The Health and Wellbeing Board met on 04 December 2024 and discussed a variety of topics ranging from the use of new case-finding tools by integrated care teams to the finalisation of the Children and Young People's Plan. The Board noted the updates on all these matters and retrospectively approved a number of documents that had been submitted to NHS England.

Health Inequalities Funding

The Board discussed a report on Health Inequalities Funding, which set out how the Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board would be distributing funding to address health inequalities in 2024-5.

The Board raised the importance of ensuring that local voluntary organisations were well-connected to the funding process.

Members discussed the importance of the work being undertaken and the need to consider connectivity with local voluntary organisations. - Minute 22 - Printed minutes 04th-Dec-2024 14.00 Health and Wellbeing Board ¹

The Board endorsed the approach set out in the report.

Sefton Combating Drugs Partnership Annual Update

The Board reviewed the Sefton Combating Drugs Partnership - Annual Update and noted its contents and the progress made. The Board thanked the Director of Public Health and their team for the work they had done.

A number of issues were discussed by the Board:

• The importance of working with prisons.
• The importance of working with probation services.
• The importance of working with Sefton Council for Voluntary Service.
• The importance of ensuring the Partnership worked with people with lived experience of drug use
• How to reduce the stigma associated with drug use
• The possibilities for the controlled use of substances.
• The Change, Grow, Live centre in Southport. Change Grow Live is a health and social care charity working in the area of substance misuse.
• The risks posed by gambling.

The Board decided not to recommend any new key members to participate in the Partnership.

Use of the Enhanced Case Finding Tool With Integrated Care Teams

The Board received a presentation from the Associate Director of Integration, Transformation & Partnerships – Merseycare, about the use of an enhanced case finding tool by the Integrated Care Team Programme and the Data into Action Programme.

The Board discussed the following issues:

• The High Intensity User programme
• Complex lives
• Commissioning priorities
• The Cipher system
• The importance of prevention

The Board noted the work undertaken on the programme and the key next steps, and thanked Pat McGuinness and Dave Warwick for their presentation.

Children and Young People Plan Consultation Feedback

The Board reviewed feedback on the Children and Young People Plan Consultation. The Board discussed the context of the report and an upcoming meeting of the Children and Young People’s Partnership Board due to take place in January 2025. The Board decided that the findings of the consultation should be taken into consideration when developing Strategy, policy, and commissioning intentions.

Darzi Report Recommendations

The Board considered the Darzi Report. The Darzi Report reviews the NHS and makes suggestions about how it might be improved. The Board discussed the relationship between the report's findings and the Health and Prevention Strategy, the NHS 10-year plan, and Sefton Place community transformation plans. The Board noted the report's contents.

Section 75 Agreement

The Board considered a report on a Section 75 Agreement² between Cheshire and Merseyside ICB and Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council. The Board retrospectively approved the agreement.

Ratification of Better Care Fund Quarter 2

The Board considered a report on the Better Care Fund³. The Board retrospectively approved the submission of the Better Care Fund Quarter 2 submission to NHS England.

Sub-Group Updates

The Board received an update on the activities of its five sub-groups:

• The Suicide Prevention Steering Group
• The Healthy Weight Sub Group
• The Substance Misuse Sub Group
• The Self Care Sub Group
• The Mental Health, Dementia and Learning Disabilities Sub Group.

The Board noted the updates. It also noted an update on changes to Pharmacies in the area.