Agenda and draft minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes on 26 March 2025 and 30 April 2025

RESOLVED that the minutes held on 26 March 2025 and 30 April 2025 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Members considered a report that provided an update on the submission of the Stockton on Tees BCF year-end report 2024/25.

A table of BCF Metrics was provided showing progress across the four main areas

-       Avoidable Admissions

-       Discharge to usual place of residence

-       Emergency admission due to falls

-       Admission to long term residential/nursing care

Members noted the successes and challenges:

Successes:

·       Integrated health and social care workforce, with Pathway 1 Intermediate care and Home First reducing urgent referrals, readmissions, and community bed use; more timely care package adjustments and resource allocation.

·       Permanent Social Worker presence at Rosedale enables prompt collaborative discussions; reduced community bed admissions allowing therapy staff to support patients in Rosedale and shorten stays.

Challenges:

·       Funding challenges persist due to rising demand and costs in health and social care.

·       Ongoing workforce shortages across clinical and professional roles affect service delivery.

RESOLVED that the submission of the year-end report, in accordance with reporting requirements, be noted.

Members received an update relating to the NHS 10 Year- Plan

·       The NHS Ten Year Health Plan sets out a bold, ambitious and necessary new course for the NHS.

·       It seized the opportunities provided by new technology, medicines, and innovation to deliver better care for all patients - no matter where they lived or how much they earned - and better value for taxpayers.

·       This would fundamentally reinvent the approach to healthcare, so that we can guarantee the NHS would be there for all who needed it for generations to come.

·       The plan had been shaped by the experiences and expectations of members of the public, patients, health and care workforce and partners.

·       Through the 'Change NHS' engagement exercise, the future of the NHS had provided details of the changes people wanted to see.

RESOLVED that the update be noted.

Members were reminded that, since spring 2024, alongside the development of the new Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy, the Health and Wellbeing Board had undertaken a structured programme of development to review and reflect on its purpose, role, responsibilities, and overall effectiveness.

As part of this work, the Board engaged the Local Government Association (LGA) to provide external support. This included one-to-one interviews with Board members and the facilitation of a dedicated development session in March 2025. The LGA also shared national insights and examples of good practice to inform the process.

The review generated a series of recommendations across four key thematic areas:

·       The Board’s purpose, role and responsibilities

·       Strategy development, priority setting and agenda planning

·       Membership and representation

·       Ways of working, partnership culture and support arrangements

These recommendations have directly shaped the revised Terms of Reference for the Health and Wellbeing Board. Members were provided with a copy of the revised ToR

During consideration members suggested a number of alterations including

-       Not identifying individuals by name but by position

-       Provide more information about the process for appointing a vice chairman each year.

The Board also agreed that delegated authority be given to the Council’s Director of Corporate Services to make any necessary minor amendments to the Terms of Reference before submission to Cabinet and Council.

RESOLVED that:

1.    The draft Terms of Reference be amended as suggested and submitted to Cabinet and Council for approval.

2.    Delegated authority be given to the Director of Corporate Services, in consultation with the Chair, to make any necessary amendments prior to submission to Cabinet and Council.

The plan would be updated pending the approval of the proposed Terms of Reference.