28.01.13
HWB engagement vital for integration – NHS Confederation
Health and Wellbeing Boards must engage with local authorities, health providers and commissioners, a new report states.
The publication, by the NHS Confederation, suggests that the boards must use different tools and models at different times, rather than fixing rigidly on one structure or process.
This will help them to develop a comprehensive Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy.
The report outlines the benefits of such engagement, including identifying shared priorities and improving service integration.
It sets out a 12-point framework for tailoring Health and Wellbeing Boards and provider engagements includes involving providers in determining engagement approaches to ensure they work for the wide variety of size and type of provider; using informal peer to peer relationships; establishing sub-committees, and time-limited working groups; supporting the development of links between providers and local Healthwatch.
The report was developed as part of the National Learning Network for Health and Wellbeing Boards.
Jo Webber, interim director of policy at the NHS Confederation, said: “Local communities, their health needs and priorities vary widely across England, and the services which best meet these needs will vary as much, so it's obvious that no ‘one size fits all’ approach for health and wellbeing boards to engage effectively with local providers will suffice.
“Over the past year (with funding from the Department of Health) we've produced a toolbox of resources to support newly-established health and wellbeing boards. With this latest publication, all the learning and advice from those with direct experience of engaging with health service providers – from big acute trusts, community service providers, and voluntary sector organisations – is being shared throughout the system, so the new boards can make use of the best tools for their local needs.”
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