Agenda item

To consider a report by the Director of Public Health.

The report provided the Board with a summary of performance for LiveWell Dorset, smoking cessation, weight management services, community providers, health checks and children and young people’s public health service (CYPPHS) performance; any supporting data is in the appendices

The Board recognised the positive progress and service improvements despite the challenges from the pandemic and workforce challenges including; digital delivery; delivering responsive services including the arrival of Afghan families under the resettlement programme; developing clinical leadership opportunities aligned to key priorities; scaling CO monitoring at mandated contacts; implementing ASQ 3 for the school age review and further scaling of parental mental health. Public Health Dorset also acknowledged the positive feedback from families and young people who use the Children and Young People’s Public Health Service

There continued to be significant participation in Early Help through a skill-mixed team to deliver evidence based interventions and support for more vulnerable families. Despite that being the case, the service had achieved positive progress and impact against the four key priorities of the service; smoking cessation; school readiness; physical activity and emotional and mental health.

The Board were pleased to see the progress being made, whilst understanding the challenges that the services faced in terms of demand, resources and funding. The Vice Chairman had taken the opportunity to visit South Walk House – now leased to the NHS from Dorset Council – in being an key establishment for the delivery of certain public health and clinical services - which complemented the services provided by Dorset County Hospital, GP’s and other medical providers.

The Board were generally pleased to see that face-to-face interaction had now resumed where practicable, whilst recognising that digital provision still had a significant and increasing part to play in the delivery of services. Whilst it was hoped that greater face to face meetings could take place, the Director considered that the balance between the two was appropriate in the circumstances.

A meeting scheduled on how digital access would develop considered beneficial to both Children’s services Cabinet Members and that they should be invited to this.

The Board asked that this report be made available to both Directors and Cabinet members for Children’s Services so that they might have the opportunity to consider and comment on the figures, with a view to any revision deemed necessary being accommodated.

The Vice-Chairman also asked that future monitoring reports include a “traffic light” indication of progress, so as to be more readily identifiable.

The Board recognised the need that resourcing of services was essential in their effective delivery and hoped that the ICS would provide some means for this being best achieved to meet future needs.

The Director confirmed that, integral to the ICS strategy, was the ability for local authorities, medical providers, and social care to readily collaborate the delivery of services to meet needs and demands and how resources could be best used. This way, challenges and risks could be identified and met with a more integrated approach.

The Board were satisfied with the progress being made and hoped improvements to the Service could be maintained.

Resolved

1)That the performance on health improvement services and children and young people’s services be noted, and:
2)That the development of options for the future development of LiveWell Dorset that supported a joined-up approach with Integrated Care system partners be supported;
3)That the current approach to restarting the Health Checks programme following the discussion at February Board, noting timescales for relaunching in Spring 2023 be agreed;
4)That plans within CYPPHS services to develop a more diverse and flexible
workforce that can help address recognised capacity gaps be supported - to include recommending to the Integrated Care System that they include
recruitment and retention of health visitors within system workforce plans.

Reason for Decisions

To update the Joint Public Health Board and to have their endorsement and to
note performance and ensure that Councils have oversight of the mandated
public health services provided through the ring-fenced Public Health Grant.