Agenda and minutes

All Members who believe they have a Disclosable Pecuniary or other Interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting must declare that interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in Section 4 paragraph 4.6 of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter is discussed.

No declarations were made.

The Board noted with great sadness that Colin Pill of Slough Healthwatch had recently passed away.  The Chair paid tribute to Mr Pill and recognised his contribution to the Board, of which he had been a founding member, and more widely for his achievements in giving local people a strong voice in shaping local health and wellbeing services.  A minutes silence was observed at the beginning of the meeting.

It was noted that there had been a change in representation on the Board from the Department for Work & Pensions.  Adrian Davies, Partnership Manager, had succeeded Lucy Bowman.  Mr Davies was welcomed to the Board.

Resolved –  That the membership update be noted.

In relation to matters discussed at the last meeting on 12^th January 2021 the Board noted that:

·  Representation from the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce on the Workplace Health Task and Finish Group had not yet confirmed.

·  The bid for Health Foundation Grant funding to improve workplace health had been submitted.  There was strong competition for this funding and a decision was expected within the next week.  The Board would be informed of the outcome.

Resolved –  That the minutes of the meeting held on 12^th January 2021 be approved as a correct record.

The Independent Scrutineer of the Safeguarding Partnership, David Peplow, and the Safeguarding Partnership Manager, Betty Lynch, summarised the Slough Safeguarding Partnership Annual Report for 2019/20.

The report was an account of the effectiveness of the Slough Safeguarding Partnership for the year to the end of March 2020.  The report had been delayed to Covid-19 and was therefore a retrospective assessment of the position at that time.  Work was well underway in preparing the annual report to March 2021 and this would come to the Board later in the year.  The previous Local Safeguarding Children Board had transitioned into the partnership halfway through the reporting year bringing adults and children’s safeguarding under a single structure.  The first year of the combined partnership had included strengthening the leadership and governance arrangements and there had been a focus on improving practice and the creation of a multi-agency quality assurance programme.  Covid-19 had had a significant impact towards the end of the reporting period and into 2020/21.  These issues would be reflected in the next annual report.

Members asked a number of questions about specific aspects of the report, including the reported increase in Modern Slavery from 1% to 3.5% in the year.  It was responded that the Safer Slough Partnership had led a major awareness raising campaign on Modern Slavery in 2019/20 and this had led to an increase in referrals and more support provided.  The increased understanding and reporting of Modern Slavery would help to partners tackle this important issue more effectively in the future.  In relation to the reported increase in self-neglect it was noted that there hadn’t been a significant increase in individuals presenting at hospitals but there had been a significant increase in the demand for mental health services.  The approach being taken was on prevention and to try to help people at an earlier stage.

(Tessa Lindfield joined the meeting)

There was a discussion about self harm and abuse in Slough’s south Asian communities.  It was agreed to include more ethnicity data in next years report.  The Safeguarding Leaders Group were due to consider the 2020/21 annual report at its meeting in July and would therefore come to the Slough Wellbeing Board in the Autumn.  Priorities for the next year were raised including the recording of misogyny, hate crime and safety for women more generally in the wake of the murder of Sarah Everard in London.  These issues would be taken forward by the Safer Slough Partnership and the Board agreed the importance of ensuring the voice of women needed to be heard as part of the engagement process.

At the conclusion of the discussion the report was noted.

Resolved –  That the Slough Safeguarding Partnership Annual Report for 2019/20 be noted.

The Board received an update on the work of the Children and Young People’s Partnership Board (CYPB)

The CYBP had been reinvigorated and aimed to improve the experiences of children and young people in receipt of services.  A new multi-agency Children and Young People’s Partnership Plan was being developed.  The CYPB had had a positive meeting in February and it had been agreed to establish three workstreams to focus on which where a Data Group, Engagement Voice Group and a Mapping Group.  The initial priorities for each group was set out and it was highlighted that this work would be informed by learning from other areas and partnerships.  Overall, it was considered that good progress had been made and a clear path had been set to move the partnership forward in a positive way.

The Board welcomed the update and progress being made.  The Starting Well Dashboard set out in the appendix to the report was discussed.  It included high level indicators on early years attainment, childhood obesity, immunisation rates and oral health.  In each case the data showed the challenges facing Slough as the indicators were worse than South East and national averages in each case over a sustained period.  The Chair highlighted the work done on oral health in the past two years and commented that bringing together key partners in a focused and action orientated way to address such an issue could be model for future action.

At the conclusion of the discussion the Board were supportive of the work undertaken to strengthen the CYPB and looked forward to future engagement and progress.

Resolved –  That the work to strengthen the Children and Young People’s Partnership Board and develop a new partnership plan be noted.

The Council’s Executive Director of People (Adults) introduced a report that updated on the work of the Health & Social Care Partnership Board to deliver on Wellbeing Strategy Priority Two – Integration.

It was reported that work was ongoing on a new Health & Care Plan which would shape the work between partners to deliver greater health and social care integration.  The plan would focus on themes including post-Covid recovery and restoration, locality plans, integrated community health for mental health, frailty pathways, learning disabilities support and maternity hubs.  The partnership had also been discussing a range of other issues such as reviewing the Winter Plan, managing the Better Care Fund and developing a partnership approach to the problem of hoarding.  The draft integration dashboard would included as an appendix to the report and further work would be undertaken to complete and refine it.

The Board discussed the work on the new plan and particularly welcomed the significant engagement from partners to ensure it was genuinely a shared plan rather than a composite of individual partners strategies.  The Government was expected to take through legislation which would put integrated care systems on a legal footing.  It was suggested that a report on the implications of the legislation come to a future meeting of the Board.

At the conclusion of the discussion the report was noted.

Resolved –  That the report be noted.

The Chair invited partners to suggest items to be added to the work programme for the new municipal year.  The Board agreed that integrated care and the ICS would be key priorities for the coming year and it was agreed to receive an update on the ICS and role of place at a future meeting.

Resolved –  That the work programme for the meeting in May 2021 be noted.

Resolved –  That details of the Attendance Report be noted.

The date of the next meeting was confirmed as 12^th May 2021 at 5pm.