Agenda item - Chair's Communications

The Chair of the Board will start the meeting with a short update on recent developments on health and wellbeing.

13.1    The Chair gave the following communications:

Briefing – Mental Health Supported Accommodation for H&WBB

13.2    “Brighton & Hove City Council in partnership with NHS Sussex commission three Supported Accommodation services for people with mental health needs. These services form part of the Mental Health Supported Accommodation Pathway and offer high, medium and low support and accommodation to people in the city. The contracts for these services are due to end and following committee approval and extensive consultation with service users, referrers and other stakeholders the council and NHS Sussex have been through a procurement process for two new supported accommodation services and a discharge to assess service which offers short term accommodation and support for those leaving hospital.

The newly commissioned services offer

·     High quality accommodation with support

·     An increased level of self-contained accommodation with specific provision for women with complex needs and vulnerable individuals.

·     A flexible level of support within the services which can increase and decrease to meet client needs without individuals having to move accommodation.

·     Therapeutic interventions and trauma informed support through well trained staff.

The contracts for the services have been awarded to:

SJOG (Saint John of God Hospitaller Services) for the high and medium supported accommodation service BHT Sussex for the medium to low supported accommodation service.  BHT Sussex are the existing provider of this service and to Southdowns Housing Association for low support accommodation and the discharge to assess service

The new services are being mobilised and council and NHS Sussex Staff are working closely with both the current and new services to ensure that both service users and staff are supported in the transition period.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the outgoing service providers of high and medium support BHT Sussex and Sanctuary Housing for providing good quality accommodation and support services to people with mental health needs over many years. We look forward to supporting SJOG, BHT Sussex and Southdown with the new services.

Boosting your immunity with your flu vaccine and Covid booster this winter

NHS is offering an additional Autumn booster to people who are more vulnerable to COVID-19. The rollout began last week with care home residents and that’s now been expanded to people aged 65 and over, those who are immunocompromised, carers and frontline health and care workers. Anyone who is eligible should book through the national booking service online or over the phone. Others will be invited in the coming weeks.

The local flu vaccine rollout has also begun. Those who been invited should book an appointment with their GP or pharmacy as soon as possible.

13.3    RESOLVED – That the Chair’s Communications be noted and received.