Agenda item

37.1     The Board consider a report on a Wellbeing Approach to Prevention in Adult Social Care (ASC), which was presented by Steve Broome, Strategic Development Manager, Adult Social Care. The Prevention Strategy has been developed to be person-centred and integrated with other key health and wellbeing strategies. The wellbeing approach is around enabling people to have and use the capabilities they need to lead lives of purpose, balance, and meaning.

37.2     Mark Stainton commented that the Prevention Strategy is really important to ASC in having a strategic approach to prevention. It reflects the first two sections of the Care Act, with section 1 being wellbeing and section 2 being prevention. Mark emphasised that there is an ambition to develop the Strategy into an all age, multi-agency Prevention Strategy that will support the whole life course approach which aligns with the Improving Lives Together integrated care plan.

37.3     The Chair commented that the amount of work that has gone into developing the Strategy should not be underestimated and that it is a very important piece of work. It also underlines the things that could be achieved if we get the Strategy right.

37.4     Councillor Whitehill commented that he notes the one county and whole life course approach of the Strategy but Hastings, which he represents, faces some significant issues. He asked if the Strategy has a needs based approach which takes into account the different needs of the various parts of the county such as the severe homelessness issues in Hastings.

37.5     Stephen Lightfoot congratulated officers on a strong and thorough report, with an approach that was very systematic and thoughtful. He welcomed the whole life course approach proposed at the end of the paper as this answered his question about the inclusion of children and young people as well as adults. He asked in terms of ambition and thinking about other forms of wellbeing and a whole population approach, whether there is an opportunity for something around online wellbeing, particularly for online abuse. Also, if we are thinking about whole life course whether we are considering the linkage to education which can have an impact on children and young peoples’ wellbeing. The whole life course approach would suggest certain interventions for children and young people, working age adults, and the elderly and frail, which could be separated out into a logical and clear order so people could see how it affects them. Stephen outlined his strong support for the direction of travel of the Prevention Strategy.

37.6     David Kemp, Head of Prevention and Designated Safeguarding Lead, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service commented that it was welcome to see a preventative approach being taken and the Fire Service will support the Prevention Strategy both in terms of the work with adults and with children and young people.

37.7     Steve Broome acknowledged the Hastings context outlined by Councillor Whitehill. The Strategy has an Equalities Impact Assessment (EQiA) which looks at protected characteristics and inequalities and reflects them at a place level. The Strategy takes a progressive universalism approach which aims to make services available to all, but also to make them most available to those who need the services the most. This will draw on, for example, ICT data profiles to address any areas of specific need and the life course approach. One of the dedicated projects in physical wellbeing will be based in Hastings through work with Active Sussex.

37.8     Steve Broome acknowledged that in terms of online wellbeing, which was good point, this will be looked at through work on mental and social wellbeing in the real world and virtual world. It will be possible to adapt the framework to reflect the different stages of psycho-social development in the life course approach and make it relevant to the challenges in each stage. He welcomed the support of the Fire Service and thanked them for their partnership work on loneliness and other issues.

37.9     Mark Stainton acknowledged the point about the difference in each of the District and Borough council areas and the point about the particular problems and issues in Hastings. He outlined that the prevention agenda and ICTs work at place level, as outlined under the Housing Partnership Strategy item, which brings these issues together. Work will be undertaken by the ICTs to address particular population needs based on the population profiles produced for each area which are published in the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA). The rough purpose of the ICTs will be 80% on the core offer across the whole of East Sussex and 20% of the offer tailored to the need of the local ICT. For example, the individual needs of Hastings would feature heavily in that 20% local offer.

37.10   Mark Stainton added that he particularly liked the framework approach outlined in the Prevention Strategy which has nine sections. He outlined that there are a large number of schemes as part of the framework across the nine sections. Some of them will relate to East Sussex as a whole and some will relate to local areas such as homelessness in Hastings. It is a multi-agency approach which can accommodate the needs of local areas within the framework set out in the Strategy.

37.11   The Board RESOLVED to:

1. Consider the wellbeing approach to prevention in ASC, and to discuss ways in which the ASC strategy and its implementation can be supported; and

2. Support the development of a ‘one county, one agency’ strategy for prevention that spans the whole life course.