Issue - meetings

Panel discussion on the theme of ‘Strong and Supportive Communities’, as outlined as a priority in the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy. A biography of Panel Members is attached.

The Board held a round table discussion on the ‘Strong and Supportive Communities’ priority, as detailed in the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy. The ‘expert’ Panel comprised Simon Kitchen, Head of Communities, Devon County Council, Jim Gale, Partnership Superintendent, Devon and Cornwall Police and Fiona Carden, Director Learning & Innovation at CoLab, Exeter.

The Board also received a presentation which outlined the context of the current work in terms of developing communities and community groups, and encouraging them to support people in line with the ‘Promoting Independence’ strategy. Also having safe, resilient and connected communities in line with the Police and Crime Plan as well as building community capacity and resilience to reduce social isolation and loneliness in line with the Sustainability and Transformation Plan, a strategic approach to community engagement, including the use of volunteering and the involvement of the voluntary and community sector representing a key part of the solution.

The presentation also outlined the basis of Asset Based Community Development Principles and the Community Needs Assessment Recommendations from a recently published report which included Volunteering, Communications and Engagement, Data, intelligence and evaluation, Commissioning, Physical assets and the environment, Role development and Businesses and the economy.

It also highlighted the role of the Police and ‘The Mission’, Police and Crime Plan and Code of ethics in Minimising Offending & Re-Offending, Maximising Community Capacity, Minimising Victimisation & Vulnerability, Maximising the impact of resources, Meaningful Collaboration, Leadership & Communication and Connectivity.

It finally highlighted the work of CoLab Exeter as a collaborative workspace and wellbeing centre, which housed specialist NHS GP practice, mental health services, probation services, housing and homelessness services, substance misuse and recovery services, all alongside broader volunteering, learning and enterprise support offers. It also focussed on four themes of Recovery, Belonging, Rehabilitation and Wellbeing.

The Board discussed and asked questions on the following issues;

·         How to engage volunteers and signposting for those who were interested as well as the good impacts on Mental Health for those who volunteer;

·         The links and synergies across organisations in their commissioning activities; and

·         Questioning how the activities on the ground related to the indicator sets, including the current work to identify better local indicators, rather than national data sets.

The Board noted that Health Watch had been undertaking a loneliness and social isolation projects which would report in the Autumn.