Agenda item

The Board considered a report which provided an update on the potential Outcomes Framework for the Health and Wellbeing Board, specifically updating the board on the board workshop held on 5th October 2017.  It was noted that the Outcomes Framework, once agreed, would allow the Board to drive delivery and be sighted on the key outcomes and indicators identified as important for the Board.

In presenting the report, Dr Rupert Suckling summarised the key points covered in the workshop and outcomes of the conversations held by the attendees in relation to the proposed life course and care categorisations which the outcomes and indicators would be measured against, and on the characteristics of good performance reporting.

In reply to a question, Dr Suckling confirmed that it was hoped that a fully populated outcomes framework would be presented to the Board’s next meeting in January 2018.

During subsequent discussion, the Chair stressed the importance of ensuring that this Board only dealt with the right outcomes at the right level, in order to avoid getting bogged down with unnecessary detail.  She added that, at this stage, she did not feel that the picture was entirely clear as to the nature of this Board’s role in terms of performance monitoring, and which were the key outcomes that the Board should be focusing on.  Steve Shore added that this issue had been one of his frustrations, as he felt that the Board had never really fully identified whether its role was to deal with performance reporting on a macro or micro scale.  Arising from this discussion, the Chair suggested that this might be an appropriate time to arrange a Board Development day (half day event) to consider the Board’s role in more depth, which could be held on the next scheduled workshop date of 7th December 2017.  Jacqueline Wilson added that, at the same time, it would also be helpful to look at where the Health and Wellbeing Board sat in relation to the wider partnerships structure.

Dr Rupert Suckling then summarised the contents of Appendix B to the report, which provided an interim update on progress for each of the Areas of Focus, answering four questions:

What is going well?

What needs development?

What is being done about it?

What needs Escalating to the Board?

During consideration of the focus area updates, in relation to Substance Misuse, the Board supported a request to endorse the introduction of urine testing for fentanyl in the Aspire and Project 3 services and provision of take home kits for service users to test their drugs for the presence of fentanyl.

With regard to the Mental Health area, Kathryn Singh stressed that there were pockets of money available for various services and there was a need to ensure that these monies were secured for Doncaster.  To achieve this, she suggested that partners needed to ensure there was a joined up approach so that positive bids for funding were submitted.  Dr Rupert Suckling added that third sector partners could also have a role to play in helping to secure funding. 

Kathryn Singh also referred to Public Health England’s Prevention concordat for better mental health and advised that there was a need to look at developing this further in Doncaster.

After the Chair had stated that she liked the format of the update paper on the areas of focus and asked that this be used in future reports, it was

                  RESOLVED:-

(1)        To note the write up to the workshop and changes to the Outcomes Framework, as detailed in the report;

(2)        To note the progress statements for each of the areas of focus and, in relation to Substance Misuse, to endorse the introduction of fentanyl testing; and

(3)        To use the scheduled workshop date on 7th December 2017, as per the Board’s Forward Plan, as a Board Development Day.