Agenda item

This report provides an update on work to deliver a Neighbourhoods Connect service across the borough.

The Chair welcomed Rupal Shah, Groundwork, Sarah Stamp, Haringey Advisory Group on Alcohol (HAGA), and Charlotte Pomery, Assistant Director Commissioning, to the meeting.

 

Ms Pomery informed the Panel that the Council and Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) had commissioned a Neighbourhoods Connect service through the Better Care Fund in 2015. It was explained that the service intended to address social isolation for those needing, or likely to need, interventions from health or from adult social care as part of a preventative approach.

 

The Panel was informed that HAGA and Groundwork had been commissioned to deliver a Neighbourhoods Connect service in four localities, covering the whole borough, aligned to the primary care collaboratives. It was noted that the service had started in June 2015 and had originally been designed to run for a year. However, given the slow development required to engage effectively with people in localities, the Panel was informed a further six months of funding had been agreed and a full evaluation of the service would start in May 2016. It was noted that Groundwork operated across the West Collaborative while HAGA covered the other three (Central, North East and South East).

 

During the discussion, reference was made to the following:

 

-       The impact of loneliness and isolation on people’s health and wellbeing and the importance of connecting people to social activities, hobbies, well being services, hobbies, community groups and volunteering opportunities.

 

-       Themes contributing to loneliness in Haringey, including loss – through bereavement or people leaving home, lack of money and disability.

 

-       The individual and community level objectives for the project.

 

-       The fact that the service had been delivered through a number of settings including regular sessions at libraries, General Practice, community centres, the Partnership Boards, Whittington Health and North Middlesex NHS Trusts, Sheltered Housing and specific events including the CAB beach event on Ducketts Common.

 

-       The role of community centres, such as the Haringey Irish Cultural and Community Centre, and of ward councillors in developing the project.

 

-       The asset mapping work that was being achieved through information sharing with stakeholders, desk top research, information received from the community and working collaboratively with service providers. It was suggested more needed to be done to ensure NHS 111 was fully aware of the project, especially the asset mapping, to enable appropriate signposting for individuals who use NHS 111 who are lonely and unable to take forward key areas of their lives.

 

-       Contact figures for the services provided by HAGA and Groundwork. It was noted that the Neighbourhoods Connect project worked with people aged 18 plus.

 

The Panel was informed that the specification for the service was outcomes based meaning HAGA and Groundwork were able to determine how best to seek and engage with people who may not be in touch with services but who could benefit from some interventions. 

 

Ms Shah provided a summary of the approach that had been taken by Groundwork across the West Collaborative. It was noted that Groundwork had: 

 

-       Conducted baseline surveys with high priority estates identified by Homes for Haringey in the West of the Borough.

 

-       Partnered with existing organisations and services to offer taster sessions to promote what’s on offer across the community.

 

-       Been working with services and teams to encourage referrals to be made for tailored connections to be made.

 

-       Been working with housing schemes to create ‘community hubs’. It was noted that these would continue beyond the life of the project.

 

-       Working with residents to develop better connections within their neighbourhoods which would go beyond the life of the project. 

 

In terms of outcomes from the West Collaborative the Panel was asked to note the following:

 

-       1125 initial and post surveys distributed.

 

-       85 people had attended events and taster sessions.

 

-       11 people had completed well being assessments.

 

-       24 referrals received – both self referrals and from professionals.

 

-       124 individuals had been connected through the project.

 

-       27 connections made with partners and organisations.

 

-       The support that was being provided to two housing schemes to create ‘community hubs’.   

 

Ms Stamp then provided a summary of the approach that had been taken by HAGA across the other three primary care collaborative areas in Haringey. The following issues were discussed:

 

-       The drop-ins held in community locations.

 

-       The public and community events that had taken place.

 

-       The brief and extended interventions that had been used to support behaviour change.

 

-       Social prescribing.

 

-       Motivational interviewing techniques.

 

-       The importance of partnership working.

 

-       The taster sessions that had taken place at Shine Enterprise Centre.

 

-       The five ways to well-being workshop and time credits.      

 

In terms of outcomes the Panel was informed HAGA measured: engagement in community activities; the use of A&E; participation in employment, training and volunteering; referrals to other services, groups or projects; and client goals. It was noted that wellbeing was measured using the Warwick Edinburgh scale.

 

The Panel was asked to note that the following would be considered when evaluating the success of the project:

 

-       The number of people engaged, connections made, follow up surveys completed.

 

-       The quality of experience for individuals.

 

-       How the service had impacted well being, quality of life and future outcomes.

 

-       How organisations and services were benefiting.

 

-       The success of the community hubs.     

 

Moving forward, the Panel agreed it would be useful to receive an update on the Neighbourhoods Connect project, at their September 2016 meeting. The Panel requested that this provide clarity in terms of how outcomes from the project are measured, and asked for further information concerning other work that was taking place, across the Council, to tackle social isolation.

 

AGREED:

 

(a)  That the work to deliver a Neighbourhoods Connect service across the borough be noted.

 

(b)  That an update on the Neighbourhoods Connect Project be prioritised as part of the panel’s future work programme for September 2016. This should provide clarity in terms of how outcomes from the project are measured and outline other work, taking place across the Council, to tackle social isolation.