discussion or vote on the matter and must not remain the room.

c.    Which directly relates to their financial interest or well-being (and is not DPI) or the financial well being of a relative or close associate, to declare the interest and members may only speak on the matter if members of the public are also allowed to speak. Otherwise, the member must not take part in discussion or vote on the matter and must leave the room.

d.    Which affects the financial well-being of the member, a relative or close associate or a body included under the Other Registrable Interests column in Table 2, to disclose the interest and apply the test set out at paragraph 9 of Appendix B before deciding whether they may remain in the meeting.

e.    Where Members have or a Cabinet Member has an Other Registerable Interest or Non Registerable Interest in a matter being considered in exercise of their executive function, they must notify the Monitoring Officer and arrange for somebody else to deal with it.

NB Any member needing clarification must contact monitoringofficer@northumberland.gov.uk. Members are referred to the Code of Conduct which contains the matters above in full. Please refer to the guidance on disclosures at the rear of this agenda letter

Councillor M. Purvis declared an interest in item no. 6 on the agenda (Northumberland Children and Young People’s Service) as he worked for the organisation.

Sexual Health Strategy

This report presents a summary of the new Northumberland Sexual Health Strategy (2024 – 2029).

Sexual Health Strategy

The Chair introduced the report which presented a summary of the new Northumberland Sexual Health Strategy (2024 – 2029).  (A copy of the report and powerpoint slides have been filed with the signed minutes).

J. Liddell, Senior Public Health Manager drew members’ attention to the key points of the report and gave a powerpoint presentation on the strategy.  Key information included:

·       The Northumberland Sexual Health Service was delivered by Northumbria NHS Trust and the current contract started in April 2023.

·       The Sexual Health Service delivered services including, contraception, STI testing and treatment, HIV specialist treatment, psychosexual counselling, pregnancy testing and advice, training for partners and online and digital interventions.

·       The Northumberland Sexual Health Needs Assessment 2021 identified the need to develop a sexual health strategy.

·       The Sexual Health Strategy reflected the collaborative efforts and achievements already made within the system and sets out our ambitions for a life course approach to good sexual health for the residents of Northumberland.

·       The strategy had been developed in partnership with local organisations, stakeholders, services and residents.

·       The burden of sexual ill health was not equally distributed within the population and examples of this were given.

·       Sexual health, as defined by the World Health Organisation¹, was a state of physical, emotional, mental, and social wellbeing in relation to sexuality.

·       The strategy reflected the collaborative efforts and achievements already made within the system and sets out the ambitions for a life course approach to good sexual health.

·       The strategy detailed the strategic framework and the structures being put in place that would help deliver it.

·       An aim was to help residents to feel empowered, supported and encouraged to look after their own sexual and reproductive health and wellbeing.

·       The strategy priorities had been identified in collaboration with key stakeholders, community feedback, the 2021/22 Sexual Health Needs Assessment, and latest evidence and data for Northumberland.  The four priorities of the strategy were:

·Priority 1: Teenage pregnancy and young people.

·Priority 2: Education across the life course.

·Priority 3: Reducing STIs & HIV prevention.

·Priority 4: Contraception and reproductive health.

·     To ensure the strategy was making a difference the targets had been set so that:

·Services were accessible to all.

·Up to date and appropriate messaging and information was widely available.

·A multi-agency response to the spread and harms of STIs and HIV.

·Easy to access contraception and advice.

·     To measure these targets the following would be monitored, and it was hoped that there would be:

· Decreased prevalence and harms of sexually transmitted infections, especially among young people. 

· Increased chlamydia detection and treatment for females aged 15 to 24 years.

· Reduced rates of late-stage HIV diagnosis.

· Reduced rates of under 18 pregnancies.

· Reduced rates of abortions among under 25s.

· Increase numbers of people accessing Long-Acting Reversible Contraception.

·         The next steps included developing an action plan, establishing an Expert Group, and reporting annually to the Health and Wellbeing Board on progress made with the strategy.

Following the presentation a number of points were made  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

To receive the annual report of the Principal Social Worker (Adults)from January2023 to December 2023.

Councillor W. Pattison, Cabinet Member for Caring for Adults introduced the annual report of the Principal Social Worker (Adults) from January 2023 to December 2023.  (A copy of the report and powerpoint slides have been filed with the signed minutes).

T. Horseman, Principal Social Worker (PSW) for Northumberland Adults and K. Martin, Director of Assessment and Safeguarding provided a presentation on the first annual report which provided a strategic overview of activity, achievements, and areas for further development across social work in Adult Social Care in Northumberland.  Key information included:

·       PSWs were now a statutory requirement.

·       As the PSW, T. Horseman was very proud and privileged to lead the social work staff in Northumberland.

·       The report outlined the main initiatives that underpinned the great social work practice happening across the teams.

·       The report focused on the three key priority areas within the PSW role:

·  Quality and Practice

·  PSW Leadership and Learning

·  Workforce Planning

·       Throughout the past year some significant new initiatives had been designed to continue to improve the support social work staff give to residents in Northumberland and to the staff themselves.  These included a new People’s Advisory Panel for co-production, Team Manager quality workshops and how to work in a more strengths-based way.

·       The Adult Social Work Academy had been a significant development for social work practice in Northumberland.  It was one of only a few adult social work academies nationally.  It provided a high quality learning environment which promoted excellent social work practice.

·       The Academy was now leading on all induction programmes for new staff.

·       The benefits of investing in new qualified social workers was clearly evidenced in the audits carried out. 

·       The Academy wanted to nurture, protect, support, and help develop the newly qualified social workers confidence.  While capping their caseloads for them to be supported by three team managers.

·       An audit framework had been developed to provide a clear structure around auditing case files. 

·       There were a range of audits carried out within the internal assurance visits.

·       It was hoped that staff felt comfortable with audits and for it to become an integral part of their practice.  Also, for staff to learn and develop from audit feedback.

·       The People’s Advisory Panel had been established and held its first meeting in November 2023.  It was chaired by Healthwatch and currently had six resident advisors who were people with lived experience or informal carers.

·       The Panel had developed a forward plan of adult social care priorities to be discussed, including direct payments, access to support and paid carers.

·       The Panel had also helped to re-design the carers assessment training and some members now co-facilitated the training.

·       Looking forward to the next year and future developments included:

·  Working on the Advanced Practitioner Role

·  Case Reflection Tool

·  Recruitment plan for experienced social workers

Members welcomed the presentation, and made a number of comments including-

·       It was noted that both recruiting and retaining excellent staff was essential to the organisation. 

·       The NHS carried out recruitment drives to capture those leaving  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

To receive a presentation which updates Members on the work of the service.

The Vice-Chair welcomed M. Bouhleli and K. Paul, Community Clinical Managers to the meeting to update Members on the work of the service.  (A copy of the powerpoint slides have been filed with the signed minutes).

Key information from the presentation included:

·       The Children and Young People’s Service provided a single service to all children and young people aged 0-18 years living in Northumberland who presented with mental health difficulties. This included children and young people who may have learning difficulties and those living in a range of difficult and challenging circumstances.

·       A diagram to show where the service sat within the system.

·       CNTW were commissioned to provide the ‘getting more help’ section of the I-Thrive model. The service worked closely with partnership agencies to ensure a child’s needs were met by the most appropriate service.  Operating in line with the no wrong door model though a central access point. There were three separate teams which worked collaboratively.

·       The aims and objectives were:

·  •Assessment, formulation, diagnosis on a range of moderate to severe mental health presentations. 

·  Evidence based and goal orientated specialist interventions which firmly placed the needs of children, young people, their families and carers at the centre of care and were delivered alongside partner organisation where appropriate.

·  •Care and treatment were delivered within a multi-disciplinary team.

·  •A comprehensive transition support plan for those young people who were receiving treatment within Specialist CAMHS within the year approaching their 18th birthday.

·  •Mental health training, consultation, support and advice.

·  •Interface with partner agencies.

·       The percentages of referrals and demands on the service resulting in:

·  an impact on workforce.

·  recruitment challenges.

·  changing presentations of CYP and the increasing complexity being seen.

·  services stepping down.

·  risk thresholds.

·  not receiving correct information at point of referral for neurodevelopmental (ND) pathway.

·       The interface with other services.

·       The achievements being made by the service including:

·  Four week wait pilot for NHSE.

·  Quick Access to specialist consultation

·  Maintaining low wait times across pathways.

·  Skilling up the workforce to meet the ever-changing demands.

·       The challenges being faced by the service, including:

·  huge increase in referrals

·  need of CYP and more complex high risk.

·  number of appointments missed which impact on initial waits.

·  Managing parent/carer expectations.

·       Next Steps for the services, including:

·  A relaunch including a name change to say exactly what the service catered for.

·  Criteria for neurodevelopmental assessment pathway

Members welcomed the presentation, and made a number of comments including:

·       A commendation of the excellent staff and services carried out by everyone, often in difficult circumstances.

·       Members welcomed the honest and pragmatic approach being taken going forward.

·       An acknowledgement that the service could not do it alone and a more strategic approach was needed to ensure the needs of children and young people were met by the most appropriate service at the right time.

·       An invite to come and present this presentation at Primary Care.

·       There was a huge increase in referrals but a drop in those accepted.  It was noted that the way in which referrals  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

To note/discuss details of forthcoming agenda items at future meetings; the latest version is enclosed.

The Committee reviewed its forward plan for the 2024/25 council year (a copy of which has been filed with the signed minutes).

G. O’Neil advised of the following changes to the Forward Plan:

·       The Health Protection Assurance report to be programmed for consideration at the January 2025 meeting.

·       A request for a report on Ageing Population and hospital pressures at a future meeting. 

RESOLVED that the Forward Plan be noted.

The next meeting will beheld on Thursday, 14 November2024 at 10.00 a.m.

RESOLVED the next meeting will be held on Thursday, 14 November 2024 at 10.00 a.m.