The Health & Wellbeing Board met to discuss several key issues, including employment and health, food security, and suicide prevention in Barnet. The board approved the minutes from the previous meeting, heard updates on the Barnet transport strategy 2025 to 2042 and the council's policy on advertising and sponsorship of council-owned assets, and received presentations on employment, the Barnet Food Plan, and the Barnet Suicide Prevention Strategy.

Here's a more detailed look at the key discussion points:

• Public Questions

  • Council Tax Debt Collection and Living Wage: Bob Bevel from the Barnet Food Partnership raised concerns about the council's use of bailiffs for council tax collection and the lack of Living Wage accreditation for the Royal Free Trust and the council. Cllr Alison Moore, Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board, responded that the council was reviewing its council tax debt collection processes. She noted that the council does pay its own staff the London Living Wage, but extending this to outsourced providers, particularly in adult social care, presented financial challenges. The Royal Free London Group stated that their entry-level pay complied with the London Living Wage, and that NHS pay scales were nationally determined via the Agenda for Change¹.
  • Closure of the Essential Supplies Hub: Gary Weinstein asked about the impact of the closure of the Essential Supplies Hub. Cllr Alison Moore responded that this issue had been addressed at a previous meeting, and that the council was working on alternative models for food support, including an affordable food shop supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund², the Healthy Start and Holiday Activity Fund programmes, and collaboration with the Too Good To Go app.

• Employment and Health

  • The board received a presentation from John Bryson, Head of the Economy and Skills, David Thomas, Head of Partnerships for the Barnet Group, and Gemma Roberts, IPS Service Manager for West London Alliance Connect to work, on the links between employment and health, with a focus on supporting disabled people and those with long-term health conditions back into work.
  • The presentation highlighted the disability employment gap in Barnet, the social model of disability³, and the advantages of employing disabled people. Strategies for success included committing to change as a strategic partner, committing to local targets around disability and employment, and disseminating information on how to reserve roles for disabled people.
  • Gemma Roberts discussed several programmes being run by ShoreTrust Commission, including Trailblazers, MSK, Connect to Work and Work Well.
  • John Bryson discussed the work of Boost, a commissioned service provided by Barnet Homes, which offers employment, skills, and digital inclusion support to Barnet residents. David Thomas, Head of Partnerships for the Barnet Group, emphasised that the initial impetus for the project came from public health.
  • Cllr Zahra Begg, Cabinet Member for Equalities, Poverty Reduction and the Voluntary & Community Sector, expressed interest in setting up a roundtable to discuss employment opportunities for disabled employees.
  • Dr Nikesh Dattani, Interim Borough Clinical Lead Barnet, North Central London Integrated Care Board, welcomed the work being done to support unemployed people with learning disabilities, autism, and ADHD, noting the positive impact of employment on their mental and physical health.
  • Kate, a representative from Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust (CLCH), offered support for the MSK trailblazer and highlighted opportunities for joint working between community services and employment initiatives.
  • Dawn Wakeling, Executive Director, Communities, Adults and Health LBB, suggested that the council should be doing more to challenge structural discrimination in hiring processes.
  • The board considered and noted the work carried out relating to the work and health agenda.

• Barnet Food Plan

  • Kat Kerr, Public Health Strategist, presented a progress update on the Barnet Food Plan, highlighting achievements, challenges, and priorities for the years ahead.
  • The update noted the closure of the Essential Supplies Hub, the role of Volunteers on Wheels in maintaining food supply, and the key achievements under the healthy people, healthy place, and healthy planet pillars.
  • Recommendations included linking food insecurity work with council work on poverty reduction and cost of living response, supporting food aid infrastructure, and implementing the recommendations from the Feeding Barnet Food Security Summit.
  • Cllr Alison Moore noted the importance of breakfast clubs, free school meals, and holiday schemes in providing food support for children.
  • The board noted and commented on the progress on the food plan, the challenges and recommendations from the Feeding Barnet Food Security Summit, and endorsed the progression of work in this area.

• Barnet Suicide Prevention Strategy and Action Plan 2026-2030

  • The board received a presentation on the draft Barnet Suicide Prevention Strategy and Action Plan 2026-2030 from Sophia Lalani, a public health registrar, Jane Abbott, and Natasha Joseph. The strategy seeks to build on the successes of the previous strategy and respond to new and emerging concerns.
  • The presentation highlighted the importance of suicide prevention, suicide rates in Barnet, risk factors for suicide, and the five key guiding principles of the new strategy.
  • Key themes from a lived experience workshop included the ongoing role of stigma, barriers to seeking support, and the importance of community-based prevention and social support.
  • The framework is structured around four key themes: prevention, early intervention and support, intervention and coordination, and postvention.
  • Pauline, the Cabinet Member for Family Friendly Barnet, asked about promoting trusted adults for young people and addressing mental health support for young people and parents.
  • Dawn Wakeling asked about the challenges of implementing the action plan given the current climate in public services.
  • Rachel Wells, a consultant in public health, offered to help access communities to support them through suicide prevention work.
  • The board noted the refreshed approach to suicide prevention, discussed and provided feedback on the draft strategy and action plan, and noted the results of the lived experience co-production workshop.

• Healthwatch Verbal Update

  • Sarah Campbell, Healthwatch Barnet Manager, provided a verbal update on the government's proposal to close Healthwatch England and local Healthwatch. She emphasised that this change would not happen soon and that Healthwatch Barnet's services were ongoing.
  • Nick, from North Central London ICB, expressed sympathy and noted that conversations were happening around how to continue engaging residents and service users.

• Forward Work Plan

  • The board discussed the forward work plan and agreed to add an item on winter planning and preparedness to the next meeting in September.