The Health Improvement Partnership Board was scheduled to meet to discuss a range of topics, including updates on mental health services, community health development, and local area coordination. The board was also expected to review performance data related to Oxfordshire's Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy and receive a report from the Healthwatch Oxfordshire ambassador.

Community Health Development Officer Programme

The Health Improvement Board was scheduled to note the role of Community Health Development Officers (CHDOs) in supporting community-level health and wellbeing. CHDOs are funded by Oxfordshire County Council and hosted by district or city councils to cover areas where community insight profiles have been developed¹. These profiles aim to understand factors influencing health and wellbeing in areas at risk of poor health or health inequalities.

The CHDO programme is considered a key component of the council's public health work to reduce health inequalities and a key enabler in the Marmot programme². CHDOs act as connectors within communities, supporting the implementation of community insight profile recommendations through local action planning, organising partnership meetings, building capacity among local organisations, facilitating access to grant funding, and raising awareness of public health services.

The report included examples of CHDO activities, such as community outreach, partnership meetings, and support for local initiatives. For example, in Barton, the CHDO partnered with Aspire, Stop for Life OXON, Community Dental Services, and Alzheimer's Society for larder roadshows, and supported the local association with volunteer coordination and training needs assessments. In The Leys, the CHDO supported collaboration between Blackbird Leys Adventure Playground and WEmpowered, and helped Body Mind Soul Community Interest Company launch walking netball and mentoring sessions.

The CHDO programme is being evaluated by the University of Oxford as part of the Oxfordshire Health Humanities Project. Initial findings suggest the programmes fulfilled their objectives in distributing grant funding and engaging with community groups, and that local and social relationships are important in improving access to existing health assets.

Local Area Coordination in Oxfordshire

The Health Improvement Board was scheduled to note the role that Local Area Coordinators (LACs) play in supporting prevention initiatives and building connected communities. Oxfordshire County Council has funded LAC posts in four areas, each with a population of around 10,000, initially focusing on areas where data suggested poorer health, wellbeing, and life outcomes, but not in the ten most deprived wards.

The LAC approach aims to foster community resilience and independence by connecting people with local resources and support networks. LACs help people access personalised information and short-term support, develop longer-term relationships with people facing complex life situations, cultivate strong partnerships with community members, and collect stories to drive transformative changes in the wider health and social care system.

A story was included in the report to illustrate the LAC approach: A woman (LS) was introduced to the Chipping Norton LAC by a voluntary organisation that was helping her with finances. The LAC facilitated LS stopping smoking, attending a domestic abuse course and gaining confidence to attend community groups. Through those groups she gained friends and skills, including IT skills.

The LAC approach in Oxfordshire is also being evaluated by Public Health and the University of Oxford.

Mental Health Hubs (Keystone Programme)

The Health Improvement Board was scheduled to receive an update on the mental health hubs, also known as the Keystone Programme. Tasmin Irving from Oxford Health was scheduled to present this item. The update was expected to cover the current locations of the hubs and any plans for new hubs or locations in the future, as well as how the hubs link with community providers and other services, such as social prescribers and Community Health Development Officers.

The Community Mental Health Framework is a NHSE transformation project with funding provided over three years, from 2021/2022 to 2023/2024. The aim of the CMHF is for care to be closer to home, when and where patients need it.

The model in Oxfordshire was co-produced in partnership with representatives across the system, including partner organisations, staff, patients, and carers. The programme aimed to promote mental and physical health, treat mental health problems effectively, improve quality of life, maximise continuity of care, address health inequalities, and build a model of care based on inclusivity.

There are currently five Keystone Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs open on the high street in Banbury, Kidlington, Oxford City, Abingdon and Wantage. There are also eight Keystone Mental Health Teams (KMHTs) fully functioning in Abingdon, Banbury, Blackbird Leys/City East, North City and NE Oxon and Wantage/Didcot/Farringdon, Wallingford/Henley/Thame, and Witney.

Challenges include recruitment, securing accommodation for further hubs, managing walk-ins, and the fact that not all Primary Care Networks (PCNs) have adopted Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRs) ³ (Specialist Mental Health Workers).

Healthwatch Oxfordshire Report

Robert Majilton, Healthwatch Oxfordshire Ambassador, was scheduled to present a report to the Health Improvement Board. Healthwatch Oxfordshire gathers views and experiences of people in Oxfordshire about health and social care.

Since the last meeting in February 2025, Healthwatch Oxfordshire published reports on:

• Listening to men in Oxfordshire
• What we heard about pharmacy
• What you told us about GP services
• Urgent and emergency care services

A forthcoming report on women's health services was also mentioned.

Performance Report

Panagiota Birmpili, Public Health Registrar, Oxfordshire County Council, was scheduled to present a performance report. The report was expected to cover key outcomes and supporting indicators within the Oxfordshire's Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2024-2030, focusing on the priorities of Healthy People, Healthy Places (including healthy weight, smoke-free environments, and alcohol-related harm) and Physical Activity and Active Travel (including physical activity, active travel, and mental wellbeing).

Of the 25 indicators reported, 9 had new data. 17 indicators were rated green, 6 amber, and 1 red.

One red indicator was the percentage of physically inactive children (less than an average of 30 minutes a day), with 32.8% of children being physically inactive. However, there were data quality concerns with this indicator.

Other indicators included:

• Adults (aged 18 plus) prevalence of overweight (including obesity)
• Year 6 prevalence of overweight (including obesity)
• Reception prevalence of overweight (including obesity)
• Percentage of adults aged 16 and over meeting the '5-a-day' fruit and vegetable consumption recommendations
• Of those residents invited for a NHS Health check, the percentage who accept and complete the offer.
• Smoking Prevalence in adults (18+) - current smokers
• Alcohol only successful treatment completion and not requiring treatment again within 6 months
• Percentage of physically inactive adults (Less than 30 minutes a week)
• Self reported wellbeing: people with a low happiness score (16+)
• Emergency hospital admissions for intentional self-harm in all ages (Rate / 100k)