Agenda item

The Board considered a report which provided the latest performance figures for the Quarter 1 period, 2016-17. 

It was reported that a refreshed ‘outcomes based accountability’ (OBA) exercise was completed parallel to the refresh of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy. The five outcome areas remained and a new outcome on drugs had been introduced for 2016-17.  A number of specific indicators had been identified which would measure progress towards these outcomes in 2016-17.

Further information and narrative around the performance was set out in Appendix A to the report.

The Board discussed the key points and narrative behind the latest performance figures for each outcome area in turn, as summarised below:-

Outcome 1:  All Doncaster residents to have the opportunity to be a healthy weight 

The Board noted that research was currently being undertaken around trends in the National Child Measurement Programme data and a hotspot analysis was being carried out, the results of which would be available in Quarter 3.

With regard to performance indicator (d) (% of adults achieving at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week), Dr Rupert Suckling reported that Sport England had re-launched its national strategy to help tackle this issue.  He also drew attention to the Stakeholder event to be held on 16 September 2016 in respect of a Whole Systems Approach to Physical Activity, Leisure and Sport.  Members also noted that work was ongoing in identifying the barriers faced by people in engaging in sport, particularly in deprived areas.

Arising from discussion on encouraging physical activities in schools, Cllr Nuala Fennelly and Dr Rupert Suckling agreed to follow this issue up at a future joint public health and learning and opportunities portfolio meeting.

Outcome 2:  All people in Doncaster who use alcohol do so within safe limits

In response to a suggestion made by Jacqueline Wilson, Allan Wiltshire undertook to contact the Doncaster Children’s Services Trust to ascertain whether there were any measures that the Trust held that could complement the existing performance information in the report in relation to the impact of alcohol on vulnerable children.

During discussion on alcohol related crime and the issue of data integrity, DCI Jade Brice explained that it was expected that some figures would rise in the future as a result of the Police reviewing the way in which incidents were recorded.  He explained that Officers now had to navigate complex data recording rules, and were obliged to include in the figures allegations of assaults and other incidents even where these had not been detected or proven.

With regard to the use of Licensing powers to help control the sale of alcohol, Dr Rupert Suckling confirmed that there were currently 2 cumulative impact zones operating in Doncaster, which had resulted in some licence applications from off licence premises being turned down.  It was noted that further local measures were currently being explored, such as the possible inclusion of pubs in the cumulative impact zones.  Arising from this discussion, it was agreed that the Board would receive a briefing by Dr Rupert Suckling and Peter Dale at a future meeting on the actions being taken by the Council through its Licensing powers to control the sale of alcohol.

Outcome 3:  Families who are identified as meeting the eligibility criteria in the expanded stronger families programme see significant and sustained improvement across all identified issues

Jacqueline Wilson advised that the Doncaster Children’s Services Trust was currently dealing with approximately 2500 children by way of open caseloads.  With this in mind, she questioned why such a narrow cohort of families was being reported to this Board and felt that this was a missed opportunity.  In response, Dr Rupert Suckling explained that whilst wider information was always useful, the Outcomes and Performance Indicators in the report reflected the Board’s current areas of focus.

Outcome 4:  People in Doncaster with dementia and their carers will be supported to live well.  Doncaster people understand how they can reduce the risks associated with dementia and are aware of the benefits of an early diagnosis

The Chair, Councillor Pat Knight, pointed out that, while it was pleasing that the latest figures for the number of hospital admissions and deaths for people with dementia had seen a reduction, it was disappointing that there had been a drop in the number of installations for Assistive Technology for people with dementia and she asked how this situation could be addressed.  In response, Jon Tomlinson confirmed that Assistive Technology was at the heart of enabling people with conditions such as dementia to remain living at home for longer.  He reported that the Council was currently undertaking a re-tendering exercise for the Care at Home contracts and this was at the evaluation stage.  As part of this, prospective providers would be expected to include Assistive Technology in their care packages.

The Board then received a presentation by Wayne Goddard and Roy Barnes on Dementia which informed Members of the progress being made and challenges faced from a dementia perspective using the following three headlines:

·         What’s gone well?

·         What’s not gone so well?

·         How can the HWB help to enable us to do better?

At the commencement of the presentation, Members were shown a short animated video which illustrated the dementia pathway.  The Officers then summarised the progress made and the challenges faced in delivering against the Dementia Strategy’s five key areas of focus and objectives, as follows:-

•           to raise awareness, increase understanding and reduce stigma so people who may be experiencing symptomology are supported and offered the opportunity to receive a diagnosis at the earliest opportunity;

•           to deliver a diagnostic assessment and treatment process that is consistent and effective resulting in a timely diagnosis that is delivered sensitively and with the offer of on-going support;

•           to deliver post diagnostic support to enable people with dementia and their families to live well;

•           to ensure if and when residential care is necessary, this should be the last resort and that the care received will be of high quality; and

•           to ensure End of Life is planned, empowering the person with dementia to be in control as soon and for as long as possible, promoting a dignified death in a place of choice.

The Officers also gave details of other associated successes and challenges and outlined a sustainability and transformation plan for dementia.  They concluded with some suggested ways in which Board members could help to build on the success already achieved.

During subsequent discussion, the Board recognised the importance of incorporating dementia friendly measures when re-developing town centres and, in particular, in the provision of public buildings and other facilities such as libraries and shopping centres.

Councillor Nuala Fennelly felt that more work was needed in terms of raising public awareness, as many people still did not recognise or understand conditions such as dementia.  In reply, Wayne Goddard confirmed that raising awareness was a key building block of the Dementia Strategy.

Outcome 5:  Improve the mental health and wellbeing of the people of Doncaster

During discussion on the suite of indicators relating to mental health services, Councillor Nuala Fennelly informed the Board that she had visited 78 schools across Doncaster as part of a report on special needs.  This work had found that in 75% of schools, children were feeling stressed at Years 3 and 4 and there was a risk that in some of those cases, there could be mental health implications in later years.  Jacqueline Wilson reported that at a ‘Growing up in the North’ event for young people, the key message from participants was that they needed advice with regard to staying calm and on top of their feelings.

Steve Shore expressed the view that a greater level of support was needed for young people in the 15-19 age bracket due to there being an apparent gap in referrals to services.  In reply, Riana Nelson advised that work was being done in this area to mitigate the situation.

Joanne McDonough reported that RDaSH was currently in the process of integrating its physical and mental health services.

Outcome 6:  Reduce the harmful impact of drug misuse on individuals, families and communities

In relation to drug misuse, Susan Jordan expressed the view that it would be helpful if information about the housing situation of users, e.g. in rented accommodation, homeless, in own home/owner, could be picked up at the point of presentation to the service if possible.  This could then be used in the Substance Misuse Strategy and incorporated into the Performance Information.

It was then

                        RESOLVED that:-

(1)         the performance against the key outcomes be noted;

(2)         the presentation and video on the Dementia area of focus be noted;

(3)         the Board receive further information on Housing, including links to the Anti-Poverty Strategy, as the area of focus in Quarter 2, 2016-17; and

(4)         in relation to Outcome 2 (Alcohol), a briefing be given to the Board at a future meeting by Dr Rupert Suckling and Peter Dale on the actions being taken by the Council through its Licensing powers to control the sale of alcohol.