Agenda item

Paul Johnstone and Ann Hoskins from Public Health England will present the report.

Dr Ann Hoskins, Director Children,Young People and Families Public Health England (PHE) presented on PHE’s role in the transfer of 0-5s public health commissioning responsibilities to local government and the opportunities that exist to improve health outcomes and services for children.

Context

·         The Healthy Child Programme for 0-5 year olds is an universal evidence based programme delivered by Health Visitors. The targeted part of the programme is delivered by Family Nurses. Universal services are essential for primary prevention, early identification of need and early intervention.  Universal services lead to early support and improves school readiness.

·         PHE has commissioned a refresh of evidence of the 0-5 year old Healthy Child Programme (0-5s HCP) as the universal support programme for children and families.

·         Public health commissioning responsibilities will transfer to LAs on 1 October 2015, with NHS England retaining responsibility for Child Health Information Systems and the 6-8 week GP check until at least 2020

·         As part of the transformation of health visiting (HV) services the Government has committed to:

o   Transforming the HCP and HV service to improve outcomes for children;

o   Investing in and increasing the HV workforce by 4200; and

o   Increasing Family Nurse Partnerships by 16,000 places.

Opportunities

The transfer presents a number of opportunities for councils and local partners to improve these services. This includes;

·         Raising the profile of children’s’ public health services within the council, at the Health and Wellbeing Board and with NHS partners;

·         Joining up commissioning with children’s social care and education;

·         Promoting continued joint commissioning with the NHS e.g. immunisation;

·         Streamlining and targeting interventions for families needing more help;

·         Joining up the 0-5 programme with the 5-19 programmes already commissioned by LAs;

PHE’s role

PHE has a role to play in the transition by;

·         Supporting commissioning by developing and sharing evidence, knowledge and intelligence and assisting workforce development;

·         Helping local areas to prepare for new responsibilities by working with the LGA and NHS England;

·         Publishing guidance on information requirements by December 2014;

·         Engaging in discussions on funding, contracts and the desirability/extent of any mandate of the 0-5s HCP services;

·         Supporting ‘light touch’ assurance to ensure each NHS Area Team is ready to ‘send’ responsibilities and that each council is ready to ‘receive’ these responsibilities by 1^st October 2015.

An LGA paper with an update on the 0-5s transfer was briefly presented and Members’ views were sought on a number of key issues.  Members’ key points included:

·         Members supported the concept of moving to a needs-based funding formula especially if, in those areas of greatest need, this was accompanied by a plan of action to improve.

·         Members recognised the important role played by health visitors, and expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to integrate them with their existing public health services.  In some areas health visitors were reported as being already part of integrated LA/NHS teams.

·         Clarification was sought on whether the government’s wish to increase the number of health visitors by 4200 was in order to meet current targets or was over and above current targets.  Clarity was also sought over the distribution of this target across areas; and

·         It was noted that in addition to the 0-5 programmes, support to pregnant mothers was also critical in the future life chances of infants.

Dr Ann Hoskins welcomed members’ positive comments, especially in relation to the culture of enthusiasm to embrace health visitors, the desire to incorporate into the Health and Well Being Boards and the recognition of the value in moving towards needs-based funding over time.

Decision

Members noted the report and issues discussed.