Issue - meetings

Matthew Cole, Director of Public Health presented the update report and advised of the progress that had been made in regards to the transfer in October 2015 of the Early Years Programme (Health Visiting Services) to the Council from NELFT.  The mandatory sections for consultation have been published and the due diligence process had now commenced.  Assurances had also been given that resources will be transferred.

Helen Jenner, informed the Board about a meeting with NHS London and about data that had been received on the 8 September to which a response would now need to be provided by the end of September.  Helen Jenner advised the details in regards to the management costs and any transfer of funding provision for those were still not known.  However, it appeared that the Family Nurse Partnership funding may not be transferred to the Council.

As NELFT currently provide services across four boroughs, and each of those boroughs operated differently, there would also need to be consideration of how future contract(s) would operate.  It was noted that LBBD had outstanding Children’s Centres, which could provide a base for the service.

Marie Kearns, Healthwatch, commented that 43 health visitors was the same number as were in place over a decade ago, and was concerned that the increase in pressures had not been taken into consideration. 

The Board was apprised on the actions being taken in regard to training of new Health Visitors.  The funding assumption by the NHS was that all Health Visitors would be on a level 6 on transfer, however, there would be potential in the future to look at the skills mix to meet the needs of the Borough.

The Board:

(i)  Noted the progress being made to increase the Barking and Dagenham health visiting workforce in line with Call to Action numbers before the transfer in October 2015;

(ii)   Noted and reviewed the risks, as set out in the report and presentation;

(iii)  Commented that the contract currently operates across four different boroughs and each of the boroughs had their own way of operating. The contract would need to take this into account;

(iv)  Concern that 43 health visitors may not be sufficient, as this number had not risen over the past decade but the population had increased considerably, especially in the under 18 yrs category;

(v)  Noted the management requirements and grading mix of the staff would be looked at in due course; and,

(vi)  Requested the Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care to keep an overview on this issue on behalf of the Board between meetings.