To receive any apologies for absence, including notifications of any changes to the membership of the Committee.

Apologies for absence were received from Liz Thomas, Alison Hernandez, Jo Williams, David Somerfield, Matt Longman, Caroline Dimond who was represented by Julia Chisnell and Nancy Meehan who was represented by Ceri Woszczyk.

·         Addressing the economic impact of Covid-19 on young people in Torbay;

·         Improving digital access and tackling inequality

·         Improving Public Mental Health

The Board received presentations on three ‘areas of focus’; addressing the economic impact of Covid-19 on young people in Torbay, improving digital access and tackling inequality and improving public mental health.

Addressing the economic impact of Covid-19 on young people in Torbay:

Tanny Stobart gave a presentation and asked the board to consider how they could support the work being undertake to address the economic impact of Covid-19 upon young people.

Tanny highlighted the following:

·         That data shows families were under increased pressure, particularly vulnerable groups such as:

Ø  Young people at risk of suffering harm;

Ø  Children in care; and

Ø  Young people at risk of falling behind in education.

·         Year 11’s – a group at particular risk of falling behind, without the structure they would usually have been given at this point in the year.

·         There was growing evidence that economic consequences of the Covid19 pandemic would have a greater negative impact upon young people.

Tanny informed the Board that there were a number of initiatives being developed to help address the economic impact upon young people such as the Covid Neet Prevention Board established by Torbay Council, the Board was also informed of three youth projects established by the Department for Work Pensions (DWP), working with young people to give them mentoring support and to get them into employment.  Lee Tozer, representing DWP added if any of the board members would like to become a part of Kickstart to contact him for further details.

Adel Jones thanked Tanny for the report and highlighted that this needs to be a priority and focus for the board moving forward.

The Board resolved by consensus:

i)          to continue to monitor the data on the size and scope of the challenge;

ii)         to support development of initiatives that bring together voluntary sector organisations, charities, the public and private sectors to find ways to collectively tackle the issues facing the most vulnerable families and young people; and

iii)        support the development of the Torbay Post Covid NEET Prevention Board.

Improving digital access and tackling inequality:

Katy Heard gave a presentation to the Board on improving digital access in Torbay.  Katy explained that for this area of work the definition of digital exclusion had been agreed as follows:

For someone to be digitally excluded all features must be present.  The person:

}  Wants to engage digitally but is unable to do so.

}  Lacks one (or more) of the following: skills, means, and confidence to access digital routes.

}  Wants to digitally access key activities of daily living that are important to them.  Including but not limited to banking/shopping, universal credit, social clubs, physical and mental health, social care services, social media etc.

}  Is socially isolated or disadvantaged physically and/or mentally without digital solutions.

Katy advised the Board that there were some significant challenges to improving digital access such as identifying the size of the issue of digital exclusion, identifying the priorities for those that are most excluded and community  ...  view the full minutes text for item 124.

·         Covid-19 – current figures and trends

·         Impact and recovery

·         Joint Strategic Needs Assessment 2020-22

·         Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy Outcomes Table – update August 2020.

Simon Baker, Public Health Analyst gave a presentation (attached to these minutes) to the Board on the current local and national trends and impacts in relation to Covid-19 and the outcomes of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA).

The Board paid particular attention to the findings of the JSNA recognising the need for decisive and strong leadership if Torbay is to address the inequalities within its communities.  Adel Jones confirmed she would be challenging the ICO to do things differently to help improve the outcomes for those groups identified in the JSNA with the Chairwoman and Tara Harris agreeing to discuss the challenge with the Interim Chief Executive of Torbay Council.  The Board did conclude that action rather than talking about action was required to deliver improvements in the outcomes for those groups most in need.

The Board received a presentation from Julia Chisnell, Consultant in Public, she advised Members that winter was expected to bring pressure as a result of Covid-19 combining with the usual flu season.  Julia explained that in relation to Covid-19 settings based prevention and responses had been prepared with action cards having being developed.  Testing capacity and capability was key in being able to monitor cases and trends. 

With regards to flu vaccination, Julia advised that the vaccination programme had been expanded and the covering groups were now eligible for flu vaccination highlighting that those susceptible to flu are susceptible to Covid-19;

•      2-11 years

•      6m to 64 years in a risk group (risk = up to 47x higher)

•      65+

•      Pregnant

•      Care residents & carers

•      Frontline health & care workers

Plus:

•      Household contacts of those who were shielding or immuno-compromised

•      50-64 years from November (if sufficient vaccine is available).

Board Members were requested to encourage those within their communities to have a flu vaccination.

The Board noted that the next meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board on 17 December 2020 would focus on:

·         Enabling children to have the best start in life – early help

·         Ageing Well – Living Longer Better.