Brighton & Hove City Council
Health & Wellbeing Board
4.00pm11 February 2025
Council Chamber, Hove Town Hall
MINUTES
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Present: Councillor De Oliveira (Chair), Grimshaw
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Also in attendance: Stephen Lightfoot (NHS Sussex), Tanya Brown-Griffith (ICB), Dr Adam Fazakerley (Primary Collaborative), Alison Nuttall (Sussex Partnership), Nigel Sheriff (University of Brighton), Caroline Ridley (Impact Initiatives), Hannah Youldon (ESFRS), Tom Lambert (Carers Centre), Alan Boyd (Healthwatch), Spt Petra Lazar (Sussex Police), Deb Auston (BHCC), Professor Robin Banerjee (University Of Sussex), Peter Lane (UHSx), Tom Lambert (CVS), Lester Coleman (Healthwatch), Chas Walker (BHCC), Giles Rossington (BHCC), George Colwell (Clerk, BHCC)
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PART ONE
56 Declarations of substitutes and interests and exclusions
a) Substitutions and Apologies
56.1 Apologies from Dr Colin Hicks
56.2 Apologies from Steve Hook
b) Declaration of Interests
56.3 There were none.
c) Exclusion of the press and public
56.4 Resolved – that the press and public not be excluded from the meeting.
57 Minutes
57.1 Resolved - The minutes of the 12 November 2024 meeting were agreed.
58 Chair's Communications
58.1 The Chair gave the following communications:
At today’s board meeting we are looking at two important annual reports: the Brighton & Hove Safeguarding Children annual report and the Learning from the Lives and Deaths of People with a Learning Disability and People and Autistic People annual report. Both reports contain important learning for all the organisations represented at the board on how we need to work individually and jointly to better support our most vulnerable residents.
We also have the refreshed Food Strategy Action Plan for discussion today. This was recently agreed by the council’s Cabinet, but issues relating to food are important for much of the work undertaken by board partners and I wanted to give members the opportunity to learn more about the work being delivered by the Food Partnership.
The board has a statutory duty to oversee delivery of our local Better Care Fund, and we have a report today on Quarter 3 performance.
Finally, we have a paper and presentation on Children & Young People’s Mental Health & Emotional Wellbeing. I asked for this paper because improving young people’s mental is a key objective both of our local health and wellbeing strategy and of the Sussex Integrated Care Strategy. It is important that partners work together to deliver better services and that the board has oversight of the development and delivery of this work.
59 Formal Public Involvement
59.1 There were no public engagement items.
60 Formal Member Involvement
60.1 There were no member involvement items.
61
60Learning from the lives and deaths of people with a learning disability and autistic people (LeDeR) 2023-24 report
61.1 This item was presented by Edel Parsons (NHS Sussex).
61.2 The Board heard from Edel Parsons that Learning from the Lives and Deaths of People with a Learning Disability and Autistic People (LeDeR) has been operational since 2017. It was heard that the programme is a health inequalities programme looking at reducing known health inequalities within the aforementioned population.
61.3 The Board heard and considered the annual report provided, including the performance, outputs, and continuing progress from the programme, including a workstream around suicide prevention.
61.4 Councillor Grimshaw asked a question around the high figures of people with pneumonia. Edel Parsons responded, outlining the work being done.
61.5 Councillor Grimshaw asked a question around the sensory and emotional needs of people with autism and whether there is a fear within some people with autism of seeking medical professional support. Edel Parsons responded to the question, including the development of good educational information and the issues for many autistic people within A&E.
61.6 Councillor Grimshaw asked a question around the lack of safe and quiet spaces within A&E for autistic people and what is being done to support people who require these spaces. Edel Parsons responded to the question, including on how sensory toys have been rolled out and additional training.
61.7 Alan Boyd (Healthwatch) asked a question on health checks for those with a disability, and if targets are being met on annual health checks. Edel Parsons responded to these questions, including stating that campaigns are being rolled out to help support this work and continued improvement. They also commented on the targets.
61.8 Councillor De Oliveira asked a question around the language of frailty. Edel Parsons responded to this question, outlining the additional work that is to be done around this issue.
61.9 Stephen Lightfoot (NHS Sussex Chair) asked a question on what more can be done in identifying people that are valid and if there is an underreporting issue with some of the numbers of people. Edel Parsons responded to the question, stating that this would be taken away and that it is hoped that underreporting is not an issue.
61.10 RESOLVED – that the report be noted and approved.
62
61Brighton & Hove Safeguarding Children Partnership ANNUAL REPORT 2023-24
62.1 This item was presented by Deb Austin (Corporate Director - Families Children & Wellbeing) with accompanying slides.
62.2 Deb Austin outlined key aspects of the report via the slides, including the business plan of the partnership, current and ongoing activities, updates from Pan-Sussex partners and other such partners, and achievements and challenges to date and moving forward. Four key areas were discussed in depth, namely: DadPad & CoParentPad, Harmful Sexual Behaviours in Schools Project, Right Support Right Time, and Working Together 2023 Multi Agency Safeguarding Arrangements (MASA) 2024.
62.3 Councillor De Oliveira asked a question regarding co-parenting. Deb Austin responded to this question.
62.4 Councillor De Oliveira asked a question on what recommendations could be made to residents whose child may be being drawn into unhealthy misogyny. Deb Austin responded to this question, suggesting it is raised, in the first instance, with the Child’s school.
62.5 Councillor Grimshaw asked a question on the number of male children targeted, as identified by each school as requiring mentorship. It was resolved that this would be taken back and an answer given to the Councillor.
62.6 Councillor Grimshaw asked a question on if elements of the work can be put into PSHE in schools. Deb Austin responded to this question stating that it is part of the PSHE curriculum.
62.7 Stephen Lightfoot (NHS Sussex Chair) asked on a question on the safeguarding for children with learning difficulties and if there are any lessons that can be learned in other health and care activities. Deb Austin responded to this question, outlining the work being done with respect to the question.
62.8 Alan Boyd (Healthwatch) asked questions on if a summary report will be published and on the alignment between adult and child safeguarding. Deb Austin responded to these questions, stating that a summary report could be looked at and that they are aware of the adult working group.
62.9 Stephen Lightfoot asked a question on if there is a pro-active approach with people we know are vulnerable. Deb Austin responded to this question, outlining that there a great resources in the city.
62.10 Tom Lambert (Chief Executive of the Carers Centre) made a statement on financial constraints and service reductions.
62.11 RESOLVED - that the Board agree to note the report.
63
62Brighton & Hove Food Strategy Action Plan 2025-30: Health & Wellbeing Board
63.1 This item was presented by Angela Blair (Brighton and Hove Food Partnership), Katie Cuming (Consultant in Public Health), and Vic Borrill (Brighton and Hove Food Partnership) with accompanying slides.
63.2 The presenters outlined the report and presentation to the board, including the historical impacts of the action plan, its achievements, and data to date, and how to move forward with a refreshed plan and combat remaining and new challenges.
63.3 Councillor De Oliveira asked a question on the approach to using Body Mass Index (BMI) as a measurement. Katie Cuming responded to this question, recognising that the measurement is still widely used but is not perfect, for instance when used against athletes and different ethnic groups. Vic Boriill also contributed to the response, outlining vitamin malnourishment.
63.4 Tanya Brown-Griffith (Director for Joint Commissioning and Integrated Community Teams at NHS Sussex) raised a point of discussion on the preventative offer within the programme and how the offer of support is weighted. Councillor De Oliveira agreed with the points raised.
63.5 Councillor Grimshaw gave a statement and contributed to the debate, citing a new McDonald’s set to be opened in the Hangleton and Knoll Ward. They also discussed the numbers of children obese within the city and welcomed that this against the higher national trend, asking however if data exists showing obesity rates (and breastfeeding rates) in more deprived areas of the city.
63.6 Angela Blair responded to these points, stating that takeaways have become an increasing issue with respect to healthy eating. Katie Cuming stated that there is a relationship between obesity and deprivation and that this is evidenced across school, if not always entirely clear. Katie Cuming stated that there is also a relationship between breastfeeding rates and deprivation and that data does exist.
63.7 RESOLVED – that the report be noted and approved.
64 Better Care Fund Quarter 3 Update
64.1 This item was introduced and presented by Chas Walker (Programme Director, Integrated Service Transformation).
64.2 Chas Walker outlined the contents of the report and the performance of the Better Care Fund up to Quarter 3. Up to Quarter 3, all the national conditions for the Better Care Fund continue to be met, with performances and potential forthcoming changes across other metrics also outlined.
64.3 Councillor De Oliveira asked a question on if the overall message is a net positive. Chas Walker responded to this, stating it is an improving position.
64.4 Stephen Lightfoot (Chair of NHS Sussex) made a statement on being more ambitious, particularly with respect to discharge performance, and encouraged the board to interrogate the 2025-26 plan when it arrives.
64.5 Tanya Brown-Griffith (Director for Joint Commissioning and Integrated Community Teams at NHS Sussex) made a statement on falls and intervention around this, particularly around the age 65+ and male demographics.
64.6 Tom Lambert (Chief Executive of the Carers Centre) asked a question on what assurances can be provided that the voluntary sector will be part of the work that goes into the development of the Better Care Fund. Chas Walker responded to and answered this question, outlining the role within the steering group moving forward.
64.7 Adam Fazakerly (Chief Executive of the Carers Centre) asked a question on the East-Brighton food co-op and whether hospital discharges could be linked up directly with them. An action was taken on this point for Chas Walker and Adam Fazakerly to discuss this further outside of the meeting. Chas Walker responded to this question, stating that this has been highlighted and processes around this do exist.
64.8 Councillor Grimshaw gave a statement around the impact of early hospital discharges for residents. Stephen Lightfoot responded to this point and agreed that safe discharges are needed and important.
64.9 RESOLVED - that the Board agree to note the report.
65 Children & Young People mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing
65.1 This item was presented by Chas Walker (Programme Director, Integrated Service Transformation) and Bernadette Alves (Consultant in Public Health).
65.2 Chas Walker and Bernadette Alves, with accompanying slides, gave an overview of the progress and work done as a health and care partnership to support children’s mental health and emotional wellbeing, including the feedback and recommendation areas received from partners.
65.3 Councillor De Oliveira asked a question on key advice to parents and how they can support their child’s mental health. Bernadette Alves and Chas Walker responded to the question, referencing available resources and the key nature of the first 1,000 days of a child’s life.
65.4 Adam Fazakerley (Primary Collaborative) and Tanya Brown-Griffith (Director for Joint Commissioning and Integrated Community Teams at NHS Sussex) gave statements and contributed to the debate.
65.5 Councillor Grimshaw asked a question on the children to adult transition and its impact on mental health services for those people, and on neurodiversity assessments and areas of need that are growing in young people. Tanya Brown-Griffith responded to the questions, stating that the transition is a key area for partners focus. They also stated that the areas of growing need and the neurodiverse pathway are also areas of focus and work moving forward.
65.6 Allison Nuttall (Sussex Partnership) raised a point of clarification on the neurodevelopmental work, the specific case for change, and how they sit together.
65.7 Caroline Ridley (Impact Initiatives CEO) gave a statement on voluntary organisations and voluntary sector work funding.
65.8 Alan Boyd (Healthwatch) made a statement on ensuring young people are included in discussions such as these and vaping being used as a stress relieving measure by some young people.
65.9 Stephen Lightfoot (Chair of NHS Sussex) made a statement on the number of children effected and that this seemed low, the need to be cautious against over medicalisation, and the need to offer appropriate support.
65.10 Councillor Grimshaw made a statement on the rise of homelessness amongst family households and the impact this can have on children.
65.11 RESOLVED – that the report be noted and approved.
The meeting concluded at 6.02pm
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Signed
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Chair |
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