COMMUNITIES

EVENT - Better together, building healthy communities in hard times (15th March 2010)
The Institute of Community Cohesion (iCoCo) and the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) are running an important one-day event aimed at supporting NHS practitioners and partners in promoting community cohesion in the current financial climate. The event, to be held on 19th May 2010, will be chaired by Sir John Egan.

The event will look at:

• tackling health inequalities through building social capital in the downturn
• implementing the Marmot Review (from both a Local Authority and Primary Care Trust perspective)
• building resilience and promoting healthy communities by adopting a lifecycle approach

Information

ELDERLY/OLDER PEOPLE

Gateshead - Paddle Your Own Canoe (15th March 2010)
Paddle Your Own Canoe (PYOC) was a project by Wayout in Gateshead (WinG), an organisation that specialises in conducting personal development courses through adventure education. The course aimed to improve the mental health and well-being of people over 50 years old. It was funded by Communities for Health.
Information

Care and support for older people and carers in Bradford (16th March 2010)
This study explored the needs, aspirations and expectations of older people and family carers from a range of ethnic communities in Bradford, regarding both formal paid care and help from family, friends and neighbours.

The study found that:

• Irrespective of cultural or ethnic background, older people shared expectations about caring relationships and access to services, as well as similar experiences of service delivery.
• There was a strong sense that services were run more for the convenience and budgets of service providers than for the benefit of the individual older person.
• Across all groups there was a desire for flexible, tailored services. Older people wanted more say in how and where they lived, the quality of their food, and who provided 'that bit of help' in their homes.

Report

LOCAL AUTHORITY/GOVERNMENT

LASSL(DH)(2010)1: Provisional Grant Allocations for the Personal Care At Home Grant for 2010/11 (12th March 2010)
The purpose of this circular is to advise local authorities of their provisional grant allocations for the Personal Care at Home grant from 1st October 2010 to 31st March 2011. This grant will be paid via Area Based Grant (ABG).
Information

Ordinary residence: guidance on the identification of the ordinary residence of people in need of community care services, England (5th March 2010)
This guidance provides information and advice to local authorities (and certain other bodies) on the identification of the ordinary residence of people in need of community care services.

The guidance anticipates the coming into force of section 148 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 which is expected to come into force on 19 April 2010. The guidance is effective from this date. Therefore, on 19 April 2010, this guidance will replace the existing ordinary residence guidance contained in LAC(93)7. From this date, LAC(93)7 will be revoked.
Guidance

Top tips on improving outcomes through better commissioning of adult social care (February 2010)
Local authorities spend about £18 billion each year on adult social care including £11.6 billion on external providers. Millions could be saved each year through more effective and collaborative commissioning, including better procurement of services.

Local authorities are under pressure to reduce expenditure on, and the cost of, adult social care. At the same time, services users and carers expect high-quality services. Members need to understand how services can be improved and how they can be delivered more efficiently.

This guide – one of a series of member guides on procurement – provides tips on how your authority can make savings through better commissioning of adult social care.
Guide

LOCAL AUTHORITY/GOVERNMENT

Under Pressure. Tackling the financial challenge for councils of an ageing population (18th February 2010)
Councils face the challenge of an ageing population as public spending reduces. This report, from the Audit Commission, says most councils do not know enough about the costs of their ageing population. They may also miss the savings that could flow from preventive services and better work with other organisations.
Report

The social determinants of health and the role of local government (3rd March 2010)

This collection of articles assesses what local government can do to tackle the social conditions that lead to health inequalities. Written by distinguished practitioners and academics, the publication builds on the recent Marmot Review report, 'Fair Society, Healthy Lives'.

Some of the articles are deliberately challenging and provocative. Some of them present a picture of what is already happening in local government. Some look to what more local authorities could do, either with additional powers or by using their existing powers and remit. All will challenge and extend your current thinking.

Documents

SOCIAL CARE

Priotising need in the context of Putting People First: a whole system approach to eligibility for social care - guidance on eligibility criteria for adult social care, England 2010 (25th February 2010)
This guidance is issued under section 7(1) of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 and replaces Fair access to care services - guidance on eligibility criteria for adult social care which was issued in 2003. This guidance will need to be applied from April 2010.
Guidance

The role of culture and sport in supporting adult social care to deliver better outcomes (1st March 2010)

This publication, produced in partnership with the National Culture Forum, is designed to enable better understanding of, and engagement with, the social care sector. It is intended to help improve the lives of older and vulnerable people by engaging with the right partnerships and with strategic commissioning processes, and explaining better the contribution the sector can make.

It is also intended to introduce adult social care providers – particularly commissioners – to the opportunities and benefits of the culture and sport sector.

Publication

LOCAL AUTHORITY/GOVERNMENT

North Yorkshire County Council's telehealthcare improves quality of life (11th February 2010)
North Yorkshire County Council has turned to telehealthcare as a way to defuse the demographic timebomb. The council has already trialed it early in two areas as part of its drive for more cost effective healthcare.
Information

HEALTH

Health Effects of Exposure to Ultrasound and Infrasound (1st February 2010)
The independent Advisory Group on Non-Ionising Radiation (AGNIR), which reports to the Health Protection Agency, has reviewed the latest scientific evidence on the health effects of ultrasound (frequencies above 20 kilohertz) and infrasound (below 20 Hz).

The report finds that the available evidence does not suggest that diagnostic ultrasound affects mortality of babies during pregnancy or soon after birth. The evidence also does not suggest any effect on childhood cancer risk. There have, however, been some unconfirmed reports suggesting possible effects on the developing nervous system - for instance, on handedness of the child.

AGNIR concluded that there is no established evidence that diagnostic levels of ultrasound are hazardous. However, further research is needed to determine whether there are any long-term adverse health effects, especially following exposure of the unborn child.
Report

Warrington - using libraries to raise health awareness (21st January 2010)
Warrington Borough Council used Communities for Health (C4H) funding to run a health programme based in its libraries.
Information

Summary of insight research with middle aged adults (2nd February 2010)
Change4Life asked research company 2CV to carry out research to help inform a campaign aimed at adults. The research was carried out between July and October 2009 with middle aged men and women to investigate their habits and attitudes to diet, physical activity and weight status.
Summary

A liberal dose? Health and wellbeing: the role of the state (1st February 2010)
The role of the state in health and wellbeing is a complex and controversial issue. A difficult question for any government is how far to intervene in the choices and behaviour of individuals in order to promote their own, or others’, health. Good health is a vital ingredient of a good life – but so is freedom.

This report:

• sets out evidence for what the public think about this question;
• explores the key issues at stake and clarifi es principles for state intervention;
• suggests a new framework to guide decision making; and
• proposes a new narrative for future state intervention.

Report

Influencing public behaviour to improve health and wellbeing (1st February 2010)
This independent report builds on current approaches, using the latest evidence from areas such as behavioural economics and psychology, to suggest ways in which the Government could become more effective in this area, to help people to make healthier choices where they wish to do so.
Report

Enabling effective delivery of health and wellbeing (1st February 2010)
This independent report offers recommendations to the Secretary of State on how better to enable the delivery of improved health and wellbeing. The terms of reference for this report requested an assessment of the current opportunities and barriers in delivery systems, to identify where practical changes could be made to improve effectiveness.
Report

LOCAL AUTHORITY/GOVERNMENT

Sexuality - the new agenda (2nd February 2010)
“Sexuality – the new agenda” emphasises the need for a corporate approach to promoting equality. Once seen as a fringe issue of little relevance to the core business of local authorities, sexuality has been brought centre stage by recent legislative developments.

Lesbian, gay and bisexual equality is coming of age and can no longer be seen as an optional extra. Many successful initiatives have been undertaken by local authorities throughout England and Wales.

This publication aims to cover:

• service delivery and customer care
• community development and involvement
• local authority employees
• monitoring and evaluation.

Publication

Tackling Domestic Violence (28th January 2010)
About one in four women can become victims of domestic abuse. For many, the crime will go unreported and unnoticed. Three years ago Oxfordshire County Council and local partners decided more needed to be done to support women and their children. Their answer to the problem was the Domestic Abuse Champions Network.The scheme has created specialists in domestic abuse, in public and voluntary-sector organisations throughout the county.

There are now 250 trained champions from 35 different agencies. The champions include:

• police officers
• social workers
• housing staff
• midwives
• health visitors

Information

OBESITY

Is 'Buffalo' the answer to obesity (28th January 2010)
There is no ‘quick fix’ to childhood obesity. However, the early signs are that a partnership between health and council officials in Burnley may be on the right track.
Information

WELLBEING

The State of Happiness (18th January 2010)
A major new report from the Young Foundation and the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) highlights that promoting and influencing happiness is no longer just an aspiration. As the recession forces difficult public spending choices, services focused on wellbeing are delivering widespread economic and social benefits – especially to children.
Report

LOCAL AUTHORITY/GOVERNMENT

Use of Resources Good Practice and Case Studies (17th December 2009)
To help auditors and audited bodies identify good practice, the Audit Commission have published some case studies from the 2008/09 auditors' use of resources work.
Case Studies

Leading Together Better (29th December 2009)
During the summer of 2009, the IDeA’s Healthy Communities programme sponsored a research project by Shared Intelligence. This explored the nature of partnership working between directors of public health, adults’ services and children’s services. The project arose after the first joint conference between the Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH), Association of Directors of Adults Social Services (ADASS) and Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS). The conference report reveals well-established partnership relationships between all three directors.

The IDeA has distributed the report to local authorities and primary care trusts (PCTs). It hopes that this will stimulate local discussion on the nature of partnership working for health and wellbeing and how it can be improved.
Document

EDUCATION/SCHOOLS

Carlisle's Lifestyle on the Road (2nd December 2009)
Carlisle's LifeStyle on the Road project provides public health and fitness provision to schools and the community. It uses a unique van for specialist coaches and fitness equipment to be transported to venues.
Information

LOCAL AUTHORITY/GOVERNMENT

LAC (DH) (2009)8 Autism strategy: improving services for people with autistic spectrum conditions (7th December 2009)
This circular highlights arrangements for the design and delivery of a new national strategy for adults with autistic spectrum conditions.
Publication

Valuing health: business case literature review (8th December 2009)
The Healthy Communities programme has produced a literature review which summarises the available evidence and research on the financial and non-financial impact of health improvement activity. This review highlights the need for a greater focus on the financial impact of health improvement activity on local government services, but does indicate that there are a number of areas where local authorities could expect to make efficiency savings. These include older people’s health and independence, workforce health and climate change and sustainability.
Report

Assessments relating to people with learning difficulties: Guidance to Local Authorities (November 2009)
The transition from school to a new learning establishment can be a difficult time for any young person. Those with learning difficulties are at particular risk of not making a successful transition. As a result, young people with learning difficulties are less likely to participate in education or training post-16 as those without, and are twice as likely to be NEET (not in education, training or employment).

The guidance is designed to help local authorities make consistent, effective and robust decisions but does not tell them what to do in each individual case. The guidance is current to March 2010 when new guidance published in Spring 2010, reflecting changes brought about by the ASCL Act, comes into effect.
Guidance

Assessments relating to people with learning difficulties: Guidance to Local Authorities - Analysis of consultation responses (November 2009)
The Education and Skills Act 2008 section 80 states that “in exercising its functions under this section, an authority must have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State”.

The Education and Skills Act 2008 inserted Sections 139A to 139C into the Learning and Skills Act 2000 which placed a statutory responsibility on local authorities in relation to assessments relating to learning difficulties. The purpose of this consultation was to seek views on the draft statutory guidance.

The consultation ran from 23 April to 16 July 2009. A total of 70 responses were received. A summary of responses to each question is provided and a list of the respondents is included in the Annex.
Responses

Safeguarding children and young people: a new scrutiny guide (4th December 2009)
The Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) and Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS) have published a new guide to support overview and scrutiny committees in fulfilling their critical role in relation to safeguarding children.

The guide is designed to assist both councillors and officers in shaping and developing local safe services. The document includes:

• suggestions for approaches to scrutiny
• key references and advice for further reading
• a series of questions that committee members may want to consider when testing whether local arrangements are robust.

Guide

PARENTING

Barnsley's Community Parents (2nd December 2009)
After an assessment showed that parents with young families suffered from social isolation, depression and anxiety about parenthood, the Community Parents programme was developed. Funded by Communities for Health, it essentially involved training volunteer local parents – also known as Community Parents – to help other local parents. It was piloted in Darfield successfully and is administered by Barnsley Primary Care Trust (PCT).
Information

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Blackburn with Darwen - re:fresh(ing) news (2nd December 2009)
re:fresh is a campaign by NHS Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care Trust (PCT) and the local council. It aims to improve the health and wellbeing, including mental and emotional wellbeing, of locals by encouraging more participation in activities. The PCT and council committed to provide £6 million over three years, and received a Communities for Health grant of £100,000.
Information

Couch kids - the nation's future (23rd November 2009)
This report, from British Heart Foundation, shows that despite efforts to get kids more active, a disturbingly high number of young people across the UK aren't reaching the target of 60 minutes physical activity each day.
Press Release

SMOKING/TOBACCO

Halton - Smoke-free programme (27th November 2009)
The aim of this programme is to reduce local health inequalities by taking advantage of the July 2007 Smoke Free England ban, and the predicted increase of 1,500 residents who want to quit.
Information

Pendle - Smoke-free workplaces (27th November 2009)
Pendle Borough Council used Communities for Health funding to help prepare businesses for the smoking ban in July 2007. The council worked in partnership with East Lancashire PCT on the project.
Information

SOCIAL CARE

Response to the report and recommendations of the review of the conduct function of the General Social Care Council (4th November 2009)
This document sets out the Government's response to the report and recommendations of the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence's (CHRE) review of the General Social Care Council's (GSCC) conduct function. The review was commissioned following the discovery of a backlog of conduct cases at the GSCC.
Document

10 questions to ask if you are scrutinising the transformation of adult social care (3rd November 2009)
This publication was commissioned from the Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS) by the Improvement Development Agency (IDeA). The guide identifies key elements in the transformation programme that will allow scrutiny committees to assess the extent to which their local authority is planning, commissioning and delivering better social care.
Publication

ALCOHOL

Under the influence - the damaging effect of alcohol marketing on young people (7th September 2009)
This report, from the British Medical Association, examines the damaging effect of alcohol marketing on young people. It aims to identify effective ways of protecting young people from the influence of alcohol promotion and marketing, thereby redressing the excessively pro-alcohol social norms to which they are exposed.
Report

Too much teen spirit (14th September 2009)
St Albans, like so many towns and cities, has its share of young binge drinkers. Police, parents, teachers and healthcare workers seek ways to convince them that what starts out as fun can turn into trouble and danger.

One recent addition to their communications toolbox is a no nonsense film produced by the young people themselves.
Information

Integrated care pathway for alcohol services: from guidance to local delivery (published July 2009 new to website 6th September 2009)
This document is from the Centre for Public Health Research at University of Chester. It includes information with links for best practice in the delivery of alcohol services.
Document

COMMISSIONING

Commissioning for Carers (8th September 2009)
The guide was funded by the Department of Health and serves as blueprint for better commissioning for carers.

Key recommendations in the guides include:

think ‘carer’ in all commissioning and joint strategic needs assessments (JSNA)
improve outcomes, independence and choices for both carers and those they care for
involve carers of all groups and communities in decision-making and planning processes
strengthen the carer support provider market, using a variety of funding approaches.
Guide

Population Health Manager (9th September 2009)
Dr Foster has responded to the increasing focus on reducing the demand for healthcare and developing a deeper understanding of the population, with the development of a new tool. Population Health Manager allows commissioners and public health professionals to define any group of people within a PCT and immediately access all the necessary data about their health including life expectancy, causes of death, prevalence of illness and frequency of admission to hospital.
Information

World class commissioning: September update (15th September 2009)
This letter from Claire Whittington gives a world class commissioning (WCC) progress report, including the launch of WCC assurance Year 2, the PBC national clinical network, new support and development resources including datapacks, and an update on the programme of Integrated Care Pilots.
Update

World class commissioning assurance - launch of Year 2 (16th September 2009)
Today marks the launch of the second year of world class commissioning (WCC) assurance. WCC assurance is the national system that holds PCTs to account, whilst providing support for them as they start to become world class commissioners.

Over 300 NHS chief executives, chairs, PEC chairs and other key stakeholders are gathering in London to hear about the framework for WCC assurance Year 2, which has been refined with extensive input from SHAs and PCTs.

Attendees will each receive a copy of the new WCC assurance handbook. This is a guide for PCTs and SHAs that explains WCC assurance in detail.
Guidance

Department of Health seeks views of commissioners of health and wellbeing (September 2009)
The primary care and community services team at the Department of Health is preparing a guide to commissioning health and wellbeing services, which will look at, among others, practical measures of support for commissioners. The DH PCCS team is running an online survey to seek the views of primary care and practice-based commissioners.
Survey

ELDERLY/OLDER PEOPLE

Luton Borough Council befriending older people (11th September 2009)
The Luton Partnership for Older Persons Project (POPP) helps people at both ends of the spectrum of need:

• older people with mental health problems who have high levels of need
• older people with the early symptoms of ill health.

Information