Agenda item

The Health and Wellbeing Board is RECOMMENDED to:

1.    Support the promotion and sharing of the findings from the evaluation of the Oxfordshire County Council-funded Community Health Development Officer (CHDO) programme and the Buckinghamshire Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB)-funded Well Together programme, with partners and colleagues across the system.

Kate Holburn (Deputy Director of Public Health) and Professor Erica Charters (University of Oxford) presented a report on the independent evaluation of the Community Health Development Officer (CHDO) programme and the Well Together (WT) programme.

Both initiatives formed a central component of Oxfordshire’s approach to tackling health inequalities through a Marmot-aligned, community-based model. It was explained that the CHDO programme had emerged from earlier community insight profile work, with officers embedded within priority communities to work alongside local assets and respond to locally identified needs. The Well Together programme had complemented this by providing targeted funding to grassroots organisations to deliver community-led activities addressing those needs.

It was emphasised that the evaluation had been independently undertaken by Professor Erica Charters of the University of Oxford, and that this external academic perspective had been intentionally commissioned to provide an objective and robust assessment of impact. The evaluation had taken place over a 24-month period and had focused not on long-term population health outcomes—which it was acknowledged would not yet be measurable—but on implementation, engagement, and the extent to which the programmes had achieved their intended objectives.

The findings of the evaluation were presented; and it was explained that a mixed-methods approach had been adopted, combining statistical analysis, household surveys, interviews, focus groups, and extensive fieldwork within communities. The research had included engagement with approximately 1,600 households, with detailed responses obtained from 225 households, as well as qualitative work with community organisations and programme participants.

In presenting the findings, Professor Charters reported that both programmes had been effective in achieving their objectives. They had supported over 150 community organisations and facilitated more than 200 community health and wellbeing activities. These activities had reached a substantial number of residents, with evidence suggesting that at least 40,000 individuals had engaged directly with programme-supported initiatives.

A central theme of the evaluation was the importance of the individuals delivering the programmes. It was emphasised that Community Health Development Officers and Community Capacity Builders had been a critical strength, demonstrating strong communication skills, sustained presence within communities, and the ability to build trusted relationships. This relational approach had enabled effective engagement with both residents and local organisations.

The evaluation also identified that community health should not be viewed in isolation, but as part of a wider ecosystem of health and care. Community-based activities were described as both entry points into formal healthcare and as support mechanisms for individuals leaving clinical services.

During discussion, the Chair reflected on the tangible benefits of the programmes within his own local area, citing specific examples of funded initiatives and the high level of community engagement observed. Other members of the Board welcomed the evaluation and its findings, particularly the emphasis on trust-building and community-led approaches.

District Cllr Georgina Heritage raised a question regarding the methodology of the household survey, specifically seeking clarification on response rates. Professor Charters confirmed that while 1,600 households had been visited, detailed responses had been obtained from 225 households through in-person engagement, noting that this approach had generated rich qualitative data, particularly from individuals who might not otherwise engage through traditional consultation methods.

The Chair and other members emphasised the importance of viewing the programmes as part of a broader system response to entrenched inequalities, noting that deprivation was shaped by long-term structural factors and that the role of such programmes was to contribute to incremental change and improved outcomes for residents.

Members also reflected on the wider implications for system working, noting that the findings reinforced the importance of co-production, community engagement, and integration with other elements of the health and care system, including neighbourhood models and voluntary sector partnerships.

The Board RESOLVED to:

1.    SUPPORT the promotion and sharing of the findings from the evaluation of the Oxfordshire County Council-funded Community Health Development Officer (CHDO) programme and the Thames Valley ICB-funded Well Together programme, with partners and colleagues across the system.