Agenda and minutes

To agree the procedures for the operation of hybrid meetings.

RESOLVED –

THAT the hybrid meeting procedures set out in the agenda be agreed.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Anna Burrage. Councillor Kemi Atolagbe substituted for Councillor Burrage.

Members will be asked to declare any Statutory Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, Compulsory Registerable Non-Pecuniary Interests and Voluntary Registerable Non-Pecuniary Interests in respect of items on this agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

Broadcast of the meeting

The Chair to announce the following: ‘In addition to the rights by law that the public and press have to record this meeting, I would like to remind everyone that this meeting is being broadcast live by the Council to the Internet and can be viewed on our website for twelve months after the meeting. After that time, webcasts are archived and can be made available upon request.

If you have asked to address the meeting, you are deemed to be consenting to having your contributions recorded and broadcast, including video when switched on, and to the use of those sound recordings and images for webcasting and/or training purposes.’

Any other announcements

Broadcasting

The Chair announced that the meeting was being broadcast live by the Council to the Internet and could be viewed on the website for twelve months after the meeting. After that time, webcasts were archived and could be made available upon request. Those who were seated in the Committee Room or participating via Teams were deemed to be consenting to having their contributions recorded and broadcast and to the use of those sound recordings and images for webcasting and/or training purposes.

Order of agenda

The Committee agreed to bring forward Item 11: Health and Wellbeing Strategy Implementation: Community Connectedness and Friendships so that it would be the first substantive item of business, due to the attendance of community champions.

Requests to speak at the Committee on a matter within its terms of reference must be made in writing to the clerk named on the front of this agenda by 5pm two working days before the meeting.

There were no deputations.

There were no items of urgent business.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 17^th January 2023.

RESOLVED –

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 17^th January 2023 be approved and signed as a correct record.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care.

This report provides the Committee with an update relating to the portfolio of the Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care.

Consideration was given to the report of the Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care. The Cabinet Member highlighted the challenges of being strategic with many small funding pots.

In response to a question, Martin Pratt (Executive Director Supporting People) agreed to provide a written explanation of how step-down beds at Lime Tree Gardens were being monitored and the experience of the first patient using the service.

ACTION: Executive Director Supporting People

The Executive Director Supporting People explained that ‘hear and treat’ was a description of when a person calling the ambulance service spoke to a skilled clinician resulting in an ambulance not being needed. Mitigation during the London Ambulance Service strike action resulted in ‘hear and treat’ rates increasing from 14% to 40%. Mitigations would be monitored during future strike actions.

RESOLVED –

THAT the Committee noted the report.

Report of the Cabinet Adviser on Supporting Rough Sleepers in Camden

This report explores and sets out recommendations on supporting rough sleepers through a public health approach, with a particular focus on those with long-term health conditions, mental health conditions and struggling with substance misuse.

Consideration was given to the report of the Cabinet Advisor on Supporting Rough Sleepers which was commended by Members.

In response to suggestions that all organisations addressing homelessness be fully involved in the Council’s response to the issue, the Cabinet Adviser noted that the rough sleeping team held a monthly meeting with all relevant organisations. Sue Hogarth (Assistant Director of Public Health) requested that if Members were aware of any further organisations addressing homelessness who were not already involved, to feed this back.

It was highlighted that access to a mobile phone was important for accessing healthcare and that the digital gap for rough sleepers be considered. The Cabinet Adviser acknowledged the need for a phone and charging facilities. The Knowledge Quarter could potentially fund computer access and charging facilities.

The Cabinet Adviser considered the outreach team to be doing a good job with the resources it had, making referrals as necessary. However, aftercare was also important as otherwise people could quickly return to the streets.

Concerns were raised that the rough sleeping team did not always go out quickly when called about a rough sleeper, particularly overnight. The Cabinet Member suggested that the team did visit as often and quickly as they could but had to work with the resources they had.

With regard to helping people know what they could do to prevent homelessness, a recommendation had been made to run a public information campaign. This could include talking to school students to prevent young people becoming rough sleepers.

The Cabinet Adviser agreed that, while homelessness had increased everywhere, it was a particular problem in cities and in central London.

RESOLVED –

(i)             THAT the report of Councillor Richard Cotton, Cabinet Adviser on Supporting Rough Sleepers, be noted; and

(ii)            THAT comments and suggestions be provided as summarised above as to the implementation of the recommendations ahead of the report being revised by the relevant Cabinet Member and taken to Cabinet.

Report of the Director of Strategy and Policy Design

This report provides an update on the development of the annual State of the Borough report and summit process, explains it purpose and origins, presents the findings of the first iteration of this annual report and seeks input from scrutiny committees, and thereafter the approval of Council to continue to develop this report for the longer term. It is hoped that the State of the Borough report will be a useful tool and source of information for both the Council itself, partners, and Camden’s communities.

The development of a State of the Borough report was agreed as part of the approval of the We Make Camden (WMC) strategy by Cabinet in March 2022. The State of the Borough report is a summary of data and evidence which tells us about life in the borough, with an emphasis on resident and community wellbeing. It is part of wider work to deepen the WMC strategy and support its delivery. The report is aligned to the ambitions and outcomes of WMC and the emerging Good Life Camden measurement framework. The report and associated measurement framework form a key part of the Council’s approach to insight and accountability linked to We Make Camden.

It is intended that the report will support a range of council functions, including but not limited to being a key source of evidence to inform the work of Scrutiny Committees, and as an evidence base and reference point for the Leaders annual statement.

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Strategy and Policy Design.

RESOLVED –

(i)             THAT the contents of the report (appendix A) as it related to the remit of the committee were noted; and

(ii)            THAT the final version of the report be referred on to Council for consideration.

Report of the Director of Public Health

The report sets out the process being tested for the implementation of short-term priorities within the Camden Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2022-30. This includes how the Camden population health approach has been applied to different issues and population groups to bring partners together from across the system to identify and prioritise opportunities for collective action and intervention.

This report describes how the process has been applied in the context of the Community Connectedness and Friendships short-term priority, including work that has been undertaken to understand local need, map and convene stakeholders, identify opportunities and transition to delivery.

The strategy implementation model is being developed as a step-by-step guide outlining how to take a population health approach in relation to any health and wellbeing challenge (Appendix A). This can be used and applied by colleagues from across the Camden Borough Partnership when progressing activity around the Health and Wellbeing Strategy priorities.

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Public Health which was introduced by Suzanne Tang (Acting Assistant Director of Public Health) and a presentation by Ellie Rudd (Youth Leadership and Community Champions Regent’s Park Manager).

The Committee commended the Community Champions scheme and the projection of community voices.

In response to questions, the Youth Leadership and Community Champions Regent’s Park Manager commented:

·       There was no link worker for social prescribing at the local GP surgery but work was underway to identify nearby link workers. Having developed a relationship with a GP at the surgery, patients were now being referred directly to the Community Champions scheme.

·       The offer for people needing one to one support or smaller groups was being looked at. This was being done by linking with existing services who can provide support.

·       The Community Champions scheme had a further year’s funding from April 2023. Options were being considered for longer term, such as through projects becoming more sustainable and resident-led. The cost of living crisis had an impact on both residents and the organisations involved.

·       With regard to intergenerational involvement, children involved with Fitzrovia Youth in Action (FYA) had become involved with the Community Champions scheme as teenagers. Whole families were connected with the project. Individual offers directed at different age groups had blended organically by residents.

·       It could be daunting for young people facing social isolation to initially walk into a space. One to one work on motivations and aspirations could be undertaken, followed by peer support. Referrals were also coming from Early Years. Work with young people could take time and matching with the right people for the individual was integral.

Members suggested that to ensure councillors actively support efforts to enhance community connectedness and friendships, they be invited to attend activities with the Community Champions scheme. The Youth Leadership and Community Champions Regent’s Park Manager welcomed Members to attend events and to have conversations about the longevity of the scheme.

Reducing stigma and encouraging people to access the full range of support in communities could be achieved by making residents feel needed. It was noted by Members that by giving access to community kitchens to all local residents rather than restricting access also helped to overcome stigma. The Youth Leadership and Community Champions Regent’s Park Manager explained that the scheme put on events for the local community rather than simply offer free meals. It had also been discovered that more people would get involved in the community kitchen when they had the opportunity to volunteer rather than just receive. Residents were not asked to prove need when accessing the scheme.

Residents often provide peer support for those joining the scheme. There were different levels of volunteers. There were regular attendees who steered activities, promoters who volunteered for particular events or activities, and beneficiaries who turn up to events. People would change between levels depending on what was happening in their own lives.

The Acting Assistant Director of Public Health noted that problems  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

Report of the Director of Public Health

This report sets out quarter 2 2022-2023 progress against targets for those performance indicators that fall within the Health and Adult Social Care outcome area and within the remit of the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee.

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Public Health.

Responding to concerns about the integrated drug and alcohol service moving from the NHS to the voluntary and community sector and support for staff and service users during transition, Sue Hogarth (Assistant Director of Public Health) explained that planning for the new service began in 22021 at the end of the previous contract. Public Health was legally required to undertake a competitive process. A comprehensive coproduction approach was taken to the tendering process and the best provider for residents was commissioned. Staff were being TUPE transferred to the new service and work undertaken to ensure service users were comfortable with the changes. The Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care acknowledged the concerns but had been assured that the correct decision had been taken after an exacting process with genuine coproduction. The new service would have improved quality, include support for the families of people with drink and alcohol problems, and have a better location. The Executive Director Supporting People proposed that service users report to the Committee after a year of the new service operating on whether quality had improved or diminished.

ACTION: Senior Policy and Projects Officer

The Assistant Director of Public Health confirmed that the mental health awareness training was available to anyone who lived, worked or studied in Camden and could be promoted with colleagues or to residents.

In response to questions about the numbers of NHS health checks received, the Assistant Director of Public Health noted that the numbers were in line with other areas and that invitations were staggered throughout the year. Many people did not come forward for health checks if they did not have specific concerns.

Concern was expressed that contraception services through the use of the Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) target appeared to focus on birth control interventions on girls. It was queried whether boys were part of that conversation. Officers agreed to explore how birth control was addressed with boys and to report back to the Committee.

ACTION: Assistant Director of Public Health

In response to a suggestion that councillors undertake Making Every Contact Count (MECC) training, the Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care suggested that courses be communicated to Members when next scheduled.

ACTION: Assistant Director of Public Health

RESOLVED –

THAT performance against targets for Quarter 2 for services that fall within the Committee’s remit be noted.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director Supporting People

This paper sets out the Committee’s work programme for 2022-23 and tracks actions from previous meetings.

Consideration was given to the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director Supporting People.

James Fox (Senior Policy and Projects Officer) informed the Committee that Great Ormond Street Hospital could no longer attend in April so the item would be rescheduled.

There was a discussion about how the NHS Trust Quality Accounts Responses item could be most effectively considered. The Executive Director Supporting People suggested that the Committee focus on areas of concern for Camden residents.

It was proposed that the interplay between gambling addiction and health outcomes be explored at a future meeting.

In response to a suggestion that dentistry in Camden be scrutinised, the Chair noted that this had come to Committee previously and a follow up report would be scheduled for a future meeting.

The Executive Director Supporting People suggested that the impact of transitioning to a population health approach be scrutinised in a year.

The Chair informed the Committee that a number of reports from the Integrated Care Board were proposed to be scheduled including on urgent care discharging and neighbourhood primary care.

RESOLVED –

(i)             THAT the work programme for 2022/23 was considered and amendments proposed as summarised above; and

(ii)            THAT the Committee’s action tracker was noted.

There was no urgent business.