Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Dr Lunt, Graham Harris, Anne Tidmarsh, Andrew Scott – Clark, Nick Moor, Lesley Bowles, and Jo Pannell.

Additionally it was reported that Ms Read from KCC was unable to attend the meeting and that consideration of her report on “Headstart” would be deferred to the next meeting.

In the absence of Councillor Gough at the commencement of the meeting the Chair was taken by Councillor David Turner.

There were no declarations of interest received.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Dartford Gravesham and Swanley Health and Wellbeing Board held on 1 February 2017 are attached for confirmation.

Issues arising from the Minutes not addressed elsewhere on the Agenda can be raised at this item.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Dartford Gravesham and Swanley Health and Wellbeing Board held on 1 February 2017 were confirmed as a correct record of that meeting.

Arising from the Minutes Helen Buttevant presented a short verbal update on the Obesity Workshop which had taken place immediately following the meeting.

Ms Buttevant reported that a Task and Finish working group had been established as part of a three pronged approach to addressing the outcomes of the Workshop.

It was noted that invitations had been issued to attend a first meeting of the Group but that the response had been poor with only five attendees.

Concern was expressed by Board Members at the poor response as it was essential to obtain wide support for the obesity initiative and it was agreed that investigation should be undertaken into this.

In order to progress the establishment of the Task and Finish Group it was agreed that Terry Hall take on the role of interim Chairman of the Group, and aim to organise meetings following on from the County council elections, involving all relevant parties including schools and education providers.   

The Chairman may wish to report on any issues of relevance to this Board arising from the meeting held on 22 March 2017.

The agenda for the meeting is attached as an aide memoire.

Councillor Gough, having arrived at the Meeting took the Chair and apprised the Board on the following matters discussed at the meeting of the Kent Health and Wellbeing Board held on 22 March 2017.

Councillor Gough explained that the Kent Board had spent considerable time discussing:

·         The Joint Kent Health and Wellbeing Strategy, where the new draft document was considered which provided a more concise direction for commissioning officers and also looked at the role of local Health and Wellbeing Boards, and;

·         The Kent Review of Commissioning Plans and STP Update, where local care work streams were reviewed especially relating to Integration in East Kent, and details of additional funding for social care was reported.

The Board noted the report from the Chairman.

The Chairman will report on any urgent item and determine its position on the Agenda.

It was noted that there were no urgent issues for the Board to consider.

The Board received a report which presented an overview of the draft Kent drug and alcohol strategy and gave an update of the delivery of the substance misuse service by the current provider in west Kent CGL (Change, Grow, Live). 

It was reported that the Strategy has been jointly developed by the Kent Police Service and KCC Public Health on behalf of the Kent Drug and Alcohol Partnership, allied with community groups and the public and it is hoped that the Strategy will ensure that treatment services are more focused on those with complex drug and alcohol issues. 

A draft of the Strategy has been submitted for public consultation, which ended at the end of February, and the final strategy will be launched in July 2017 following its presentation at the Kent Drug and Alcohol Partnership in April 2017 and Adult Health and the KCC Social Care Cabinet Committee in June 2017.

The strategy itself focusses on the following five major themes and these apply to both adult and child clients.

Having been informed that the final Strategy will be presented to this Board once it has received final approval, it was agreed to note the report.

A presentation from Sgt Paul Squire of the Kent Police Service.

The Board received a verbal report from Sergeant Paul Squire of Kent Police which explained the impact that dealing with people with mental health issues was exerting on Kent Police, and the response that was being formulated by the Police Service.

It was noted that a specialist mental health team had been created following a successful pilot scheme based in Dartford.  The Team will have three trained Officers based at each facility where a S.136 Suite (where persons with mental health issues are referred) is located, and their approach to clients will be more patient centred than was previously the case.

Sgt Squire informed the Board that this was a unique approach in the UK and was being undertaken with the full support of the County Police and Crime Commissioner, it being one plank in his six point plan for the County.

Sgt Squire stressed the importance of a joined up approach to dealing with this client group and asked that the teams receive as much support as possible from the Member groups represented on the Board.

The Board welcomed the information from Sgt Squire and pledged its support in whatever ways that it could to ensure the success of the new approach.

Catherine Read from KCC will make a presentation and introduce a video relating to the support of mental health resilience in school age children / young people.

It was noted that this matter had been deferred to the next meeting of the Board.

The Board received and noted a report on issues outstanding from previous meetings.

The Clerk to the Board reported that the programme of meetings for the forthcoming year had been finalised and that Members had been provided with the schedule.

The Board noted the following schedule.

The Board was informed that local Healthy Living Centres had undertaken to carry out an exercise involving Community Asset mapping and the Board Members undertook to provide support in this information gathering project. 

The Board considered a report on its current programme of work for the forthcoming year. 

Arising from the report it was noted that the report on “Headstart”, deferred from consideration at this meeting was to be re scheduled for the meeting on 28 June 2017, and that a report “Making Every Contact Count” was probably to be written by Jess Muckerjee.