Agenda and minutes

Apologies for Absence were received from:

-           Councillor Vi Dempster - Deputy City Mayor (Education, Libraries & Community Centres), LCC

-           Councillor Elly Cutkelvin - Deputy City Mayor (Housing & Neighbourhoods), LCC

-           Sue Tilly - Head of the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership

-           Rani Mahal - Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland

-           Rupert Matthews - Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland Police and Crime Commissioner

-           Rachna Vyas - Chief Operating Officer, LLR Integrated Care Board (ICB)

-           Sarah Prema – Chief Strategy Officer, LLR ICB

-           Prof Andrew Fry – College Director of Research, Leicester University

Members are asked to declare any interests they may have in the business to be discussed at the meeting.

Members were asked to declare any interests they may have in the business to be discussed at the meeting.  No such declarations were received.

The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Board held on 23 November 2023 are attached and the Board is asked to confirm them as a correct record.

·         It was requested that the job role for Kevin Allen-Khimani be amended to “Chief Executive”.

·         It was requested that Cathy Ellis be removed from the membership of the Board as she has left LPT.

RESOLVED:

-       That the Minutes of the previous meeting of the Board, held on 23 November 2023, be confirmed as a correct record once the correction noted above has been made.

-       That the membership of the Board be amended as noted above.

The Chair to invite questions from members of the public.

No questions from members of the public had been received.

A presentation on the background of Leicester Mammas and the work that they have been doing. The organisation focuses on the First 1001 Critical Days and provides breastfeeding support to families across the city, with a focus on those experiencing any vulnerabilities or living in areas of social deprivation.

Sally Etheridge (Programme Lead – Leicester Mammas) presented on the recent work of Mammas, which has been running for 15 years. The organisation focusses on supporting city families for the first 1001 critical days. There is a focus on those experiencing any vulnerabilities or living in areas of social deprivation. Details of the scope of the work can be found in the agenda pack – but some points noted from the presentation were:-

•           Although there is a focus on breastfeeding, the team support all feeding - and pathways are in place from pregnancy to 2 years.

•           DHSC funding in 2021 enabled the “Starting Well” project in conjunction with Heads Up Leicester (formally Centre For Fun & Families). This additional funding meant the offer to families, including antenatal classes, could be expanded. The project was externally evaluated by Leicester University – with findings including increased self-esteem/confidence and reduced social isolation/mental health concerns.

•           LPT sub-contract Mammas to provide the breastfeeding element of the 0-19 Healthy Child Programme (known locally as Healthy Together) via one-to-one or group support sessions. These were allowed to continue through pandemic lockdowns – but Zoom was also utilised for online sessions.

•           Leicester has higher rates than the England average for breastfeeding at six weeks (the NHSE datapoint) but Mammas will soon be collecting tracking data beyond six weeks.

•           The most deprived women are the least likely to establish breastfeeding –and also more likely to have premature babies or other vulnerabilities.

•           There is an information insert in the Red Book (given to all new mums).

•           Referrals come from various sources – and also via two helplines (one of which is for Gujarati and Urdu speakers).

•           WhatsApp is used for groups – and there are over 1200 mothers in the current network. The groups are closed and by invitation only. The participants reflect the demographic make-up of the city.

•           Antenatal courses have been running from Wesley Hall for a number of years, with around 250 parents per year attending; these are currently funded via Better Care Fund (BCF) and ICB monies.

•           Support is offered for as long as the family want – and at the level of the family’s personal preference.

•           Ambassador training can be given to anyone interested, but Peer Supporter volunteers need to have breastfed themselves. 44 women completed the Ambassador course last year.

•           Mammas offer free breast pump loans for as long as required.

•           There are face-to-face meets (at Parks, cafes, swimming pools etc) plus weekly Zoom sessions on a variety of topics such as sleep, bonding, oral health, weaning etc.

•           Some additional BCF funding has been secured which has allowed for additional sessions in South Leicester, New Parks and Thurnby Lodge.

•           The Mammas Baby Project has utilised BCF funds to support pregnant and new families facing adversity, which includes assisting with access to Healthy Start and providing vouchers for formula. Anyone can refer into this service (or parents can self-refer).  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.

Introduces the Health and Wellbeing Board to the work of the Community Wellbeing Champions (CWC) Project, which was set up by Public Health in light of Covid-19 to support community engagement efforts in relation to the pandemic and wider health and wellbeing needs.

Nazira Vania (Project Manager, Public Health, Leicester City Council) presented an overview of the work of the Community Wellbeing Champions (CWC) project. The project was set up by Public Health, during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, to support community engagement efforts in relation to vaccination and wider health/wellbeing needs.

The following points were noted:

•           The champions can be any individual that promotes or supports health and wellbeing at a local level. There are currently 329 members in the network, from 145 organisations, and this is continually growing.

•           Examples of the work of the small team (comprising of Nazira Vania and Joel Carter) include:-

o          The “How Are You Leicester?” survey undertaken in 2022

o          Events, focus groups and engagements – and particularly those that inputted into Health Needs Assessments and Consultations to give a broader range of voices.

o          Weekly emails to the network to share information, event details and research.

o          Three in-person conferences, with a fourth one taking place in February 2024 (which will focus on the topic of Mental Health and Social Isolation).

o          13 Forums held to date – where initiative leaders can attend to present.

o          The Covid-19 Vaccine Confidence Programme.

o          Input into the Cost-of-Living Incident Management Team meetings.

o          Assisting the ICB to deliver the Super-Vaccinator Project.

•           It is difficult to measure outcomes, but increased reach and engagement can be demonstrated. In addition, network members have sent positive feedback, and the work has helped to strengthen the infrastructure for future crises.

•           Learning from the work, and upcoming challenges, includes:-

o          Some geographical gaps,

o          Some capacity issues around the growing demand,

o          Recruitment and retention of champions is a challenge,

o          Sustainability of projects due to uncertainty around funding (funding currently set to end March 2026).

•           Areas for development are:-

o          Increase presence, profile and training,

o          Strengthen partnership working,

o          Explore a Volunteer CWC role,

o          Aim to get a Graduate Project Officer joining the team. 

•           The Presenting Officer asked members for comments on how the project can support the work of the Board, and how insight from the project can feed into the Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

Comments and questions from the Board:-

•           The Member representing Voluntary Action LeicesterShire (VAL) noted that VAL is an accredited Volunteer Centre with volunteers that may be suitable for Public Health work. He will be meeting Kate Huszar in February – and this meeting will be extended to include the Presenting Officer.

•           The Director of Public Health was proud of this project and the approach of the small team around listening, understanding and then responding in a nuanced way. As such, this community engagement benefits all systems represented by the Board. He noted that the Department for Levelling Up had visited him on 12.1.24 to discuss community cohesion in Leicester – and this project had been presented to them as an example.

•           The Chair noted that conversations about funding will need to take place in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

An introduction into Healthwatch and an update of the work undertaken recently and plans for the upcoming year. Some exploration of where HWB can support and where engagement may be valuable in terms of the HWB strategy.

Gemma Barrow (Healthwatch Manager for Healthwatch Leicester and Healthwatch Leicestershire) presented on the work undertaken recently and the plans for the upcoming year.

It was noted that:

•           Healthwatch Leicester (now sitting within VAL) is the City’s provider of this national programme providing a local health and social care champion. Details of the vision, mission and values were shown on the slides (also in the agenda pack).

•           Healthwatch is an independent statutory body. There are four staff per Healthwatch on average, totalling 595 full time equivalent staff across the UK. This encompasses 3700 volunteers.

•           Functions are carried out via:-

o          Public engagement and community outreach.

o          Local volunteers are trained to visit selected settings as part of the “Enter and View” programme. Reports are written and intelligence/recommendations are shared across the health and social care system.

o          The team work closely with partners (LCC, LPT etc) and the Care Quality Commission.

o          Healthwatch has a seat at Strategic Boards to advocate and influence.

•           In 2023 over 30,000 people in LLR were supported to either access advice/information – or to have a say on their care.

•           In the last year, LLR residents are reporting the following issues:-

o          Accessing primary care services (and particularly NHS dentistry)

o          Waiting times for mental health services

o          Accessing services for the aging population

o          The cost-of-living impacts

o          Language barriers – particularly in understanding health information

·         Some examples of pieces of work in the last year were noted as:-

o          Vaccine uptake work

o          Work around access to dentistry and sharing intelligence data (including commissioner meetings and input into the Oral Health Joint Strategic Needs Assessment).

o          Dementia Survey (350 people responded) and input into the Council’s Dementia Strategy.

o          Presence at train stations for World Mental Health Day (600 engagements made) as part of the “R U ok?” campaign.

o          Engagement with the City and County hotels used to house asylum seekers – with subsequent reports available to view on the Healthwatch website. This was done in conjunction with LPT and City’s Public Health team.

o          Awareness raising of Lipoedema.

o          Profile raising via local radio broadcasts and leaflets/posters.

o          A visit and re-visit to the Accident & Emergency Department.

•           Plans for the coming year were noted as:-

o          Access and communication explorations with identified groups

o          Supported Living engagement

o          Continuing the Enter & View programme for Care Homes and GP practices – but including more Mental Health Units and Community Diagnostic Centres.

o          Network session and the Summer and Winter Tours (with a bigger focus on engaging with businesses).

Comments and questions from the Board:-

-           The Member representing Adult Social Care thanked the Presenting Officer for Healthwatch’s valuable insights that were incorporated into the Dementia Strategy refresh. She was also keen to link with Healthwatch when they undertake the engagement around Supported Living.

-           The Chair noted that the names of the hotels housing asylum seekers had not been made public by LCC in case this made  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

A presentation on the Active Leicester Strategy, which was published in summer 2023. In response to the strategy action plan, the report will also shine a light on Active Leicester’s response to the strategy, with a pilot approach that is being adopted at Aylestone Leisure centre.

Overview of BCF, its background and how it is currently managed. Position of BCF at Q2 is highlighted with some examples of achievements, challenges and case studies given.

Ruth Lake (Director of Adult Social Care & Safeguarding, LCC) presented an overview of the BCF, its background and how it is currently managed. The position at Quarter 2 is highlighted in the papers circulated – with some examples of achievements, challenges and case studies.

It was noted that:

·                The BCF is a pooled fund to support integrated approaches – and is now in its 10^th year.

·                Focus began with adults but has spread out now to encompass children and families.

·                An aim of the projects supported is to delay the need for statutory services or hospital admission – or to assist in timely discharge when hospital admission cannot be avoided.

·                All of the priorities are on track for Quarter 2.

·                A key success of the work is the strong relationships and joint working that have been built. One example is the Unscheduled Care Hub, which has been nominated for awards. Another is the Rehabilitation, Reablement & Recovery programme (which went live 1.11.23); this has had an impact on reducing delayed discharge.

·                Other examples are the Falls Response work, the 91-day outcome (and Leicester is consistently performing well against this metric), the Centre Project and the work of Mammas.

·                Challenges were noted as:-

o   Complex system influences and pressures

o   Capacity issues within the Emergency Department and around beds

o   The financial position within the system

 Comments and questions from the Board:-

-        The Members representing Leicestershire Fire and Rescue noted that their service have seen an increase in issues around both falls and transport between home and hospital – and he was keen for the Control Room to be giving the correct advice on both issues.

RESOLVED:

1.  That the Board thanked Officers for the report - and asked that comments from the Board be taken into account.

2.  That the Member representing Leicestershire Fire and Rescue will contact the Presenting Officer to enable correct advice to be passed on to Control Room staff around falls and home/hospital transport.

To note that meetings have been arranged for the following dates in 2023/2024 which were submitted to the Annual Council in May 2023.  Please add these dates to your diaries.  Diary appointments will be sent to Board Members.

Thursday 22 February 2024 – 9.30am

Thursday 18 April 2024 – 9.30am

Meetings of the Board are scheduled to be held in Meeting Rooms G01 and 2 at City Hall unless stated otherwise on the agenda for the meeting.

The Board noted that future meetings of the Board would be held on the following dates:-

Thursday 22 February 2023 – 9.30am

Thursday 13 April 2023 – 9.30 am

Meetings of the Board are scheduled to be held in Meeting Rooms G01 and 2 at City Hall unless stated otherwise on the agenda for the meeting.

St Johns Ambulance city-centre evening sessions; a BID Leicester project:

·         Following a recent presentation at the Community Safety Partnership, The Chair had asked Sarah Harrison (City Centre Director, LCC) to attend to present on this project.

·         The sessions commenced in 2021 and run from 10pm to 5am. Using funding from the Police Crime Commissioners Office, this has now grown to 47 sessions in the last year.

·         The work of the St Johns Ambulance staff has meant a reduction in NHS and Police time – and this has therefore meant savings for the system.

·         Other regions in the UK are looking to replicate the project as an example of best practice.

·         The service started as a static service – but now includes bicycle response.

·         The service has been evaluated, and another bid has been made for Police Crime Commissioners Office funds to continue the project. Public Health in LCC have also been approached for funding.

·         The Members representing the ICB were keen to make links, particularly as the project will impact by reducing pressures on the Emergency Department.

·         The Member representing Adult Social Care noted that the vehicles had been useful during the heatwave for providing the public with drinking water; she felt that other uses/opportunities could be explored (and The Presenting Officer agreed with this).

RESOLVED:

i)             That Members will support conversations to continue the project.

ii)            That The Presenting Officer will send the presentation slides and Annual Report to the ICB representatives.

iii)           That The Presenting Officer will have conversations, with the Member representing Adult Social Care, around additional uses for the St Johns Ambulance vehicles. 

There being no other business the meeting closed at 11.52 am.

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