To review the memorandums of understanding for substituted services, report to follow

The Director of Public Health presented the report providing a 2020/21 update on Shropshire Council’s approach to the substitution of general core Council funding with monies from the public health grant to fully embed health in all policies.  

She explained that the process worked alongside public health advocacy and health in all (HiAP) local policies, to tackle the wider determinants of health and ensure that wellbeing was embedded throughout Shropshire Council services. She assured the Committee that the process was robust with agreements in place to ensure a spread of monies across the breadth of public health delivery. The process was continually reviewed in order to ensure a continued appropriate use of resources.

The Committee heard from Public Health team members on the use of resources and delivery of public health outcomes within their specific service areas.

Firstly, from the Housing Services Manager who provided details of two case studies, facts and figures on homelessness and on domestic violence together with key work areas for the next 12 months.

In response to Members’ questions it was confirmed that:

·         Figures on the numbers of ex Service personnel requiring housing would be provided to the Committee.

·         Any obligation on the part of the local authority to house partners of ex Forces personnel e.g. the ex-husband/wife was not known but would be conveyed to the Committee.

·         The impact of changes resulting from the Domestic Abuse Bill and the expectations on the local authority should be shared with the Committee at a future meeting.

·         Weekly operational meetings and monthly management meetings were held regarding rough sleepers in the county. It was noted that at some points during the last twelve months there had been no rough sleepers in the county. The Everyone In and Protect programme instigated by the Government during the Covid epidemic had had a positive impact.

·         Reducing the use of B and Bs and using better accommodation continued to be one of the top priorities in housing people with mental illness.  Endeavours would be made for those people who needed to be alone to be housed in individual units. A key focus for future improvements would be to make every attempt to house those from rural areas into their home area if possible.

·         The support to the homeless community during the pandemic had been provided from general Covid funding to the Council and had not been specific to homelessness.  However, the Council now had a duty to continue to accommodate these people (from the last 12 months).  The numbers had increased and did result in a pressure on the authority; work was ongoing with social housing partners to provide cost effective housing.

The Director of Public Health stressed that vulnerable communities would continue to be recognised and the constant assessment and review of need would ensure that funding would be used where the need was greatest.

The Regulatory Services Operational Manager provided an update of the services provided during the Covid pandemic including, measures to protect the food chain, business closures as part of protection action, regulating Covid secure workplaces and outbreak management in work places, food safe (Covid risk controlled).  She explained that a vast amount of work had been undertaken by the regulatory services team and their professionalism, care and commitment was to be applauded.

In response to concerns regarding the long-term impact of services cut or delivered differently and the need to monitor the substitutions made, the Director of Public Health stressed that the Council was continuing to influence across a range of domains.  Resources for lifestyle services e.g. mental health, smoking, pregnancy, weight management were ring fenced and remained a priority now and in future. Monitoring the impact would continue at a high level and, where specific services were in place, such as Exercise on Prescription, monitoring would be undertaken via such contracts.

The Early Help Project Manager provided the performance headlines relating to the Early Help Family Hubs including the focus on health, the whole family approach, parenting programmes, case study information and the support given to 551 families during the last 12 months.

It was noted that support to young people increased during the pandemic and this, together with the growth in the number of referrals from partner organisations, had an impact on the number of young people needing support.

The Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Climate Change commented that the presentations provided to the Committee illustrated the broad range of services and the positive outcomes that had arisen from the substitution programme and served to provide a flavour of the work that had been undertaken. 

The Director of Public Health stated that scrutiny interest was welcome and further updates could be provided at a future meeting.  Referring to Appendix 4 of the report, she commented that future reporting could include targets but she cautioned that there was an element of longevity in some areas with improvements becoming evident in a longer timeframe of 4 to 5 years and little evidence within a tighter 12 month period.

In drawing the debate on this item to a close, the Chairman thanked all Officers for their hard work and for the information supplied to the Committee. She agreed with the Portfolio Holder that a revisit to these service areas should be considered for inclusion on the Committee’s future Work programme.