Agenda and minutes

21.1       The minutes of the meeting held on 30^th September 2021 were agreed as a correct record.

22.1     Apologies for absence were received from the following Board members:

•           Cllr Trevor Webb

•           Louise Ansari

•           Joe Chadwick-Bell

•           Siobhan Melia

•           Sarah MacDonald

22.2     Apologies for absence were received from the following invited observers with speaking rights:

•           Cllr Rebecca Whippy

•           Mark Matthews

22.3     The following substitutions were made for Board members:

•           Dom Ford substituted for Sam Allen

22.4     The following substitutions were made for Board invited observers with speaking rights:

•           Amy Loaring substituted for Katy Bourne

•           Sarah Deason substituted for Geraldine Des Moulin.

23.1     There were no disclosures of interest.

Notification of items which the Chair considers to be urgent and proposes to take at the end of the agenda. Any members who wish to raise urgent items are asked, wherever possible, to notify the Chair before the start of the meeting. In so doing, they must state the special circumstances which they consider justify the matter being considered urgently

24.1     There were no urgent items.

25.1     The Board considered a report providing an update on progress with our integration programme and related areas of system collaboration.

25.2     The Board asked what quantifiable outcomes there are to measure success of the East Sussex Health and Social Care Programme (ESHSCP).

25.3     Vicky Smith, Programme Director - East Sussex Health and Social Care Transformation, said in March 2020 the East Sussex Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) agreed a draft shared outcomes framework with four domains of: population health and wellbeing, quality care and support, experience of local people, and transforming services for sustainability. The work to develop Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and measures had then been paused due to the focus on the COVID-19 emergency response The Board had also previously been receiving quarterly updates on the progress of the ESHSCP integration programme against a suite of shared KPIs. The intention now is to provide the proposed KPIs and measures for the outcomes framework for 2022/23 at the 1st March 2022 HWB meeting, which will include reinstating the ESHSCP programme and monitoring KPIs.

25.4     The Board asked whether Omicron variant of COVID-19 likely to delay the resumption of the integration programme disrupted by the initial outbreak.

25.5     Vicky Smith said new outbreaks have the potential to disrupt momentum of the integration programme, as the health and social care system will need to ensure a critical focus on operational management and delivery priorities through the winter period. The intention is to continue work in the background on our medium-term shared objectives for integration. Jessica Britton, Executive Managing Director of the East Sussex Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), added that everything the health and care system does is focussed on supporting the population’s health and wellbeing and that health and care integration forms part of our ongoing development.

25.6     The Board RESOLVED to:

1) Note our system collaboration and actions required by the current increased needs for services; and

2) Note the continued progress on our shared medium term priority objectives aimed at improving population health, reducing health inequalities and delivering more integrated care

26.1     The Board considered a report providing an update on the Joint Strategic Needs and Assets Assessment (JSNAA) for East Sussex and shared plans for future developments.

26.2     The Board RESOLVED to:

1) note the JSNAA update; and

2) endorse work planned for 2022/22 and into 2022/23.

27.1     The Board considered a report to advise on the multi-agency arrangements in place to safeguard children in East Sussex.

27.2     The Board thanked Reg Hooke for his work as Chair of the ESCCP and wished him well in his future endeavours.

27.3     The Board RESOLVED to note the East Sussex Safeguarding Children Partnership Annual Report for 2020-2021.

28.1     The Board considered a report seeking approval of the East Sussex Better Care Fund (BCF) plans for 2021/22.

28.2     The Board RESOLVED to:

1) Note the requirements for 2021/22 Better Care Fund; and

2) Approve the East Sussex Better Care Fund Plans for 2021/22 at Appendix 1 & 2.

29.1     The Board considered a report seeking agreement of the updated East Sussex Outbreak Control Plan (OCP).

29.2     Darrell Gale, Director of Public Health, explained that the OCP was produced in November before the arrival of the Omicron variant and since then the UK has stepped up to Alert Level 4, implemented Plan B, and accelerated the COVID-19 booster programme. He said future iterations of the OCP may make it appear like U-turns on guidance have been made, however, it is important to remember that the OCP is based on evidence and when evidence changes you change your guidance.

29.3     The Board asked whether an executive summary of the OCP could be produced in the future to ensure a wider readership.

29.4     Darrell Gale agreed that something shorter and easier to read would be a useful addition and he would make sure the next iteration included an executive summary document.

29.5     The Board asked whether there were any concerns about the mixed messages of asking people to urgently get a booster whilst also allowing them to attend gatherings in places such as pubs.

29.6     Darrell Gale said it is very challenging to balance infection control measures against the physical, mental and economic wellbeing of the population. During periods of escalation, especially with more harmful variants like Alpha, the focus is far more on the removal of risk, whereas the last year and especially since the summer the wellbeing arguments have become more prominent and are likely to be very strong over the Christmas holiday period, where people will want to get the benefits of socialising on their mental health more than they did last year. The arrival of Omicron has introduced an additional challenge, however, and its risk is not yet fully understood. Whilst it has a very rapid doubling time, the clinical outcomes appear not to be as severe as the Alpha variant, although this could change as evidence grows. Darrell Gale suggest an approach of caution towards Omicron rather than panic was more appropriate, particularly as the booster does give far more protection. Dr David Warden, Chair of East Sussex CCG, added that whilst the variant may be milder, its virulence may have an impact on the capacity of the NHS and social care workforce through sickness absence.

29.7     The Board asked if the Director of Public Health has any powers to influence or control large events, or the inappropriate gathering of people.

29.8     Darrell Gale said that the local authority has very limited powers to stop large events happening, as the powers are around individual risk management of premises and whether it is adhering to the terms of its license. District and Borough council environmental health teams and the police also have a role to play. The community has also largely adhered to any restrictions in place and there has been very little disruption.

29.9     The Board RESOLVED to:

1)   agree the updated East Sussex Outbreak Control Plan attached as Appendix 1; and

2)   agree to receive  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

30.1     The Board considered a report providing an update on the ongoing welfare concerns for unsupported homeless people placed in Kendal Court and other temporary accommodation in the Lewes and Eastbourne areas by Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC).

30.2     Mark Stainton, Director of Adult Social Care informed the Board that a response had been received to the 4th November letter on Friday (after the publication of the HWB papers). The reply did not attempt to address the issues and restated BHCC’s position in respect to the Care Act 2014, i.e., that it was adhering to its requirements. It did, however, indicate a reduction in out-of-area placements in East Sussex to 168, with 64 now in Eastbourne – a much lower figure – due to the decant of clients from a hotel BHCC had commissioned following the potential planning enforcement action. The balance of 104 out-of-area placements remain in Lewes District. The letter also said the numbers would remain around this level, suggesting no strategic plan to address the temporary accommodation issues in Brighton & Hove. The letter also stated BHCC is reviewing the Healthwatch report that was published two and a half months ago.

30.3     The Director of Adult Social Care also informed the Board that a further resident of Kendal Court had sadly taken their own life on Friday, taking the death toll of residents to ten. ESCC is now seeking legal advice to help prevent further harm or death of Brighton & Hove residents placed temporarily in Kendal Court.

30.4     John Routledge, Director of Healthwatch, said Healthwatch is pressing BHCC for a response to the recommendations it made in its report on Kendal Court but had not yet had a response. He added that BHCC had taken on board the recommendations for commissioning new temporary emergency accommodation going forward and that may be an opportunity to improve things at Kendal Court, as the lease for the building expires next year and it could enable the City Council to demand higher standards of the provider. He added that about half of those being placed in East Sussex, including some in Kendal Court, were happy with the arrangement and were making plans for their future, however, the issue is with vulnerable people being placed in East Sussex.

30.5     The Board expressed serious concern about the situation at Kendal Court and the lack of engagement from BHCC. Board members hoped the issue could be resolved as soon as possible and expressed support for ESCC to seek legal advice, suggested that ESCC should explore whether there are any legal covenants on Kendal Court, and suggested exploring whether there is scope for the Safeguarding Adults Board to look at carrying out a thematic safeguarding review of Kendal Court.

30.6     The Board RESOLVED to:

1) Note the additional information, ongoing concerns and actions set out in this report in respect of Brighton and Hove residents temporarily accommodated in East Sussex; and

2) Agree to receive a further update report on the situation, at its next meeting  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

31.1     The Board considered a report seeking approval of the Family Hubs Local Transformation Fund bid.

31.2     The Board suggested that officers should ensure there are robust plans in place should national funding be suddenly withdrawn. The bid should also have a clear, persuasive case with clear evaluation metrics built into it to ensure it is successful.

31.3     Darrell Gale added that the Family Hub Transformation Bid would build on and support other services for 0-19 year old services commissioned by the Public Health Team and other services in the Children’s Services Department.

31.4     The Board RESOLVED to approve the Family Hubs bid for submission.

32.1     The Board considered its work programme.

32.2     The Board RESOLVED to approve its work programme.

33.1     There were none notified.