Agenda item - Public Health Schools' Programme

Report of Director of Public Health (copy attached).

34.1    The Board considered a report of the Director of Public Health which informed members that the proposed Public Health Schools’ Programme took into account recent policy changes, the opportunity afforded by the arrival of Public Health in local authorities, the need to build on the good work of the Healthy Schools/Settings programme as well as the concerns of schools themselves.  The programme reflected evidence based practice.  The programme would be offered to all state schools including academies and free schools.  It was anticipated that in due course the programme would be rolled out to colleges. The report was presented by the Public Health Programme Manager.

34.2    Pinaki Ghoshal endorsed the report which he considered a good example of joint working which would ensure the best programme for children and young people. 

34.3    Councillor Meadows concurred and welcomed the report.  She noticed however that more young people were taking up smoking whilst smoking was reducing amongst the adult population.  

34.4    Councillor Bowden referred to paragraph 4.2 in relation to sexual health.  He asked if more joint work was planned.  He stressed that unless there was an education programme there would be a rise in teenage pregnancies and sexual disease.

34.5    Pinaki Ghoshal explained that although the council could give advice, it was up to governors to decide on the approach taken with regard to sex and relationship education.

34.6    The Chair expressed concern about the adult infection rate. He agreed that there was a need to start sexual health education at a young stage. 

34.7    Tom Scanlon reported that a briefing paper was being prepared on this issue.     

34.8    Hayyan Asif asked who had been included in the evaluation process. Tom Scanlon explained that the evaluation framework was not in place. It would be brought back to the Board next year.  The Public Health Programme Manager explained that all state and free school, primary and secondary would be involved in the evaluation process.

34.9    Geraldine Hoban stressed that when the evaluation of schools was carried out; there was a need for joined up working.  A forum would look at this work and report to the Children and Young People’s  Committee.

34.10  Hayyan Asif mentioned that the Healthy Schools Programme was not an appropriate name if it was used in colleges.  The Public Health Manager replied that the name could be changed when the programme was presented to colleges.

34.11      RESOLVED – (1)That the report and the above comments from Board Members be noted.

(2)               That the report be referred to the Children and Young People’s Committee for endorsement.