Agenda item

To receive updates from Partnership Boards. Reports from –

·       Place Base Partnerships

·       Health Improvement Board; and

·       Children’s Trust Board

Place Base Partnerships

The Chair invited Dan Leveson to provide an update. The following points were raised:

-       Works ongoing with focus on improving care and reducing inequality.

-       Positive progress noted in the SEND ‘stock take’ in July, particularly on the timeliness of awarding ECHP’s.

-       Focus on adult mental health and breaking down system barriers to make improvements.

-       Focus on upstream prevention and what can be done in communities.

-       Shortlisted for two awards (Homelessness pathway project and the whole system approach to activity).

Caroline Green noted that the Place Base Partnerships work was long-term, and it was difficult to gain recognition. One of the challenges was to sustain meaningful change and to communicate it to the public.

Ansaf Ahzar also reflected upon the long-term nature of the partnership’s work and that pooling funding was effective in seeing prolonged and structured change. It was noted that continuing funding was the most important thing, rather than awards.

The Chair praised the great partnership working across the system.

Health Improvement Board

The Chair invited Cllr Helen Pighills, Vale of the White Horse District Council, to present the report. The following points were raised:

-       There was a focus on mental health and the Board were updated on the refreshed Suicide Strategy.

-       Interest in some digital solutions, such as the ‘Tell Me’ app to help with children’s mental health.

-       The involvement of the youth voice as critical to Berinsfield community profile, which was welcomed.

Cllr John Howson and Dan Leveson welcomed the youth voice being heard in Berinsfield’s community profile.

Ansaf Ahzar noted that this demonstrated work beyond the 10 most deprived areas in Oxfordshire.

Children’s Trust Board

The Chair invited Lisa Lyons, Director of Children’s Services, and Cllr John Howson to present the report. The following points were raised:

-       The first meeting of the Children’s Trust Board would be on the 24 October 2024, with Cllr Howson in the Chair.

-       A revised set of terms of reference was noted.

-       It was noted that children do well across Oxfordshire, but that more work could be done to improve those children who do well, as well as those who require extra support.

-       The good performance of Oxfordshire in the Social Mobility Foundation’s recent report was noted.

Caroline Green noted that it would be interesting to drill down under headline figures in different areas of Oxfordshire, as there were concerns within Oxford about whether it was a good place to bring children up, due to the cost of housing, for example. It was also referenced as to how to measure against outcomes. There was clear alignment with other strategies, and it was questioned whether there were resource implications as it was ambitious.

Lisa Lyons agreed that it was ambitious and that many ambitions were already outlined in other documents, but that this brought that into one place. Resources need to be better aligned towards goals. It was hoped that this was the beginning of a coherent Oxfordshire-wide approach.

Dan Leveson noted that the work on SEND demonstrated the need for inclusive settings, whether at work, school or at home. It was reinforced that it was a long-term piece of work. Michelle Brennan made the point that the referrals was a step in the entire process.