Agenda item

(a)            Public Question concerning Early Years and the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment

Jo Hemmingfield made reference to the financial cuts to early years provision on the grounds of affordability and stated that there was particular concern about services for families with children aged from 0 to 4 years and that mothers were especially vulnerable when they had recently given birth. The Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) made mention of the effect, indeed double negative impact, of welfare reform on the health and wellbeing of families with young children, more than two children and lone parent families. In this context, she asked about the impact of a reduction of nursery and early years services which have a significant contribution to health and wellbeing outcomes.

Councillor Jackie Drayton, the City Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families and Member of the Board responded to the question. She stated that health inequalities started with young children and research had shown that the first 3 years of a child’s life can make a real difference to their health, academic achievement and future employment. 

Councilor Drayton stated that both she and Dr Margaret Ainger were the Health and Wellbeing Board’s leads with a focus on young children under the theme ‘a great start in life’. This theme included stages of pre-birth, birth and early years and subjects including breastfeeding attunement and obesity.

The Government had changed the way it funded local authorities to provide early years’ services. Previously, Surestart had provided a wrap-around set of services for young families, which encompassed early intervention, prevention and childcare. The present Government cut the Early Intervention Grant (which included funding for Early Years) and had put more money into Free Early Learning for 2, 3 & 4 year olds.  The Council had made savings which took into account these changes and had protected areas where funding supported breastfeeding, attunement and attainment for younger families. She stated that she felt that the welfare reform would affect young families and also affected others, including older people.

Councillor Julie Dore, the Leader of the Council and Co-Chair of the Board, added that a priority within the JSNA, which was to be considered at this meeting of the Board, was to limit the negative effects of welfare reform and the JSNA acknowledged the impact of spending cuts. These factors would be fed into the Health and Wellbeing Strategy. The effect of changes to welfare had been identified as an issue and the Board would make sure the Strategy responded by considering how services were commissioned.

(b)            Public Questions concerning the Children and Families Bill

Natalie Yarrow made reference to the Children and Families Bill and asked what steps were being taken by the Council, the Clinical Commissioning Group and health bodies in relation to clauses in the Bill concerning children and young people with special educational needs (SEN). She made particular reference to clauses concerning participation in decisions and the duty of health bodies where it is thought that a child may have special educational needs; and joint commissioning arrangements.

Dr Tim Moorhead, Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and the Chair of the meeting, responded that the Health and Wellbeing Board would need to formalise its response the Bill and he suggested that a written response was made to the questions.

Councillor Jackie Drayton, the City Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families and Member of the Board, stated that the Council had responded to the Green Paper and with regard to children with special educational needs. She had requested that Council officers examine the Children and Families Bill to see whether the comments which the Council had already submitted on the Green Paper had been taken into account within the Bill. Councillor Drayton stated that this issue would be a beneficial future agenda item for the Board to consider.

(c)            Public Questions concerning the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and the Health and Wellbeing Strategy

Adam Butcher referred to the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) and the Health and Wellbeing Strategy. He asked how it was intended to engage with other sectors and especially those people with more severe disabilities in respect of the two documents by producing alternative formats, which were easy to read or used pictorial presentation, so people could more easily understand issues presented within them.

Dr Tim Moorhead, Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and the Chair of the meeting, responded that Board would need to consider the best way of producing the JSNA and the Health and Wellbeing Strategy in a form that properly represents the full versions of these documents. The necessary work would be likely to be finished in September or October 2013.

Councillor Mary Lea, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Independent Living and Member of the Board, stated that easy to read versions of documents had been produced, for example, the Council’s budget documents.  The JSNA and Health and Wellbeing Strategy could also be submitted to the Learning Disabilities Partnership Board.

Jason Bennett, Healthwatch Sheffield and Member of the Board, stated that part of the role of Healthwatch was to make sure there is engagement and that people understand what the issues are, so they can reach informed conclusions. He stated that Healthwatch Sheffield would work on this issue in conjunction with other colleagues on the Board.