No declarations received

Apologies were received from Councillor Gilli Lewis-Lavender and Dr Karen Worthington

The Minutes of the Health and Wellbeing Board held on the 24 March 2015 were approved as a correct record.

Following the motion regarding creation of a co-chair at the last Board meeting, board members noted the legal considerations and precedent and it was agreed to create the role of Vice Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board and that this role would be taken by the Chair of the Merton Clinical Commissioning Group.  Accordingly The Chair nominated Dr Andrew Murray, as the Chair of the CCG to become the Vice Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board and this was seconded by Councillor Maxi Martin. The Director of Public Health informed the board that there was training available for the Chair and Vice Chair from ‘London Councils’.

RESOLVED:

The Board agreed the Chair of Merton Clinical Commissioning Group to become The Vice Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

The Director of Children, Schools and Families introduced the Annual Report of the Merton Safeguarding Children Board (MSCB).  It was noted that a slightly amended version of the report was now available.  The Board noted that the Annual Report considered the MSCB’s achievements, priorities for improvement and areas of focus going forward, and that the conclusion of the Annual Report was that the MSCB was compliant with statutory guidance and that partners were working together to protect children and young people in LBM,

Members of the board were pleased to receive the report and commented on the good work and sustained improvement in the effectiveness of the MSCB over the last 3 years.

RESOLVED

That the report was received by the Health and Wellbeing Board

The Director of Children, Schools, and Families introduced the report on Information Sharing to support Children’s safeguarding and protection. The Board noted that the ministerial letter attached to the report had been sent in response to the recent series of national child protection cases relating to the sexual exploitation of children and young people, and that it proposed five principles to support information sharing; integrated working, joint risk assessment, a victim focused approach, good leadership and clear governance and frequent reviews of operations.

The Director of Children Schools, and Families told the Board that Merton had signed up to pan London safeguarding protocols and that a recent CSE partnership event to launch our refreshed local strategy and  supporting tools had been well attended and useful. Future action would involve extending discussion to wider partners who are less focussed on children and families to see how these agencies could also support children’s safeguarding.

RESOLVED

That the Health and Wellbeing Board commit to continuing to ensure that their agencies are compliant with legislation and good practice

Julia Groom, Public Health Consultant, introduced the report which provided an update on the transfer of commissioning responsibilities for the Healthy Child 0-5 years services (Health Visiting) to the London Borough of Merton from October 2015, and the establishment of the Merton Early Years partnership which strengthens the integrated planning and delivery of core services across health and local authority.

The Health and Wellbeing Board agreed:

A)   To note the progress on the transfer of commissioning responsibilities for Healthy Child 0-5 years services (Health visiting) to the London Borough of Merton from October 2015.

B)   To note progress and consider opportunities for the further development of partnerships and close integration of early years services.

The Chief Officer of the CCG presented the report detailing updates to and a refresh of the Health and Wellbeing Board Operating Plan 2015/16.  The Chair asked for an update on the planned Mitcham Care Centre.  The CCG Chief Officer replied that the site had been selected but that the model of care and funding arrangements were now to be determined.

The Director of Public Health asked the Board to note the achievements of the CCG in working with LBM public health on prevention and community health care, and for developing the model of care for East Merton. The Director of Children, Schools and Families thanked the CCG for its work for Children and young people and its investment in health and prevention and cited this as a good example of the Health and Wellbeing Board helping all partners join up and work together.

RESOLVED:

That the board notes the progress and approves the direction of travel of the Health and Wellbeing Operating Plan

The Chief Officer of the CCG introduced the report that presented the progress made regarding the procurement of Community Health Services.

The Board noted that the overall aim of the project is to ensure that a community service provider is identified and a contract entered into to ensure that there is continuity of community services provision when the existing contract expires on 31 March 2016.  The Board noted that there would be robust communications with staff regarding their transfer to the new provider.

RESOLVED:

That the Board note the progress of the Community Services Procurement Plan

The Director of Public Health introduced the Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2015-18. The Board noted that this had been well received by Cabinet and that it had its public launch at the Mitcham Festival. Councillor Maxi Martin commented that the Strategy summary page had been well received by Cabinet.

The Director of Public Health also outlined the Merton on the Move programme which was launched alongside the Strategy – this is a challenge to businesses and residents to form teams and join the Council in walking, running and cycling ‘to the Moon’. Everyone was encouraged to sign up and details are available from barry.causer@merton.gov.uk

RESOLVED:

The Board received the refreshed Merton Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2015-18

The Director of Public Health presented the report setting out the work and achievements of the Public Health Team and its partners in the first two years following transition to LBM, and outlining the next steps for the team. Councillor Maxi Martin commented on the good work on public health. She raised the remaining gap in life expectancy across the borough.  The Director of Public Health confirmed that work was targeted at preventing the gap widening and the Chief Executive of MVSC commented that this work had and will be done together. The Chair of the CCG said that there is increasingly a greater focus on prevention, for example, Proactive GP Practice and the board agreed the need to communicate and embed prevention across all partners.

RESOLVED:

That the Board notes the work of Public Health and progress made two years into its transition to the local authority.

Brian Dillon was introduced as the newly appointed Independent Chair of Merton Healthwatch Operational Committee. Dave Curtis, Manager of Healthwatch then introduced an update on the progress of Healthwatch Merton.  The Board noted the update on the main workstreams for 2015/16, an update on current activities and changes to the governance and the new Merton Operational Committee.

RESOLVED:

That the Health and Wellbeing Board note the progress made by Healthwatch Merton

The Board noted that the South West London Joint Committee was set up to oversee the joint commissioning function of the six South West London Clinical Commissioning Groups alongside NHS England. Each Health and Wellbeing Board has been asked to provide a representative to the group. Councillor Maxi Martin nominated Councillor Cooper-Marbiah to be the Merton Health and Wellbeing Board representative on the South West London Joint Committee, and this was seconded by the Director of Public Health.

RESOLVED

That Councillor Cooper-Marbiah was nominated and agreed as the Merton Health and Wellbeing Board representative on the South West London Joint Committee.