Agenda item

Report by Consultant Midwife, Public Health.

The Board will receive a report and presentation on partnership work that has focussed on supporting families with young children from conception through to 2 years.

The Board is invited to comment on the progress to date and asked to:

a) identify how it can support the programme in influencing hospital services in a proactive prevention role in respect of;

·        Maternal Smoking

·        Maternal Obesity

b) agree to consider retaining support for Early Years as a priority area in the refreshed HWB Strategy for 2018-2020.

23.1   The Chairman introduced Kelly Pierce – Consultant Midwife, Public Health to present on partnership work on supporting families with young children from conception through to 2 years.  Copy of slides appended to the agenda and available on the website).  Members noted the importance of engaging with families as early as possible and how the Integrated Prevention and Early Help programme, one of two across the country, was bridging gaps in provision and making improvements.   Members received a presentation highlighting focus on:

•    ways of reaching and supporting families who didn’t meet the criteria for social care

•    bereavement services for those who had a child removed from them

•    need for support for adults who worked with children in care

•    smoking cessation and obesity services for pregnant women

•    parenting support.

23.2   The Chairman invited the Locality Manager, Healthwatch to give her presentation and explained that she would take questions and comments on this and the previous report at the same time. (Report appended to the agenda and available on the website)  The Board noted qualitative data received January to March 2018 as set out in the slides.

23.3   The Chairman invited comment and questions on the presentations and information given.  Members:

•    commended the Consultant Midwife on her presentation and questioned the efficacy of interventions on substance misuse.  It was explained that a robust system of better information and early support was now in place and all maternity systems were involved in a development programme to include consideration of substance misuse at the first maternity service booking-in meeting.

•    questioned links with the Think Family programme.  It was explained that the Consultant Midwife was in liaison with the lead officer for this and would ensure this was highlighted with her

•    highlighted possibilities of linking support for maternal weight management for people via the Arun Wellbeing Partnership contract with Freedom Leisure.  This opportunity was welcomed and would be followed up with Arun DC

•    questioned support for the partners of the customer and also mental health support.  It was explained that supporting partners was a challenge but that the Family Assist programme could support all those signed up to it and that increasingly, digital services would also help support this work.   

•    highlighted the current STP Case for Change work programme and the importance of engaging STP wide support in taking forward a prevention agenda to ensure children start well, such as commissioning advocacy support for parents on hospital wards.  The Board noted that the Consultant had links with the whole STP area and that the Director of Public Health sat on the STP Cabinet and could also highlight this.

23.4.  Resolved that the Board:

(a)     identified member and officer influence at STP level to  influencing hospital services in taking a proactive prevention role in respect of;

•    Maternal Smoking

•    Maternal Obesity

•    Advocacy support for parent on hospital wards

(b)     agreed to consider retaining support for Early Years as a priority area in the refreshed HWB Strategy for 2018-2020.