Agenda item

3.40pm

Report by Ansaf Azhar, Director of Public Health and Community Safety, Oxfordshire County Council

The Director of Public Health Annual Report highlighted ten wards in Oxfordshire which have small areas (Lower Super Output Areas) that were listed in the 20% most deprived in England in the Index of Multiple Deprivation update (published November 2019) and are most likely to experience inequalities in health.  To better understand the needs and priorities of these communities, the County Council has been working with local partners to create community profiles.

The Oxfordshire Health and Wellbeing Board is RECOMMENDED to:

a)    Note the findings and rich insight contained within the Phase 2 Community Profiles for Barton, Banbury Neithrop and Ruscote, Banbury Grimsbury and Rose Hill.

b)    Support the promotion and sharing of the community profiles with partners and colleagues across the system.

c)     Use the insight from the community profiles to inform service delivery plans of partner organisations on the Board.

Kate Austin, Public Health Principal, OCC introduced the item.  Ms Austin stated that eight out of ten Community Profiles had now been produced for the wards in Oxfordshire most affected by health inequalities.  The Community Profiles were the outcome of the Director of Public Health Annual Report which had highlighted ten wards in Oxfordshire which have small areas (Lower Super Output Areas) that were listed in the 20% most deprived in England in the Index of Multiple Deprivation update (published November 2019) and are most likely to experience inequalities in health.  The Community Profiles provided an in depth understanding of the enablers and challengers to the health and wellbeing of communities.

The Board heard from Lisa Stead (Community First Oxfordshire) regarding the findings from the community profiles in three areas in Banbury, Grimsbury and Hightown, Banbury Cross and Neithrop and Ruscote.  Amber Giles and Alexa Bailey (Oxford City Council) addressed the Board regarding findings from the Community Profile in Rose Hill, Oxford City and Fiona Ruck, Health Improvement Practitioner, OCC, regarding Barton, Oxford City. 

Ms Stead advised that Community First Oxfordshire had undertaken focus groups, one to one interviews and surveys to get the thoughts of the community when putting together the community profiles.  It had been found that the three wards shared many similarities, including valued shared assets supporting health and wellbeing such as green and open spaces.  Some improvements were requested such as better shop lighting, development of walking areas and better management of litter. 

Ms Stead stated that next steps included improvement of the local environment, a community wide communications strategy and running language classes for residents who spoke English as a second language and additional support for young people such as peer to peer group support.

Ms Giles and MS Bailey stated that Rose Hill shared some of the same challenges and great potential as the Banbury areas.  It was noted that 6% of adults were receiving unemployment related benefit in Rose Hill which was three times the average in Oxfordshire as a whole.  29% of children were living in poverty in Rose Hill, over double the average for Oxfordshire.  36% of primary and secondary school pupils living in Rose Hill were eligible for free school meals, over double the average for the county as a whole.

Ms Ruck mentioned key themes in Barton, including that the accessibility of hospitals and transport links were highly valued but were also a challenge in some cases, including a lack of a two way bus service within the estate.  A recurring theme was around some people not feeling safe, including from people congregating outside shops.

Recommendations from the Rose Hill findings included longer terms ones such as improved housing and access to healthcare.  Shorter term aims included women’s only classes at the local gym and developing the Rose Hill News.  It was noted that five themes covering a range of recommendations emerged in relation to Barton and actions were now being taken forward. 

The Board agreed that this was helpful insight and there had been great work undertaken for the Community Profiles.  The next stage in terms of action planning was that for each of the ward areas there was a newly funded Community Development Officer post.  They and the Steering Groups would take forward the recommendations/actions from the Profiles.  There was grant funding for each of the communities to fund recommendations. Targeted ICB money was also intended for community engagement in the wards.

RESOLVED: that the Board:

(a)        Noted the findings and rich insight contained within the Phase 2 Community Profiles for Barton, Banbury Neithrop and Ruscote, Banbury Grimsbury and Rose Hill;

(b)        Supported the promotion and sharing of the community profiles with partners and colleagues across the system; and,

(c)        Supported that the use of the insight from the community profiles inform service delivery plans of partner organisations on the Board.