The Health and Wellbeing Board met on Thursday 24 July 2025. Key discussions included an update on the Work and Health agenda, an update on the Barnet Food Plan, and a presentation of the draft Barnet Suicide Prevention Strategy and Action Plan for 2026-2030. The Board also received a verbal update from Healthwatch Barnet regarding proposed government changes and noted the forward work programme.

Employment and Health

The Board received a comprehensive update on the Work and Health in Barnet agenda, highlighting the significant disability employment gap in Barnet, which has widened in recent years. The report emphasised the importance of adopting a social model of disability, focusing on dismantling physical, attitudinal, and organisational barriers rather than solely on individual claimants. Inclusion Barnet, an organisation with a high proportion of staff and board members with lived experience of disability, was highlighted for its work in this area. The presentation detailed various government-funded employment programmes, including Access to Work, the Work and Health Programme, and newer initiatives like WorkWell and Connect to Work, designed to support disabled individuals and those with health conditions back into employment.

John Bryson, Head of Economy and Skills at Barnet Council, and David Thomas, Head of Partnerships at Barnet Homes, presented on the BOOST service, which has supported over 6,000 clients since 2015, achieving over 3,300 job outcomes. BOOST offers holistic support, including employment advice, skills training, digital inclusion, and resilience building, with co-located partners such as Shaw Trust and Jobcentre Plus. The presentation also touched upon government reforms to Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payments, and the potential impact on claimants.

Councillor Pauline Coakley Webb, Cabinet Member for Family Friendly Barnet, expressed keen interest in exploring avenues for collaboration between family services and BOOST. Councillor Zahra Beg, The Mayor of Barnet, noted the council's progress in employing disabled staff and proposed a roundtable discussion. Dr Nikesh Dattani, Interim Borough Clinical Lead Barnet, welcomed the focus on employment as a determinant of health, particularly for individuals with learning disabilities, autism, ADHD, and those experiencing musculoskeletal conditions. He highlighted the potential for employment to improve mental health and reduce reliance on medication. Sarah Campbell, Barnet Healthwatch Manager, inquired about the provision of devices and SIM cards for digital inclusion, and the process for accessing them.

The discussion also covered the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the job market, with concerns raised about its potential impact on CVs and the need for authentic voices to be heard. A new AI tool being explored by Royal Borough of Kingston was mentioned as a potential model for providing advice and support.

Barnet Food Plan – Progress Update

The Board received an update on the Barnet Food Plan, which aims to ensure all residents have access to healthy, sustainable, and affordable food. Katherine Carr, Public Health Strategist, highlighted the significant challenges following the closure of the Barnet Food Hub in September 2024, which has led to a reduction in the amount and variety of food available to food banks. Despite this, Volunteers on Wheels, a local charity, has stepped in to collect and distribute surplus food, delivering approximately 40,000 kilograms per month.

Several food banks have closed or are transitioning to affordable food shops, placing further pressure on remaining services. The report detailed achievements under the Healthy People pillar, including over 1,500 families registered for Healthy Start and training for 132 frontline staff in Make Every Contact Count. Under the Healthy Place pillar, the Feeding Barnet Food Security Summit in November 2024 produced six key recommendations, and a new Advertising and Sponsorship Policy banning high-fat, sugar, and salt food promotions on council advertising estate was approved. The community food growing project is in its second year, with new leaders trained and matched with local sites.

Recommendations for the future include closely linking food insecurity work with council initiatives on poverty reduction and cost of living responses, and appointing a councillor to champion food issues. The Board was also urged to consider providing financial support for Volunteers on Wheels and identifying council properties for affordable food shops. The six key recommendations from the Food Security Summit were presented: actively supporting new models of emergency food provision, revising the policy on bailiff use for debt collection, reflecting the strategic importance of food within council priorities, proactively promoting council employment opportunities for residents facing food insecurity, becoming an accredited Living Wage Employer, and becoming an accredited Right to Food Borough.

Councillor Alison Moore, Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board and Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, noted the importance of breakfast clubs, free school meals, and holiday activity schemes for children, as well as the Healthy Schools and Healthy Early Years programmes.

Barnet Suicide Prevention Strategy and Action Plan 2026-2030

The Board was presented with the draft Barnet Suicide Prevention Strategy and Action Plan for 2026-2030, developed through co-production with multi-agency partners and individuals with lived experience. Seher Kayikci, Senior Public Health Strategist, highlighted that Barnet's suicide rates are lower than London and England averages, but an average of 22 deaths per year still occur, impacting thousands of residents. The strategy adopts a public health approach, focusing on prevention across the whole population and targeted interventions for high-risk groups.

The framework is structured around four themes: Prevention, Early Intervention and Support, Interventions and Co-ordination, and Postvention, supported by enablers such as leadership, data, and a capable workforce. Key themes from the lived experience workshop included the ongoing impact of stigma, barriers to accessing healthcare, the need for accessible crisis support, the importance of community-based prevention, culturally competent support, and the central role of lived experience in co-production and peer support.

Jane Abbott, Manager of Resilient Schools and CYP Lead for Suicide Response, presented findings from focus groups with children and young people, highlighting their desire for normalised conversations about mental health, trusted adults, and accessible support. Parent and carer surveys indicated significant impacts on families and difficulties navigating mental health services.

The Board was asked to comment on the draft strategy and action plan, with particular attention to strategic alignment, inclusivity, equity, actionability, feasibility, monitoring, evaluation, and communication. Councillor Pauline Coakley Webb raised concerns about promoting trusted adults within the education system and the challenges of accessing timely mental health support for young people, particularly through CAMHS. The importance of GPs being informed when families seek private therapy was also raised.

Healthwatch Verbal Update

Sarah Campbell, Healthwatch Barnet Manager, provided a verbal update on the government's proposal to close Healthwatch England and local Healthwatch services. She emphasised that this change is not imminent, with legislation not planned until late 2026. Campbell expressed concern about this retrograde step for independent patient and resident representation, highlighting Healthwatch's role in engaging with communities and addressing health inequalities. She urged colleagues to support efforts to communicate that services remain ongoing and to advocate for the strengthening of independent resident involvement. Nick Dattani, Interim Borough Clinical Lead Barnet, acknowledged the human impact of the proposed changes and assured that conversations are ongoing across the system regarding how resident engagement will continue.

Forward Work Programme

The Board noted the forward work programme. Councillor Zahra Beg requested the addition of an item on winter planning and preparedness for the September meeting, which was agreed to consider. The programme includes upcoming deep dives on drugs and alcohol misuse, the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy, the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment, and the Suicide Prevention Strategy.

The meeting concluded with thanks to all presenters and attendees.