Agenda and minutes

The Chairman will announce details of the arrangements in case of fire or other events that might require the meeting room or building’s evacuation.

(If any) – receive

There were no apologies for absence.

Members are invited to disclose any interest in any of the items on the agenda at this point of the meeting.

Members may still disclose any interest in any item at any time prior to the consideration of the matter.

There were no disclosures of interest.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Committee held on 27^th January 2021 and to authorise the Chairman to sign them.

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 27 January 2021 were agreed as a correct record and, due to COVID-19, will be signed by the Chairman at a later date.

To consider the Board’s Action Log

It was noted by the Committee that the change 1 suggested by the Board under minute 34 had been implemented, however, the other 2 changes were to be agreed by the ICS at a later date.

Verbal update to be given

The Board received a verbal update on the Borough’s Partnership Design Group.

It was explained that Borough Partnerships were a key element of the BHR Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) and were essential to the development of community based care. It was explained that the BHR ICP Board had set priorities for the Borough Partnership, notably: (1) to focus on the vulnerable and frail; (2) to ensure the provision of effective preventative services; and (3) to prevent the need for statutory service intervention by strengthening community resilience. The Board noted that co-located teams had been in operation in LBH since 2014. Members noted that the Borough Partnership Design Group had undertaken several projects across the wider determinants of health, including work around mental health transformation, Local Area Coordination (LAC) and assistive technology. It was noted that community hubs would be retained within the development of the Borough Partnership.

Members agreed to give consideration as to the governance arrangements, remit and priorities for the Borough Partnership and its associated delivery groups.

Report attached

The Board received a report on Local Area Coordination (LAC).

The Board noted the 10 core principles for LAC, and it was explained that LAC is a person-centred approach that builds on community strengths and assets to support individuals before they deteriorate to crisis point, thus avoiding the requirement for long-term statutory intervention. Members noted that the LAC pilot rollout was delayed due to COVID-19 but were advised that 2 local area coordinators were now accepting introductions in Harold Wood. It was also noted that from March 2021, there would be 3 local area coordinators in operation for Rainham and South Hornchurch.

The Board were made aware of the potential cost divergence and cost avoidance of LAC indicated by case study examples presented in the covering report. Using a cost matrix analysis, it was estimated that for individuals with multiple disadvantages, LAC could prevent contact with formal services including the criminal justice system, substance misuse and homelessness services, resulting in a potential cost saving of £24,500. It was explained that the Borough had plans to work with an evaluation partner set to publish LAC outcomes in 2022. The Board were also made aware of plans to publish cost-avoidance outcomes every month.

Members were pleased and thanked the LAC service for its work and progress. There was a request from the Board for relevant information to be added to the Havering website, to maximise reach for residents in need of support.

Report attached

The Board was presented with the Health and Social Care white paper.

It was noted that the white paper set out legislative proposals to support health and care integration, principally, through the establishment of statutory Integrated Care Systems (ICSs), supported by the removal of transactional bureaucracies, and through improved accountability of the health and care system. More specifically, it was noted that there would be 2 elements to an ICS; an NHS ICS body to cover day to day running, and a Health and Care Partnership responsible for integrating health and social care partners, and developing a plan that addresses the health and social care needs of the system. Members were reminded that the seven north east London CCGs had agreed to merge, forming one single North East London CGG effective from 1st April 2021, and that the transition phase would likely start in September 2021.

It was noted that the legislative proposals for the Health and Care Bill were likely to go through Parliament in summer, with royal assent expected by January 2022. It was agreed that the Board would consider its future and that of the Borough Partnership in the context of the legislative proposals.

Verbal update to be given

The Board were updated by the Director of Public Health on the Borough’s COVID-19 figures.

It was noted that Havering’s rate of infection had dropped by a significant amount and was at under 100 cases per 100,000 individuals after peaking at over 1,200 per 100,000 individuals and that there were under 100 cases in BHR hospitals. It was noted that there had been 850 deaths where there had been a positive COVID test within the previous 28 days and Havering was now at under 20 deaths per 100,000 individuals.

Members noted the government’s roadmap released in mid-February 2021, which included the introduction of weekly and at-home asymptomatic testing for secondary school students. Members noted the Borough’s plan and commitment to enhanced asymptomatic and surge testing following the easing of lockdown restrictions.

Members noted that across BHR 339,000 people had received their first dose of the COVID vaccine with the second dose starting to be rolled out.

Members were pleased to hear that Havering had the highest vaccine uptake up in North East London. Members were informed that whilst vaccine reluctance in ‘Asian minority’ had decreased, reluctance in ‘Black minority’ had increased. Members were informed of the Borough’s model to improve vaccine uptake, including: (1) the Better Days are Ahead targeted information campaign; (2) information dissemination and market research; and (3) engagement with communities and staff.

The next meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board is to be held on 31^st march 2021 at 1pm via Zoom.

The next meeting of the Board would be held on Wednesday 31 March

2021 at 1.00 pm.