Councillors and committees

Agenda item

IMPLEMENTING A WHOLE SYSTEM APPROACH TO OBESITY

The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities of those living with obesity. Evidence supports taking a “Whole System Approach”, working across partners, including communities to address the barriers and opportunities in helping the people in Surrey to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

 

Minutes:

Witnesses:

 

Jane Semo - Public Health Development Worker (SCC)

 

Key points raised in the discussion:

 

1.    The Public Health Development Worker (SCC) highlighted:

·         The multitude of factors that influence a person’s weight throughout their life, noting the enablers and barriers to maintaining a healthy weight.

·         The common areas to tackle obesity identified as part of a whole systems approach, for example increasing active travel, educating people about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and exercise, and providing access to weight management support.

·         The overview of the whole systems approach framework which was commissioned by Public Health England and developed by Leeds Beckett University who piloted the approach with several local authorities in the country.

 

Nicola Airey left the meeting at 12.04 pm

 

·         That the framework followed six phases using all parts of the system to effect change through identifying the gaps in provision rather than focusing on individual interventions, beginning with the set-up, building the local picture, mapping the local system, taking action, managing the system network and ending on reflect and refresh.

·         Other pieces of work in relation to helping people to achieve a healthier weight as part of the whole systems approach included the use of grant payments from the Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF) to enable YMCA Redhill, Active Prospects, Stanwell Family Centre, Home Start (Runnymede, Woking and Ewell, Banstead) and Voluntary Action north west Surrey - all receiving £16,000 each with a further £4,000 having established an action plan in phase four of the framework.

·         That Surrey Heath Borough Council was taking a whole systems approach with support from Voluntary Action north west Surrey, and Active Surrey had been funded to support each project.

·         That the next steps entailed the monitoring and supporting of the progress of the whole systems approach pilots and developing an evaluation framework.

·         The recommendation which asked the Board to expand the whole systems approach and embed the framework in the other District and Borough Councils across Surrey as the framework was aimed at local authorities, with advocacy from the leadership to identify a person to lead on the approach - particularly someone from Reigate and Banstead Borough Council to support YMCA Redhill on the matter.

2.      The Chairman noted that regarding ensuring engagement from the District and Borough Councils, it would be beneficial to get the matter onto the agendas of the Surrey Leaders’ Group and the Surrey Chief Executives’ Group.

3.      The Priority Two Sponsor agreed with the importance for District and Borough Councils to embrace the framework and was happy to assist on the matter.

4.      The Chairman noted a comment in the Teams chat whereby the Executive Director for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning (SCC) was happy to flag the whole systems approach to obesity which would fit into the work around Healthy Schools; at the planning session regarding an upcoming District and Borough Children's meeting.

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.    Board members would persuade and support Surrey’s Borough and District Councils to embed the Whole System Approach (WSA) Framework across their organisations, to establish advocacy from their leadership teams and identify a person within their organisation to lead on this approach.

 

Actions/further information to be provided:

 

1.      That regarding ensuring engagement from Surrey’s District and Borough Councils, the Whole System Approach (WSA) Framework to obesity will be put onto future agendas of the Surrey Leaders’ Group and the Surrey Chief Executives’ Group.

2.      The Public Health Development Worker (SCC) to follow up with offers from Board members and partners, including the Priority Two Sponsor and the Executive Director for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning (SCC) on their offers to embed the WSA Framework to obesity across Surrey’s District and Borough Councils.

 

Supporting documents: