Health Inequalities plan update (10.20am)

 

Report attached.

Contact: Berni Lee, Consultant in Public Health, Shropshire Council

 

Food Insecurity findings report (10.30am)

 

Report attached.

Contact: Sophie Padgett, Shropshire Food Poverty Alliance

 

Energy redress project (10.40am)

 

A presentation will be given.

Contact: Simon Ross, Director, Marches Energy Agency (MEA) 

 

Trauma informed approach and Resilience workshop update (10.50am)

 

Report attached

Contact: Val Cross, Health & Wellbeing Officer, Shropshire Council 

Health Inequalities plan update

 

The Consultant in Public Health introduced her report (copy attached to the signed Minutes) and gave a presentation (copy of slides attached to signed Minutes) which covered the following areas:

 

·         Development of Shropshire Health Inequalities Plan

·         Background

·         Population Health Board and ICS Priorities.

·         NHS Priorities with impact on Health Inequalities.

·         Shropshire Priorities and Principles

·         Next steps

 

The Consultant in Public Health explained that Shropshire’s Health Inequalities Plan was intended to draw together in a single document a range of plans and priority work programmes that were already under way.  The provisional intention was to document at a high level, a summary of information in relation to those existing plans and pull them into the Shropshire Health Inequalities plan.  In looking at relevant data and information, gaps in activity may be identified, in which case there may be a need to start additional or enhanced work programmes.  The plan would include priorities for tackling health inequalities that were relevant to the Integrated Care System, that were Health and Wellbeing Priorities or those relating to the wider Council.  Each of the work programmes to be included in the plan would be aligned under one of the four domains within the population health model.

 

In terms of the key programmes that were identified for more detailed performance management in terms of delivery, they would be mindful of the evidence both in terms of the factors which predispose individuals and population groups to health inequalities as well as the evidence provided through the national Marmot reviews.  These reviews set out the key areas where the evidence suggests attention should be focussed in order to reduce health inequalities whilst recognising the importance of promoting a healthy standard of living including the role of central government.

 

The Consultant in Public Health drew attention to the various priorities that were to be included.  She explained that the Population Health Board was a group sitting under the Integrated Care System Board and which oversaw the development of the system-wide approach to health inequalities, which included NHS England’s health inequality priorities for integrated care systems.  There was an overarching framework for the system, system-wide prevention and equalities programmes and sitting alongside were the priorities local to Shropshire.

 

The Consultant in Public Health then gave more detail around the NHS preventions and transformation programmes that would be delivered to Shropshire residents and that could have a significant impact on the population if they accessed the services as intended.  Looking at the principles which would underpin the approach to health inequalities, these included the need to adopt a whole-system approach to the issue, recognising the complexities that sit behind problems and the vital importance of understanding problems from the perspective of those with lived experience.  She confirmed a successful bid to the LGA/Health Foundation in securing monies that would include an opportunity for a local learning programme in relation to adopting a whole-system approach.  The need for co-production has also been discussed as an additional principle.

 

In response to the issue of access to services in rural areas, she referred to section 3.8 of the report which made reference to the opportunity that would be expected around introducing a specific focus on rurality as a factor to explore in tackling health inequalities.  Members welcomed the focus on rurality and felt it would be helpful to contact rural Parish Councils who had a good knowledge of their local communities and the problems and health determinants within them.  In response to a query about where education sat, the Consultant in Public Health confirmed that this would absolutely be included in the plan.

 

RESOLVED:

 

To note the contents of the report and presentation.

 

Food Insecurity findings report

 

Ms Sophie Padgett, Shropshire Food Poverty Alliance Co-ordinator introduced her report (copy attached to the signed Minutes) and gave a presentation (copy of slides attached to signed Minutes) which covered the following areas:

 

·           Children’s food insecurity in Shropshire;

·           What their 2020/21 research told them;

·           Key areas of work identified; and

·           Evidence from other sources. 

 

The Head of Service, Joint Partnerships updated the Board in relation to the funding received by Shropshire on the back of Marcus Rashford ‘s campaign around holiday hunger in particular.  She explained that funding for holiday hunger began in March 2020 and had been used for free school meal vouchers, in particular, but also for work with other intersectional organisations to be able to provide funding because it was recognised that between about 7,500 children received school vouchers and this was expanded to those who were on the fringe of entitlement so that schools had a bit of leeway to give vouchers to people they recognised needed it even if they did not apply for them or did not make the threshold for free school meal vouchers.

 

They also worked with partners to ensure that people who came through different routes highlighting their need that they would be able to access funding another way e.g., fuel poverty grants etc.  The funding had been received in tranches, for the third tranche (Household Support Grant) they were working collaboratively with the voluntary sector to see how the money should be spent in this area and again were focussing on doing this in a number of different ways.

 

The Chair of the VCSA was pleased to see the shift in attitude away from the stigma and lack of empathy about how people got to that stage.  It was felt that this would help people access support in a dignified way.  She requested that the HWBB review this again to ensure a continual shift towards dignity and to challenge and eradicate stigma around poverty in Shropshire.

 

Ms Padgett responded to a number of queries from members of the Board.

 

RESOLVED:

 

To note the recommendations contained in the report.

 

Energy Redress Project

 

Mr Simon Ross from the Marches Energy Agency gave a presentation (copy of slides attached to the signed Minutes) which covered the following areas:

 

·         Update on the Healthy Homed Shropshire project. 

·         How cold is too cold?  Guidelines for a healthy home.

·         Those with health conditions now April 2021 – all Shropshire. 

·         ICS: design framework. 

·         Next steps: Energy diaries.

·         Next steps: Developing health relationships.

·         Next steps: Capital funding.

 

The Director of Partnerships agreed to have a conversation with Mr Ross outside of the meeting in order to link up the relevant people.

 

The Housing Services Manager highlighted the excellent work being done through the private sector housing team and she confirmed that

additional funding had been secured around helping people with their energy bills.

 

RESOLVED:

 

To note the contents of the presentation.

 

Trauma Informed Approach and Resilience workshop update

 

The report of the Health and Wellbeing Officer was received (copy attached to the signed Minutes) which provided a summary of two trauma informed workshops which were held for Shropshire Health and Wellbeing Board (HWBB) and Shropshire Integrated Place Partnership (ShIPP) members.

 

The Health and Wellbeing Officer reported that there had been a good response and that a lot of discussion/enthusiasm had been generated.  The workshop consisted of a screening of a powerful film called ‘Resilience; the biology of stress and science of hope’, followed by facilitated discussions, as detailed in the report.

 

The Health and Wellbeing Officer highlighted the work taking place in the UK and explained the ambition for Shropshire and drew attention to the recommendation seeking a commitment from all system partners to resource implementation of a trauma informed approach in Shropshire.

 

Following a brief discussion, it was RESOLVED in principle to explore the following:

 

•   A commitment to resource from HWBB and ShIPP member organisations, in order to implement a trauma informed approach in Shropshire.  

•   A commitment to specific resource to develop a trauma informed workforce through-out Shropshire.

•   Discussion on key areas of development for focus over the next 3 years, including development of/sourcing appropriate training packages, and a continued call for action to screen the film.

•   This report goes to the Joint Commissioning Group for resource alignment.