Agenda and minutes

None.

To approve the minutes of the meetings held on 28 November 2024 and 20 March 2025.

RESOLVED – that the minutes of the meetings held on 28 November 2024 and 20 March 2025 be approved.

None.

To receive the Health & Wellbeing Board Strategy Quarterly Progress Report.

Members received a report outlining the commitments of each priority lead for the coming year, with a focus on strengthening delivery and addressing ongoing challenges. It was noted that future reports, including the update that was to be brought to the next meeting of the Board in June, would highlight key risks and areas requiring further attention.

The Service Delivery Manager Health Improvement & Prevention provided a summary of the report, drawing attention to strong thematic links across the priority areas. Members were advised that the report reflected a coordinated approach to tackling inequalities, enhancing prevention, and improving system-wide collaboration.

In relation to inequalities, Members heard that more targeted work was being undertaken with underserved communities, including those experiencing homelessness. Efforts were being made to better connect local support services to improve outcomes for vulnerable residents. Members were updated on progress in cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention, including the rollout of health check pilots and the community blood pressure project. The role of the community and voluntary sector was acknowledged, with examples of successful signposting to appropriate services, reducing pressures on primary care.

The Board were asked to note the development of the ‘Connect to Work’ programme, which aimed to prevent economic inactivity through targeted 1:1 interventions. This work was supported by joint funding from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the NHS.

Members were informed that the Telford & Wrekin Integrated Place Partnership (TWIPP) had agreed three main priorities and established an Accelerator Group to drive operational delivery. This group brought together leads from across the system to coordinate place-based action. A key theme emerging from the groups discussions was the resilience of the voluntary sector, which played a vital role in delivering outcomes. Members acknowledged the ongoing challenge of securing long-term funding and welcomed efforts to explore sustainable solutions.

The Service Delivery Manager Health Improvement & Prevention highlighted the importance of health-promoting organisations and the need to strengthen their role in supporting residents. Members were encouraged by the progress being made to scale up prevention initiatives and build strong foundations for future work.

Members of the Board welcomed the report’s focus on inequalities and the inclusion of case studies. Members commended the report for highlighting the involvement of residents, particularly volunteers, in service delivery and noted the value of giving service users a voice and the positive impact this has on outcomes.

During the discussion Members raised concerns about the long-term effects of youth vaping. The Service Delivery Manager Health Improvement & Prevention responded, confirming that national grant funding had been received to support cessation services for young people. The Board were advised that the team was exploring regional best practice and working with local providers, the licensing team and schools to develop a coordinated response. Members were also advised that that the Borough’s Health & Wellbeing Statement on vaping was currently being updated.  A further update will be brought to a future meeting.

The Board praised the Borough’s Green Flag award and the positive impact of volunteer-led initiatives on mental  ...  view the full minutes text for item HWB4

To receive the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment Update Report.

Members received an update on the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA), which was a statutory responsibility of the Health & Wellbeing Board. The Statutory Director of Public Health advised that the JSNA has been available as a live and interactive website since 2022, and has recently been updated to include life expectancy data up to 2023.

Members were informed that JSNA intelligence was being used effectively to target resources and inform strategic planning, including within the work of the Telford & Wrekin Integrated Place Partnership (TWIPP). This intelligence was being actively shared with partners to support collaborative decision-making.

The Board noted with concern the persistent stall in improvements to healthy lifestyles and life expectancy, particularly in deprived and underserved communities. Members acknowledged that this remains a significant challenge.

It was highlighted that the JSNA plays a crucial role in supporting integrated health and social care planning, and that the intelligence it provides was invaluable in monitoring delivery impact. Members were advised that outcome monitoring will be brought back to the Board at the next meeting.

The Board welcomed the availability of JSNA data at borough and ward level, and queried whether TWIPP uses this intelligence to align resources and inform commissioning decisions. The Statutory Director for Public Health confirmed that this is the case, citing recent work in South East Telford where JSNA data was used to support the development of ‘Live Well’ hubs.

Members were advised that a recorded session from this work was available, and resource packs have been developed for use in other neighbourhoods. Members noted that neighbourhood team engagement was fundamental to this work, and praised the broader use of JSNA data beyond public health, reflecting a more integrated approach.

During the discussion Members raised concerns about the lack of date on individuals with alcohol dependency and smoking and inquired if this information could be extracted from the JSNA. The Statutory Director for Public Health confirmed that this data was to be included in the performance outcome report scheduled for the June meeting, noting its importance as a measure of need. 

Members also noted  the distinction between causes of death and underlying drivers, and the importance of understanding both in shaping effective interventions.

RESOLVED – that:

a)    the JSNA headline messages summarising the latest life expectancy and mortality position in the Borough be noted

b)    the use of JSNA update to influence delivery of the Health & Wellbeing Strategy programmes and TWIPP neighbourhood working, specifically to target inequalities, demonstrating our intelligence-led and equitable targeting approaches be noted

c)    the JSNA will also inform the future updates of the ICP Strategy and ICS Joint Forward Plan.

To receive an update against the progress of the recommendations of the Annual Public Health Report 2024 Emotional Health of our Children and Young People Matters and an overview of the Children and Young People Mental Health service re-commissioning process and current CaMHS waiting lists.

Members received an update from the Statutory Director of Public Health which focused on the final report of the former Director of Public Health, relating to the Annual Public Health Report (APH), and on the emotional health and wellbeing of children and young people (CYP).

Members were reminded that the APH, published last year, was based on focus groups with young people and included eight recommendations for improvement. The current report provided an audit of progress against those recommendations and demonstrated how insights from young people had been used to shape the work of partners. The Board were advised that the CYP Strategy remains a central priority for both the Council and its partners, and that TWIPP has formally adopted CYP mental health as one of its key priorities.

The Board heard that the Youth Partnership Board had continued to develop the local youth offer, including the ‘Making a Change’ project for 11–18-year-olds. This work built on the success of the Young People’s Year of Wellbeing, which has seen thousands of sign-ups and significant engagement through social media. Members were also informed that five lived experience apprentices have been employed to support work with looked-after children, ensuring their voices inform service development.

Members acknowledged the significant increase in demand for CYP mental health services, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was noted that the BeeU service contract was due to end in September, and that additional investment has been made to support services during the recommissioning process. A summary of this work was included in the presentation slides.

The Board welcomed the improvements being made and highlighted the need for a stronger third sector offer for young people, similar to that available for adults. Members praised the involvement of young people in designing logos and shaping the conversation around health and wellbeing from an early age. The Director of Partnerships, Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin ICB, acknowledged that transition between services has historically been a challenge and confirmed that the move to all-age services would address this issue and that the delay in recommissioning was due to the commitment to co-produce the service model with young people.

During the discussion Members raised concerns about waiting times for CAMHS, noting the increasing burden on teachers who are providing more pastoral care. The Director of Partnerships confirmed that an update on waiting lists would be sought from ICB colleagues and noted that a waiting list management group was in place and that improvements had already been made in areas such as complex eating disorders through targeted resource allocation. Members were advised that a written update on waiting lists would be provided.

RESOLVED – that:

a)    the implementation progress of the Director of Public Health’s Annual Report 2024 eight recommendations, which aimed to improve the emotion health and wellbeing of children and young people in the Borough, in line with the HWB strategy priorities be noted

b)    the Board notes that the key recommendation areas which still need to be progressed at  ...  view the full minutes text for item HWB6

To approve the Children and Young People’s Strategy.

Members received an update on the development of the new Children and Young People (CYP) Plan, which brings together a range of priorities and strategies under a single, coherent framework. The Statutory Director of Public Health advised that the plan had been developed in collaboration with partners, particularly across education and skills, and had been presented to the Health & Wellbeing Board in 2024.

The Board were reminded that ‘Starting Well’ was a key priority for the Health & Wellbeing Board, with the plan structured around four core aims: start well, enjoy and achieve, keep safe, and stay well. The intention behind bringing these elements together was to reflect the interconnected nature of the work and its wider impact across services.

Members were informed that the plan had been approved by Cabinet in February, and that it aligns with the commitments of several existing strategies, including those of the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) and the Integrated Care System (ICS). The plan also reflected a strong commitment to embedding the voice of children and young people throughout its development.

The Statutory Director for Public Health outlined the priorities within each of the plan’s four aims, and Members were asked to endorse the plan and recognise the strategic connections it makes across the system.

Members expressed full support for the plan and reiterated the importance of involving young people in shaping services. They emphasised that the health and wellbeing of young people is a shared responsibility, and that building resilience must be a key focus. Members welcomed the Board’s role in endorsing and embedding the strategy across all partners.

During the discussion Members of the Board highlighted the challenges faced by young people with developmental needs in school settings and called for additional support for parents, recognising the impact this can have on school environments. The Statutory Director for Public Health acknowledged that some child development markers remained below expectations and advised that speech and language therapists and skills specialists are being invited into schools to support early development. These professionals have also been invited to present at a future Health & Wellbeing Board meeting, alongside parents, as part of a public engagement session.

RESOLVED – that:

a)    the commitment and proposals in the Telford & Wrekin Children & Young People’s Strategy 2025-2028 be supported

b)    the Telford & Wrekin Children and Young People’s Strategy 2025 – 2028 be approved

To receive an update from Healthwatch Telford & Wrekin and the Integrated Care Board regarding the work that has been undertaken with GP surgeries to improve GP access.

Members received a paper in response to the recent Healthwatch report, which included an update on the Modernising General Practice Plan. The paper outlined the system’s response to the feedback received and detailed the ongoing work to improve access and service delivery in primary care.

The Chief Executive Officer, Shropshire, Telford & (STW)  ICB informed Members that the paper demonstrated how feedback from Healthwatch had been taken seriously and that GPs were responding positively. The update highlighted an increase in appointment availability, with targets being met, while also acknowledging the ongoing challenges faced by general practice.

Members were advised that the report reflects a genuine national issue around demand, and that the work underway locally is part of a broader effort to address this. The Chief Executive Officer STW ICB emphasised the importance of shifting the system’s focus from managing demand to prevention, aligning with wider priorities discussed throughout the meeting and offered to bring a further update to a future meeting and suggested the possibility of inviting a GP representative or the Chief Medical Officer to provide additional insight.

The Statutory Director for Public Health informed the Board that the Health Scrutiny Committee had also reviewed the Healthwatch report. One key issue identified was the need for improved communication about the services available to patients. Scrutiny will continue to monitor this area and explore specific issues affecting GP practices.

The Board agreed that it would be beneficial to bring a future update that includes the outcomes of the Health Scrutiny Committee’s follow-up work.

The Board noted the report and agreed to receive a further update at a future meeting.

Adult Social Care’s Care Quality Commission (CQC) Assessment Outcome Report.

To receive an update on the outcomes following the recent CQC assessment of Adult Social Care.

Appendix A for Adult Social Care’s Care Quality Commission (CQC) Assessment Outcome

Appendix B for Adult Social Care’s Care Quality Commission (CQC) Assessment Outcome

Members received a verbal update from the Director: Adult Social Care on the outcome of the recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) assessment of Adult Social Care (ASC).

The Director Adult Social Care explained that the CQC assurance process had been ongoing for several years and that Telford & Wrekin was among the first wave of local authorities to undergo assessment under the new assurance framework. The process, which followed four pilot assessments, took place over two years and culminated in a formal assurance visit. The Council was pleased to receive a ‘Good’ rating.

The assessment required the submission of over 150 documents within a three-week window, which posed a significant challenge. The Director for Adult Social Care commended the hard work of the ASC team and the collaborative effort across the Council, including contributions from Public Health, Housing, and other departments, to present a unified approach. Members heard this model has since been shared with other local authorities.

The Director for Adult Social care informed Members that a number of key strengths had been highlighted in the final report, which included how the Council enabled people to live independently at home and within their communities, how they showed strong co-production and engagement, with national recognition in this area, a strong culture of leadership, transparency and continuous learning, and their innovative locality team functions and effective management of waiting lists, which have been steadily improving. The CQC has also praised the Independent Living Centre and the use of technology to support independent living.

Members were advised that any areas identified for improvement were being addressed through a Continuous Improvement Plan, which will be reviewed regularly by the Health & Wellbeing Board and Scrutiny Committees. Some of the areas included on this plan were reducing Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) waiting lists, developing the care market, with a focus on reducing residential care placements and increasing support for people to live at home and addressing budget pressures through smarter commissioning.

The Board heard that next steps included continued innovation, embedding improvements, refreshing performance targets, and learning from best practice in other local authorities. Members were asked to note that Telford & Wrekin was also contributing to the future development of the CQC inspection programme through ongoing dialogue.

Members praised the comprehensive presentation and noted that the positive outcome reflects the quality of care provided to residents at their most vulnerable moments. The Board also congratulated the teams involved, highlighting their passion and dedication.

The Board noted the update and endorsed the ongoing improvement work.