Agenda item

The attached report asks the Adults and Health Scrutiny Panel to note the evaluation of the Neighbourhoods Connect service and the wider work to develop a community wellbeing model for the borough, and to contribute to the emerging approach.

Dr Tamara Djuretic, Assistant Director of Public Health, advised that the Council and Haringey CCG had jointly commissioned a Neighbourhoods Connect service through the Better Care Fund in 2015. It was noted the service had intended to address social isolation for those needing, or likely to need, interventions from health or adult social care as part of a preventative approach.

The Panel was informed that following the evaluation of the Neighbourhoods Connect pilot that the CCG and Council had agreed the importance of commissioning a model that would address community health and wellbeing and co-ordinate the range of community based services across the borough.

In response to questions, Dr Djuretic explained that a decision had been made to pause any decision on whether to re-commission the Neighbourhoods Connect service itself. This was in order to agree an overarching strategic framework for community based approaches to health and wellbeing and to determine the precise nature of the service to be commissioned.   

During the discussion, reference was made to the following:

-       The evaluation of the Neighbourhoods Connect service attached at Appendix 1 to the report. A variety of issues were discussed in relation to the pilot including issues and concerns relating to service objectives, value for money and the methodology that had been used.

-       Emerging thinking concerning social prescribing locally and work that was taking place in other boroughs, including Tower Hamlets.

-       Budget pressures faced by both the Council and CCG and the importance of co-ordinating resources, for example via the Better Care Fund, and adopting a strategic approach across the borough.

-       The variety of community-centred approaches linked to health and wellbeing, including the diagram attached at Appendix 2 to the report.

-       Key stakeholders in relation to the emerging model, including the asset mapping work that was being undertaken by the Bridge Renewal Trust.

-       The importance of providing clarity in terms of how outcomes from the model would be measured.

The Panel was informed that the Council’s Corporate Plan set the overarching vision and the strategic framework for the emerging community approach to prevention. However, additional outcomes had been identified, including: 

-       Reduction in inequalities across the borough

-       Improved wellbeing and social connectivity 

-       Reduced social isolation

-       Increased patient/resident/service user satisfaction

-       Reduced levels of service use (whether in primary or secondary health care, social care or other statutory provision)

-       Changing type of services used e.g. increased use of the voluntary and community sectors

-       Increased self-management and self-support

-       Prescribing of specific medications reduced (to be defined)

-       Supported primary, community and social care.

Dr Djuretic concluded by explaining the new model was being developed at pace and would be informed by a multi-agency workshop being held during July. It was noted that work in this area would align with the work to develop a new model for day opportunities in the borough.

AGREED:

(a)  That an update on the Community Wellbeing Model be prioritised as part of the panel’s future work programme for March 2017.

(b)  That the Assistant Director of Public Health, and Assistant Director of Commissioning, be asked to look at ways to involve non-executive members in the development of the Community Wellbeing Model, allowing opportunities to scrutinise how outcomes would be measured prior to the model being finalised.