The Health and Wellbeing Board met on Thursday 25 January 2024 to discuss a range of public health matters, including safeguarding children, sexual and reproductive health, and substance use support. Key decisions included the approval of the City & Hackney Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy and its associated action plan, and the delegation of approval for Better Care Fund plans.

City & Hackney Safeguarding Children Partnership Annual Report 2022/23

Rory McCallum, Senior Professional Advisor for Children's Social Care, presented the annual report of the City & Hackney Safeguarding Children Partnership (CHSCP). The report detailed the partnership's governance, progress against priorities, and lessons learned. It highlighted that while staff reported feeling supported, they were working under pressure. The report also noted a reduction in Child Protection Plans and Looked After Children, potentially due to earlier interventions. Questions were raised about the absence of data on school exclusions and their impact, and the relationship between policing and safeguarding. It was confirmed that school exclusions are viewed as a systems-wide issue and are being addressed.

Annual Director of Public Health Report 2023/24

Danny Turton, Public Health Specialty Registrar, presented the Director of Public Health's annual report, which focused on sexual and reproductive health (SRH), with a particular emphasis on those under 30. The report highlighted Hackney's high rate of sexually transmitted infection (STI) diagnoses and the significant decrease in STI testing following the COVID-19 pandemic. Five recommendations were made: to recommit to co-production and community involvement, improve service accessibility for young people, increase awareness of available services, enhance collaboration between stakeholders, and continue to identify and address inequalities in SRH.

Anthony Blissett, also a Public Health Specialty Registrar, confirmed that the theme for the next two years' Director of Public Health reports would be 'social capital', exploring its link to public health and developing a practical action plan. A social capital advisory group is to be established, and HWB members were invited to participate.

Community Voice: NEL Big Conversation - Hackney Findings

Sally Beaven, Chief Executive of Healthwatch Hackney, presented the findings from the Big Conversation initiative, which gathered views from Hackney residents on what constitutes good health and care. The findings were structured around four pillars: Accessible, Competent, Person-centred, and Trustworthy care. The report highlighted residents' desire for timely appointments, responsive services, cultural competence, and clear communication. Wider determinants of health, such as affordable healthy choices, safe public spaces, and community involvement, were also emphasised. Questions were raised about the methodology and the number of people consulted, with a commitment made to provide further clarity on the data sources.

Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy

The Deputy Director of Public Health confirmed that the Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Strategy and its action plan were presented for approval. Due to an administrative error, the detailed action plan had not been circulated to all members prior to the meeting. It was agreed that the action plan would be circulated post-meeting, with members having seven days to provide comments before an updated version was approved by the Chair's Action.

Froeks Kamminga, Senior Public Health Specialist, outlined the consultation process, highlighting strong agreement on the proposed themes and priorities. Key findings included the importance of co-producing campaign materials, the persistent barriers of lack of knowledge and access to services, and the ongoing stigma associated with sexual activity, STIs, and HIV. Fragmented services due to commissioning responsibilities were also identified. The proposed action plan includes the development of a central online SRH resource. A joint sub-group of the City and Hackney HWBs is proposed to oversee the strategy's implementation.

Simon Young, Principal Public Health Specialist, provided an update on the Combating Drugs Partnership (CDP) and substance use support. He highlighted national policy changes, increased funding, and the formation of the local CDP. The report noted positive operational outcomes, including improved continuity of care for individuals leaving prison and a modest increase in people accessing services. Hackney is outperforming many other London authorities in these areas, securing its full grant allocation for the next year. Future plans include developing mental health support for substance users, increasing inpatient detox and rehabilitation availability, and enhancing outreach services.

NEL Joint Forward Plan

Amy Wilkinson, Integrated Commissioning Workstream Director, presented the draft North East London (NEL) Joint Forward Plan (JFP) for 2024/2025. This annual refresh of the five-year plan aims to describe how the system will deliver its Integrated Care Partnership Strategy and core NHS services. Key changes in this draft include dedicated slides for each Place-based Partnership, including City and Hackney. The plan is still in draft form, with refinements continuing until the end of February 2024, and will be submitted to NHS England by the end of March. The Board was asked to note the approach to the refresh, the amended content, and to review and comment on the draft document. Discussions focused on how the plan reflects priorities for Black and Global Majority residents, the proportion of funding for prevention, and the inclusion of specific City & Hackney priorities such as mental health for young Black and Global Majority residents, STI rates, and vaccination levels.

The meeting was attended by various councillors and officers, including Councillor Christopher Kennedy (Co-Chair) and Dr Stephanie Coughlin (Co-Chair).