Health Reforms
Significant work has been happening across the East of England to prepare for the health reforms. The East of England LGA is collaborating with the Local Government Association (LGA), NHS Midlands and East and the regional Department of Health (DH) team to co-ordinate support and development for Health and Wellbeing Boards (HWB), across the East of England.
Although there are several strands to this work, they are all part of the same "Health and Wellbeing Board - Development Programme," and described below.
Current Support
- An East of England Adult Services and Health Portfolio-Holder Network
To provide councils, through their
political leadership, the opportunity to collaborate on a number of
important policy areas and share learning. Information on the network meetings is available at
http://www.eelga.gov.uk/events/networks/view-network.aspx?ID=23
- A development programme for HWB Lead Members
A short series of high-level workshops to equip HWB Lead Members with the skills to tackle the challenges involved in their role, and explore practical solutions and tools that can be applied to making their board's work really effective.
- A HWB Coordinators Network
This Network brings together the HWB coordinators from each of the 11
unitary and county councils in the East to allow opportunity for
information-sharing and encourage a peer support approach and learning.
For further information about this network get in touch with
Hannah.shah@eelga.gov.uk.
It is worth noting the following activity is also taking place to support local Councils and their partners as they take on their new health roles:
- Healthwatch Leads Network
Local Authority leads from across the region, meet on a monthly to share approaches to Healthwatch development, and to identify and work on issues of common concern, and bi-monthly they come together with their LINk counterparts for a pathfinders' progress meeting. For further information about this meeting get in touch with
claire.ogley@enableeast.org.uk.
- Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs)
As part of their ambition to improve the relationship between health and local government, NHS Midlands and East are providing tailored development support to CCGs in taking on their new responsibilities. This support will include some work around partnership working and in particular working with Local Government Colleagues.
Previous support
- Bespoke Support for Health and Wellbeing Boards
A coordinated offer from the LGA and the NHS Leadership Academy to
provide bespoke support to assist Health and Wellbeing Boards with
specific challenges or development issues as they become operational.
Support is tailored to the requirements of individual boards and can
include: leadership development; stakeholder engagement;
priority-setting; peer challenge; board development. Please note that
following discussions with each Board in the East of England this
programme is now at capacity.
Scenario workshops for Health and Wellbeing board members to explore how
well they are working together in dealing with realistic dilemmas and
challenges in a safe and developmental space. Each Health and Wellbeing
Board has been invited to send between 4-7 representatives to the
workshops. These will be run by the LGA with the University of
Birmingham. East of England LGA will support and facilitate the events.
The event is taking place on 4th Sept at Homerton College, Cambridge.
Induction workshops for health portfolio holders and members with a health lead/interest.
- To develop a good understanding of the health reforms and how they impact locally ie what is changing, why and what will it mean
- To consider the role of members with the health brief and in particular in relation to GP consortia
A workshop was delivered in summer 2011.
Support to district councils through bespoke 'Getting to Know You' workshop aimed at local areas where relationships between local government and health will be fairly new.
- To develop a good local understanding of organisational roles (two tier system and how health service works and what is changing) and who is who in these organisations, clarify vehicles for keeping in touch going forward
- Build dialogue about shared priorities and whole system fit, including opportunities for place based approaches
This programme was delivered in 2011. Read about the pilot workshop with South Norfolk District Council here.
Other useful sources of information
- The East of England Public Health and Social Care Directorate produces a regular short newsletter on public health issues, "Public Health and Wellbeing in the East". The latest edition focuses on the links between work and health and also summarises the ongoing changes to public health, and is aimed at leaders in health, local government, public services, business, and voluntary organisations across the region. The newsletter includes lots of useful information about sickness absence, ways to improve staff health and wellbeing, and mental health, and should be interesting to leaders, managers and staff in human resources. The publication can be accessed at http://www.eoe.nhs.uk/page.php?page_id=2170
- The Joint Improvement Partnership produces a very useful monthly bulletin as part of their Clinical Commissioning Support Project. These bulletins contain information on the progress towards implementation of the health reforms, including national and regional updates on the Health and Wellbeing Boards, progress of the Clinical Commissioning Groups and good practice examples around integration and commissioning. The latest bulletins are included below: