The Health and Wellbeing Board is scheduled to discuss a range of important topics, including the future of partnership development for City and Hackney, a vision for improving population health and health equity, and the findings of an adult mental health needs assessment. The meeting will also cover initial findings from a mystery shopping exercise on adult social care experiences in Hackney, and the Black Health Legacy research programme.

Next Steps in Partnership Development for City and Hackney

The board is set to receive an update on the evolution of the City and Hackney Place Based Partnership. This discussion will focus on how the partnership governance can be redefined to align with national changes in the health system, aiming to strengthen collaboration and improve population health outcomes. The report outlines eight principles to guide the design of new partnership arrangements, with a focus on neighbourhood working and ensuring a meaningful say for all partners, including residents. The Health and Wellbeing Board is expected to consider how it can maintain a strong link with the health and care partnership, embed a focus on health inequalities, and ensure the resident voice is meaningfully included.

Committing to Collective Action: A Vision and Proposal for Improving Population Health, Prevention and Health Equity in City and Hackney

This item seeks agreement on a unified vision for population health in City and Hackney, outlining the actions and resources required to achieve it. The proposal suggests establishing a cross-partnership 'Institute for Change' to integrate and scale up enabling functions crucial for systemic population health improvement. This initiative aims to embed population health, prevention, and equity as core operating principles across all partner organisations, building on existing work and addressing health inequalities. The report details requests for the Place-based Partnership and individual organisations to endorse this approach, align their strategies, and contribute to filling identified skills and resource gaps.

Adult Mental Health Joint Strategic Needs Assessment

The board will consider the findings of a comprehensive joint strategic needs assessment (JSNA) for adult mental health in City and Hackney. This assessment, presented across three reports, collates evidence on local mental health needs, services, inequalities, and service user experiences. Key findings highlight increasing rates of diagnosed depression and anxiety, with Hackney experiencing significantly higher rates of severe mental illness (SMI) compared to national averages. The assessment details inequalities across gender, age, ethnicity, and deprivation, and identifies challenges in service access, navigation, and provision, particularly for those with complex needs and from marginalised communities. Recommendations are proposed to address these issues, focusing on improving access, inclusivity, data quality, and governance.

Experiencing Adult Social Care in Hackney: Initial Findings from a Mystery Shopping Exercise

Healthwatch Hackney will present the findings of a mystery shopping exercise designed to evaluate residents' experiences when contacting Adult Social Care. The exercise focused on the 'Front Door' service, including website navigation, telephone access, and online referral processes. While staff attitude was consistently praised, the findings reveal systemic gaps in processes and communication that can leave residents feeling unsupported and uncertain. The report identifies issues with triage, safeguarding, consistency, and transparency, and concludes that addressing these systemic challenges is crucial for improving resident experience, strengthening safeguarding, and supporting a more efficient service. The findings are intended to serve as a baseline for evaluating future improvements.

Black Health Legacy

The board will be updated on the Black Health Legacy research programme, which aims to address the significant under-representation of Black, Black African, and Black Caribbean people in health research. This programme, led by Queen Mary University of London, studies genetic and non-genetic factors influencing major health conditions that disproportionately affect Black communities. A key discovery highlighted is how a common gene change (G6PD deficiency) impacts the accuracy of the HbA1c blood test used for diagnosing and monitoring type 2 diabetes, potentially delaying diagnosis and increasing the risk of complications in Black populations. The report seeks endorsement for Hackney to formally partner with Black Health Legacy, encouraging system partners to engage with the programme to address health inequalities and position Hackney as a leader in inclusive health research.

Hackney Thinking Spaces

An update will be provided on Phase 2 of Hackney Thinking Spaces, a community-led programme aimed at addressing the impact of systemic racism on the mental health and wellbeing of Black and Global Majority children, young people, and families. Phase 1 established a Community Advisory Board (CAB) which developed recommendations across four strategic themes: Commissioning & Structural Change, Access to Community Spaces, Emotional Health & Wellbeing, and Black History & Education. Phase 2 focuses on implementing these recommendations, requiring clear cross-Council ownership and coordinated system leadership. The board is asked to note progress, endorse the implementation approach, and agree on governance oversight arrangements.

Other items scheduled for discussion include:

• Next Steps in Partnership Development for City and Hackney: An update on the evolution of the City and Hackney Place Based Partnership.
• Adult Mental Health Joint Strategic Needs Assessment: Consideration of the findings from a comprehensive assessment of adult mental health needs in the borough.
• Experiencing Adult Social Care in Hackney: Initial Findings from a Mystery Shopping Exercise: A report detailing residents' experiences when seeking support from Adult Social Care.
• Hackney Thinking Spaces: An update on Phase 2 of this community-led programme addressing the impact of systemic racism on mental health.
• Black Health Legacy: A discussion on a research programme aimed at addressing health inequalities affecting Black communities.