Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 September were taken as read, confirmed and signed. The Board also noted the Action Log, which provided an update on actions agreed by the Board at its previous meetings.

There were no urgent items for consideration.

The Chairman invited members who wished to do so to declare any interest in respect of items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations were made.

The Chairman presented a position statement on the following matters:-

·       The crucial work being undertaken by health, social care and community partners during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

·       The ‘Its down to us’ media campaign which had seen partners work together to produce a range of communications to encouraging residents to play their part in controlling the spread of coronavirus.

·       The push to encourage residents and staff in eligible groups to get their flu vaccination.

·       Signposting mental health services developed by partners as part of World Mental Health Day and Self Care and Anti Bullying weeks.

·       The promotion of the Council’s Weight Management Service which included a series of animated videos on aspects of healthy eating, aimed at children and young people.

·       The requirement to renew and publish a Pharmaceutical Needs Assessments, which had been suspended until April 2022.

A copy of the position statement is filed with these minutes.

The Chairman sought and obtained the consent of the Board to vary the order of business from that set out on the agenda for the meeting.

The Board considered a joint report of East Leicestershire and Rutland CCG and West Leicestershire CCG which provided an update concerning the progress of Primary Care Networks (PCN) across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) since their implementation in the summer of 2019. A copy of the report and accompanying presentation are filed with these notes.

Arising from discussion the following points were noted:

·       The introduction of PCNs enabled groups of GP practices to work together to improve the provision of care within their local footprint. Each PCN received funding in order to provide roles such as a clinical pharmacist, a social prescribing link worker and a physiotherapist.

·       PCNs had developed additional roles as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, which had seen them provide operational resilience across practices, delivery vehicles for the coronavirus vaccine and hot hubs, which would enable patients suffering from coronavirus symptoms to be seen safely.

·       Whilst PCNs worked independently of each other and were able to tailor their service provision based on local need, they were all required to deliver against national service specifications and received the same level of support, delivered by a central Clinical Commissioning Group support team.   

·       Members recognised the importance of collaborative working between the PCNs and district councils and work to further establish these relationships, along with other stakeholders such as the police, would continue.

RESOLVED:

That the progress update concerning Primary Care Networks across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland be noted.

The Board considered a joint report of the Leicester and Leicestershire Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), the Director of Adults and Communities and the Director of Public Health which detailed the impact of the coronavirus pandemic within the County and the response of the local care system. A copy of the report marked ‘Agenda item 5’, is filed with these minutes.

Arising from discussion the following points were noted:

·       Local care providers were working collectively to manage pressures associated with the second wave of the virus. Significant work was being undertaken to help reduce hospital admissions where possible and enable hospital discharge to happen efficiently once those who were hospitalised were well enough to leave.

·       The pandemic had placed considerable pressure on the social care provider market and the Council was continuing to have enhanced engagement with providers in order to offer information and support. The Authority was in the process of identifying a number of ‘designated settings’ care homes which would be approved to accept people who were covid positive, including those discharged from hospital.

·       The cancellation of daycare services as a result of the pandemic had had a significant impact on service users and their carers/families. The Council had begun to re-introduce services which could be delivered in a covid safe manor.

·       There had been a significant number of people who had been discharged from hospital since the start of the pandemic who had received NHS funded care. The Council was now working with partners to undertake reviews and re-assessments to determine individual’s care needs and how their requirements would be funded. This was a considerable piece of work.

·       Whilst the County had made progress to contain the virus during the previous seven days, reducing the number of positive cases by 23%, further progress was needed in order for figures to fall below the national average of cases per 100,000.

·       Partners continued to work together on a targeted communications campaign. In addition, there had been a significant joint working to deploy testing across the County and enforcement via trading standards services. 

·       In regards to mass testing, it was hoped that it would be made available in Leicestershire in the coming weeks. It was noted that this approach would not see region wide testing such as what was seen in Liverpool, but instead the deployment of a large number of tests in defined areas such as districts associated with the highest rate of cases or in outbreak situations such a workplaces and schools.

·       County and district councils continued to work with schools to promote covid compliance, including student’s safe use of transport travelling to and from school. Additional guidance was being provided as to the importance of children socially distancing from others outside of school settings.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

The Board considered a report of the Director of Public Health which sought its views on the draft healthy weight strategy for Leicestershire as part of the consultation process. A copy of the report marked ‘Agenda item 7’ is filed with these minutes.

In response to questions concerning as to whether the Strategy recognised the support required for those suffering from eating disorders, it was noted that such conditions were linked to mental health issues, rather than individuals making the right behavioural choices in order to stay healthy, which was the focus of the Healthy Weight Strategy. Support for those suffering from eating disorders was provided by various services within LLR,

It was noted that the Strategy would need to take account of the short and long term impacts arising from the coronavirus pandemic, including the difficulties faced by certain groups, particularly carers, to find time to exercise as they took on additional responsibilities.

The importance of active design being a fundamental part of new housing developments was recognised in the Strategy. The County Council continued to work with district councils to shape planning policy in order for active design principles to be supported and adopted.

It was noted that a separate piece of work was being undertaken by Leicestershire and Rutland Sport, in conjunction with the local authorities, to develop a Physical Activity Strategy.

RESOLVED:

That the Board’s comments be considered as part of the consultation.

The Board considered a report of the Director of Children and Family Services which provided a progress update on the Children and Families Partnership Plan 2018-21, associated Action Plan and revised Terms of Reference for the Children and Families Partnership Board. A copy of the report marked ‘Agenda item 8’ is filed with these notes.

It was noted that the Children and Families Partnership Board had approved the updated Action Plan for 2020-21 at its meeting earlier in November, subject to an additional action being included in relation to priority five, concerning children’s mental health, and the finalising of actions associated with priority three (supporting children and families to be resilient) which would be considered by the Early Help Partnership in December.

In reference to the revised Terms of Reference, it was proposed that a minor amendment be made to reflect the change in terminology and focus from child sexual exploitation to child criminal exploitation.

In response to questions concerning district council representation on the Children and Families Partnership Board, it was noted that the Board’s membership included officer representatives of the district councils who were responsible for relaying information back to their local elected members and appropriate partnership groups such as Community Safety Partnerships.  

RESOLVED:

a)    That the progress in delivery of the Children and Families Partnership Plan 2018-2021 be noted;

b)    That the revised Terms of Reference for the Children and Families Partnership Board be approved subject to an amendment at point i, bullet point b, to reflect the change in terminology and focus from child sexual exploitation to child criminal exploitation.

The Board considered a report of the Director of Adults and Communities which presented revised Terms of Reference for the Integration Executive. A copy of the report marked ‘Agenda item 8’ is filed with these papers.

RESOLVED:

That the revised Terms of Reference for the Integration Executive be approved subject to an amendment to reference the Executive’s role in overseeing the delivery of housing related support services and to clarify that the lightbulb project is represented as part of the Executive’s membership.

The Board considered a report of the Chief Executive which presented revised Terms of Reference for the Health and Wellbeing Board. A copy of the report marked ‘Agenda item 9’ is filed with these papers.

RESOLVED:

That the revised Terms of Reference for the Health and Wellbeing Board be approved.

Future meetings of the Health and Wellbeing Board will be held at 2.00pm on the following dates:-

 Thursday 28 January 2021

 Thursday 27 May 2021

 Thursday 8 July 2021

 Thursday 25 November 2021

RESOLVED:

That the Board meet on the following dates in 2021:-

Thursday 28 January 2021

Thursday 27 May 2021

Thursday 8 July 2021

Thursday 25 November 2021