Agenda item

This paper provides an overview of the progress of local shared projects supporting delivery of the three Health and Wellbeing Strategy priorities as of 22 November 2021.

Witnesses:

Ruth Hutchinson - Director of Public Health (SCC) (in lieu of the Priority One Sponsor)

Professor Helen Rostill, Director for Mental Health, Surrey Heartlands ICS and SRO for Mental Health, Frimley ICS (Priority Two Sponsor)

Rob Moran - Chief Executive, Elmbridge Borough Council (Priority Three Sponsor)

Key points raised in the discussion: 

Priority One

1.    The Director of Public Health (SCC) in lieu of the Priority One Sponsor highlighted:

·         Outcome 1 - “People have a healthy weight and are active”: there was a virtual launch event in September for Movement for Change - Surrey’s strategy for tackling physical inactivity by 2030; ongoing community engagement remained vital.

·         Outcome 2 - “Substance misuse is low(drugs/alcohol/smoking)”: ongoing collaborative work across partners, success in sharing drug awareness alert information through the drug related Harm Prevention Forum, the first Overdose Awareness Campaign rolled out in Surrey in August raising awareness on Naloxone - a medicine which reverses opium overdose.

·         Outcome 3 - “The needs of those experiencing multiple disadvantage are met”: work continued at pace, allocation from the Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF) and Household Support Fund to provide support for people experiencing homelessness especially over the winter, there were self-contained cabins in Surrey Heath providing crisis accommodation for fourteen individuals, nine new Housing First units opened in Surrey offering trauma-informed care.

·         Outcome 4 - “Serious conditions and diseases are prevented”:the launch of the “One You Surrey” health behaviour service, the adult weight management pilot, the launching of a remote carers health check in October - information was available on the Healthy Surrey website.

·         Outcome 5 - “People are supported to live well independently for as long as possible”: continuing to build capacity and widen the reach of Surrey’s reablement services via the collaborative reablement service which went live on 1 October 2021, the learning disability and autism reablement service went live at the beginning of August and Surrey County Council was recruiting mental health occupational therapists.

2.    The Vice-Chairman complimented the new layout of the Highlight Report and noted the positive impact on residents of the recent Surrey Mental Health Summit.

Priority Two

3.    The Priority Two Sponsor highlighted:

·         Surrey’s second Mental Health Summit which took place yesterday with 143 participants including those with lived experiences and receiving mental health and emotional wellbeing support services, hearing from community projects that were focusing on enabling people to living emotionally health lives such as the Sheerwater project, Mary Frances Trust’s men’s football group, active champions and a message from young people on how to engage and listen.

·         the Men’s Suicide Prevention Pilot Project for men aged between 45-59 years old, in collaboration between public health, Surrey Police and Catalyst, training on the pilot would start in February and the Board would be updated in due course.

·         the One Surrey joint health and social care strategy for dementia, focusing on living well with dementia and addressing the gap in post-diagnostic support.

·         the recently launched Young Person's Safe Haven pilot in Guildford, which had been co-designed with the Young Adults Reference Group.

·         that the Face of Support campaign was widely advertised, with information provided on how to get early help for mental health and emotional wellbeing.

·         the green social prescribing initiative where Surrey was one of the seven national ‘test & learn’ sites, a grant was provided to promote the use of green spaces and outdoor activity to support vulnerable communities.

4.    Reflecting on the recent Mental Health Summit, a Board member highlighted that hearing the voice of adult social care was crucial in respect of the Mental Health Improvement Plan; she welcomed support from the Priority Two Sponsor.

5.    Noting that the Young Person's Safe Haven pilot in Guildford has commenced for a six-month period, conversely the Suicide Prevention pilot would run for four weeks; the Board member queried the rationale behind the difference in the length of the pilots.

-          In response, the Priority Two Sponsor would liaise with the project leads on the difference in the lengths of the pilots; recognising that four weeks was a short timeframe.

6.    Although detailed in item 13, a Board member suggested that it would have been useful to have an update on the launch of Mindworks Surrey, highlighting the launch of the School based Needs aspect concerning early intervention in place in eleven school clusters since the beginning of the term.

-          In response, the Priority Two Sponsor noted that it was an important area that in relation to the Improvement Plan noting a recent update given to the Mental Health Partnership Board (MHPB); she would look to include an update on Mindworks Surrey in the next Highlight Report.

7.      A Board member welcomed the mention of the improving access to Dementia Navigator support services, noting that Healthwatch Surrey had recently published a piece of research where they had spoken to people in the early stages following a dementia diagnosis which found that isolation was an issue. That improving access to services was beneficial, as was ensuring connected dementia services equally across Surrey and that it is vital that signposting and information is available early on following a dementia diagnosis.

-        In response, the Priority Two Sponsor recognised the importance of supporting individuals in a timely manner following a dementia diagnosis, noting the gap in post-diagnostic support - Dementia Navigators and Admiral Nurses were crucial. The matter of timing and variability of the support services was being worked on in relation to the Dementia Strategy.

8.      A Board member highlighted that dementia diagnosis rates dropped off during the Covid-19 pandemic and asked what work was underway to increase diagnosis rates.

-          In response, the Priority Two Sponsor explained that as part of the long term plan, the focus was on increasing dementia diagnosis rates to the national target of 67% - the current rate in Surrey was just above 60% - work was underway at individual practices, there was a clinical lead for dementia who was working with communities to encourage people to come forward for a diagnosis so that they can get access to the right support.

Priority Three

9.    The Priority Three Sponsor highlighted:

·         his thanks to the Health and Wellbeing team (SCC) for producing the Highlight Report, praising the new clear and concise layout.

·         the focus on the wider determinants of health and inequalities, interlinked with community safety in order to address poverty.

·         that specific work areas included:

-          working with victims of crime such as domestic abuse:

-          the large amount of work involved in embedding independent domestic violence advisors in hospitals and in A&E waiting areas in order to support victims.

-        addressing exploitation particularly of young people through drugs and cuckooing:

-          following the merger of the Community Safety Board into the Health and Wellbeing Board, he paid tribute to the work of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey and her Office (OPCC), police colleagues and the Community Safety Partnerships around county lines, drug trafficking and cuckooing.

-          that the link to the new child exploitation video would be circulated; he asked Board members to share it with their networks. 

-          that the new Surrey Skills Leadership Forum - replacing the Employment and Skills Board - had its inaugural meeting and it linked the providers of training and skills with employers and their needs.

-          tackling poverty:

-          the Board’s recent endorsement to undertake a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach.

-          that there is a Surrey County Council poverty officer working group which is in the process of being established and sought to take a system-wide approach to understanding poverty and poor health outcomes.

·      his thanks to Board members for their work and support, and paid tribute to the support provided by Surrey County Council officers.

10.   The Chairman thanked the Priority Three Sponsor for leading on the Priority and for his contribution to the Health and Wellbeing Board over a number of years.

RESOLVED:

1.      Noted the progress against the Strategy.

2.      Would share the Highlight Report across their networks (direct links to quarterly highlight reports available at www.healthysurrey.org.uk/about), now including a Communications Update.

3.      Endorsed a proposal to consider a whole system approach to poverty framework at the next informal HWB Board meeting.

Actions/further information to be provided:

1.    Future updates in the Highlight Report will include:

·         Priority Two:

-          the Men’s Suicide Prevention Pilot Project;

-          Mindworks Surrey.

2.      The Priority Two Sponsor will liaise with the project leads to clarify the rationale for the difference in the lengths of the pilots: Young Person's Safe Haven pilot in Guildford has commenced for a six-month period, conversely the Suicide Prevention pilot would run for four weeks.

3.      The link to the new child exploitation video will be circulated to Board members to share it with their networks.