The Health & Wellbeing Board of Stockport Council met on Wednesday 4 September 2024 to consider a range of reports concerning the health and wellbeing of the borough's residents. Key discussions were scheduled to focus on the Better Care Fund, the Children and Young People Plan, and the Director for Public Health's annual report on health inequalities.

Better Care Fund Monitoring Report Q1 2024/25

The Board was scheduled to consider a report detailing the financial performance of the Better Care Fund (BCF) for the first quarter of 2024/25. The report presented the BCF Q1 template submitted to the national BCF Team and provided an update on the overall financial performance as at 30 June 2024. The recommendations included approving the BCF 2024-25 Q1 Reporting Template and noting the finance performance. The Better Care Fund is a national initiative aimed at integrating health and social care services to help people live independently for longer.

Children and Young People Plan 2024-27

A report was scheduled for discussion regarding the refreshed Children and Young People Plan for 2024-2027. This plan, developed collaboratively by the Stockport Family Partnership Board, aligns with the borough's 'One Stockport: One Future' plan and Greater Manchester's priorities for children and young people. It also focuses on the responsibilities outlined in the Stockport One Health and Care Plan. The Board was asked to comment on the refreshed strategy as part of the engagement programme and approve its release for further engagement stages.

Stockport Joint Strategic Needs Assessment - 2024/25 Plan

The Director of Public Health was scheduled to present a report outlining the activity of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) in 2023/24 and the proposed work plan for 2024/25. JSNAs are crucial for understanding the health and wellbeing needs of the local population and informing strategic commissioning. The Board was asked to consider and comment on the proposals for the 2024/25 JSNA and approve priorities for the year's work programme.

Director for Public Health Annual Report

The Board was scheduled to consider the Director for Public Health's annual report, which highlighted stark health inequalities in Stockport. The report detailed how social determinants of health contribute to these inequalities and presented the principle of addressing them by improving everyone's health, with a focus on providing more support to those with greater needs. The Board was asked to discuss how the report could best support efforts to reduce health inequalities across the system.

NHS Greater Manchester Enforcement Undertakings and Single Improvement Plan

Two reports were scheduled concerning NHS Greater Manchester (NHS GM). The first detailed enforcement undertakings issued by NHS England to NHS GM, outlining grounds for concern in areas such as leadership, governance, financial planning, performance, and quality of care. The second report presented the NHS GM Single Improvement Plan, which sets out priorities to address these concerns. The Board was asked to note the enforcement undertakings and the four pillars of the improvement plan.

Forward Plan for Health & Wellbeing Boards

Finally, the Board was scheduled to consider its forward plan, outlining potential agenda items for future meetings. This report allows the Board to review upcoming topics and suggest any additional items for future discussion.