To receive a verbal update on the impact of Covid-19 on Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities.
Minutes:
Geoffrey Ocen, Bridge Renewal Trust, introduced the item and outlined some of the wider work and progress that was being made in relation to the key action point plan for tackling racial injustice that had been agreed with communities and stakeholders. It was explained that there was a Health Inequality Board, co-Chaired by Geoffrey Ocen, Bridge Renewal Trust, and Zina Etheridge, Haringey Council Chief Executive. This Board worked in partnership to progress the key action points: policy and strategy; community safety, social justice, and policing; health and wellbeing; education, attainment and out of school activity; faith and identity; arts, culture, heritage, and place; economy and employment; and workforce. It was noted that the Council had recently appointed a programme manager, Christina Andrew, who would be able to consolidate this work.
Geoffrey Ocen, Bridge Renewal Trust, explained that he would not go through every action point in detail but would provide key updates. In relation to data, it was reported that all boroughs in North Central London had now agreed to include ethnicity on death registrations and it was considered that this would support the monitoring of health impacts and outcomes. It was also noted that a significant number of front line staff were from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds. At North Middlesex Hospital, there had been progress in providing wellbeing and psychological support for front line staff, including the provision of health checks and wellbeing activities such as yoga. At Whittington Hospital, there was a workforce race equality team which was delivering good work, such as a programme for Black History Month. There was also a Diversity Steering Group within the CCG and a GP Lead for Mental Health who was considering BAME Inequalities in relation to mental health.
It was noted that a key element of the action plan during the Covid-19 pandemic was digital. Geoffrey Ocen, Bridge Renewal Trust, explained that there had been a pilot in relation to providing digital support and equipment to school children from an early age. The aim of the pilot was to improve children’s learning as well as their families’ learning. It was noted that, alongside the pilot, funding of at least £40,000 had been provided by the Council, Whittington Hospital, North Middlesex Hospital, and Barnet, Enfield, and Haringey Mental Health Trust to provide wrap around support for families to support them more holistically. It was added that there was also a Council programme to provide internet data, mobile phones, and other digital equipment to those who needed it and an ongoing Council and Haringey Giving campaign to fund digital equipment. In addition, it was noted that Haringey Healthwatch and the CCG were working to improve digital access for patients.
In relation to funding, there had been serious discussions around how to restructure funding arrangements. It was noted that a number of organisations, including BAME organisations, struggled to become sustainable; it was considered that providing initial support for these organisations meant that they could fund their core costs and then work to generate their own funding. It was noted that the Council had provided £500,000 of funding to organisations in the first national lockdown which had directly supported community organisations, including BAME organisations. It was added that Public Health had also secured some funding for Community Protect, a 12 month partnership programme led by the Bridge Renewal Trust, together with Public Voice and Mind in Haringey, to deliver community-based health messaging via the Voluntary and Community Sector to specific target demographic groups.
Geoffrey Ocen, Bridge Renewal Trust, explained that a key action point was ensuring equitable access to services. There had been discussions relating to food strategy, free school meals, and overcrowding and how these could be addressed; this had included reviews in service areas and the possibility of introducing a template for reviewing all service areas. It was also noted that an important element in progress was communicating any ongoing work and there would be an update in the Equality and Inclusion bulletin which was due to be circulated in late January.
The Chair noted that the range of ongoing initiatives demonstrated the energy and progress on this issue and she welcomed the new programme manager on behalf of the Board.
Charlotte Pomery, Assistant Director for Commissioning, explained that a significant amount of work was underway and it would be important to embed this as ‘business as usual’ rather than initiatives. This would require a better understanding of available data in order to respond to the needs of residents and that this should be further developed over the coming months. Sharon Grant, Healthwatch Chair, noted that it would be important for some of the work to be targeted, rather than ‘business as usual’, to make sure that it was relevant and accessible for particular ethnic groups. Geoffrey Ocen, Bridge Renewal Trust, agreed and noted that this had also been discussed at Health Inequality Board meetings. He acknowledged that there would likely need to be some focus on initiatives before support was embedded in ordinary business; it was noted that this would require time and resourcing and that the new programme manager post was an important step.
RESOLVED
To note the update.