The Wandsworth Health and Wellbeing Board met to discuss a range of public health issues, including children's safeguarding, smoking, and long-term condition management. The board approved the Wandsworth Health and Care Plan for 2025-27 and delegated sign-off of the draft Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment to the Director of Public Health. Members also discussed ways to improve the board's effectiveness and engagement with the voluntary sector.

Children and Young People

Children's Safeguarding Partnership Annual Report

Camilla McCallum, former Service Manager of the Safeguarding Children Partnership, presented the Wandsworth Safeguarding Children's Partnership Annual Report 2023-24¹, highlighting accomplishments and key priorities. Priorities included embedding anti-racist practice, improving educational support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and delivering inclusive mental health services. The report noted the use of young scrutineers, including a young man named Fabio, to provide feedback and inform the partnership's work.

Councillor Judi Gasser, Cabinet Member for Children, asked about the timeliness of the report and current priorities. Camilla McCallum emphasised the ongoing need to address anti-racist practice and improve cohesion between voluntary and statutory organisations.

Stephen Hickey raised concerns about staff turnover and embedding learning from reviews. Camilla McCallum explained the training and support offered to staff, including a safeguarding roadshow. Louise Jones, Assistant Director for Practice Standards, added that the partnership is working to improve the timeliness of future reports.

The board agreed to note the report.

Timeliness of Health Assessments

Elizabeth Souter, Director of Children's Social Care, presented a report on the challenges to the timeliness of initial and review health assessments for children in the council's care. She noted that the council has consistently struggled to meet the statutory timescales for initial health assessments.

Mike Procter raised concerns about pressure on paediatrician time and suggested involving GPs more. Councillor Judi Gasser asked about working with health services to improve GP appointments. Arian Jogiya suggested involving the Federation to effect change.

The board agreed to note the challenges and provide support in identifying ways to strengthen partnership working.

Public Health

Making Smoking Obsolete

Shannon Katiyo, Director of Public Health, and Benjamin Humphrey, Senior Public Health Lead, presented the annual director of public health report on making smoking obsolete. The report highlighted the decline in smoking prevalence in Wandsworth but noted that progress was not consistent across all population groups.

Benjamin Humphrey emphasised the need to focus on priority populations, such as pregnant women and people with mental health conditions, and to increase awareness among young people about the dangers of smoking and vaping.

Temi Fasir, All Age Mental Health Transformation Lead, suggested targeting stop smoking campaigns to people experiencing mental health conditions.

The board agreed to note the report and consider a seminar to further discuss the issue.

Public Health Board Annual Reports

Shannon Katiyo presented the Public Health Board Annual Reports for 2023-2025, highlighting the board's role in championing public health, overseeing resources, and ensuring health protection.

Stephen Hickey asked about long-term trends in overarching indicators. Shannon Katiyo assured him that the trends are monitored and available in a more detailed report. Jeremy De Souza noted the positive strides made in embedding health in all the council's work.

Davina Smith, Senior Community Safety Consultant, highlighted the slight increase in violent crime and the initiatives being delivered to address it. Councillor Judi Gasser raised concerns about child obesity and diabetes.

The board agreed to note the report.

Health and Wellbeing Board Seminar

Vusi Adecki, Health and Care Partnerships Lead, presented the outcomes of the Health and Wellbeing Board seminar held on 4 March 2025, which focused on strengthening the board's effectiveness.

Jason Andrews commented on the importance of implementing the seminar's recommendations and the need for proactive engagement with wider partners, particularly the voluntary sector. Stephen Hickey suggested engaging on particular areas or issues rather than trying to get general views across the broad breadth. Shannon Katiyo suggested using artificial intelligence to summarise papers and improve accessibility.

Councillor Graeme Henderson, Cabinet Member for Health, expressed his commitment to changing the way the board operates and moving away from receiving multiple reports.

The board agreed to note the outputs from the seminar and support the ongoing development of the board.

Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy

Shannon Katiyo presented an update on the Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy, covering areas such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, physical activity, healthy eating, smoking, alcohol, mental health, and suicide prevention.

Stephen Hickey asked about the impact of less drinking among younger people. Shannon Katiyo and Ross Little, Digital Public Health lead for substance misuse, responded that they are exploring local data and working with the Combating Drugs Partnership to understand trends.

The board agreed to note the delivery outputs.

Wandsworth Health and Care Plan

Mary Dowu, Deputy Director at Southwest London ICB, presented the Wandsworth Health and Care Plan for 2025-27, which is the two-year delivery plan for the Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

Shannon Katiyo commented on the successful collaborative arrangements and the strengthening of partnerships. Mike Procter acknowledged the clear communication and reporting mechanisms. Stephen Hickey noted the differing treatment of objectives and outcomes in the plan.

Mary Dowu agreed to address the concerns about the articulation of objectives and outcomes. She also supported the idea of a continuous mechanism for community engagement.

The board approved the health and care plan and noted the recommendations provided by voluntary and community stakeholders.

Health Inequalities Fund

Mary Dowu presented a report on the Wandsworth Health Inequalities Fund 2023-25, highlighting the activities and impact of the funded projects.

Jason Andrews declared an interest as WCA was a beneficiary of the fund. He expressed hope that the learning from the fund would be used to demonstrate the value of a coordinated community approach.

The board agreed to note the report with thanks to all the organisations who used the money effectively.

Better Care Fund

Better Care Fund Quarter 3 Update

Brian Roberts, Head of Health and Care Integration, presented the Better Care Fund Quarter 3 update, pointing to a table on page 306 of the reports pack that showed the numbers of people supported and the reduction in the average length of discharge lay.

The board noted the report.

Better Care Fund Planning

Brian Roberts and Sarah Rushton, Head of Primary and Community Care Development and Delivery for the ICB, presented the Better Care Fund Planning for 2025-26. They outlined changes to the BCF, including a reduction in funding growth and changes to the metrics. Sarah Rushton provided a flavour of the work that the BCF funds in Wandsworth.

Councillor Judi Gasser commented on the importance of corporate parenting responsibility and asked about working with health services to make GP appointments happen. Nika offered to connect Councillor Gasser with the Federation to effect that change.

Arian Jogiya noted that the Federation would be a good vehicle to effect that change.

The board agreed to approve the plans for submission to the Better Care Fund Programme and note that a Section 75 agreement² will be prepared.

Other Business

Pharmaceutical Needs Assessments

Nika provided an update on the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment 2025, noting that a draft PNA has been produced and is undergoing final tweaks before a public consultation.

Councillor Judi Gasser suggested using AI to create an easy-read version and asked about disseminating the information.

The board agreed to delegate the sign-off of the draft version of the PNA to the Director of Public Health.

Work Programme

Vusi Adecki highlighted the themed meetings and invited members to contribute topics for the February 2026 seminar.

Stephen Hickey suggested a discussion about neighbourhood health. Councillor Graeme Henderson committed to discussing with officers how to effectively take this forward.

The board agreed to note the proposed agenda items and seminar.