Issue - meetings

Teresa Roche, Director of Public Health to present a report which focuses on the first 1001 days; from conception to a child’s second birthday.

After a brief introduction by Cllr Roche, the Director of Public Health delivered a short presentation to introduce the Public Health Annual Report 2019 - The First 1001 Days.

Annual Report of the Director of Public Health (DPH)

•        Statutory duty to write independent report on health and wellbeing of local population

•        The annual report continues to be one of the ways in which DPH can highlight specific issues that will improve the health and wellbeing of the

population of Rotherham

•        2018 previous Annual Report focused on ‘What keeps us happy and well in Rotherham?’

Progress on recommendations from last year (2018)

1)    Re-launch of Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) – Community insight to supplement the data was impacted by Covid-19 but to note the importance of work on loneliness and isolation and focus on mental health and mental ill health.  Increased focus on the local economic plan in readiness for jobs coming back and links to numbers 5 and 6. 

2)    Raising awareness/training mental health – positive impact of men’s small grants programme.

3)    Workforce development and training as part of the Thriving Neighbourhoods Strategy – Getting closer to communities and more assessment based approach

4)    Support the expansion of the offer of social prescribing

5)    All partners to continue to support the ‘Working Win’

6)    Rotherham launch of the South Yorkshire BeWell@Work Award

7)    Interactive artwork at the Rotherham Show

Under Making Every Contact Count 362 people have been trained.  With Five Ways to Wellbeing mental health, alcohol awareness and sleep awareness courses had all run, more health champions had been recruited and over 100 people trained in dementia awareness.  15 schools were involved.

2019 Annual Report - Focus of Report

•        The First 1001 Days – A legacy for life

•        Key Influencers on the First 1001 Days

•        Preparing for Parenthood

•        Pregnancy

•        The First 2 Years of Life, including showcasing what we are doing in Rotherham

The First 1001 Days – Window of Opportunity

•        Between conception and a child’s second birthday

•        Critical to life-long health and wellbeing

•        Not every baby has the same opportunities in Rotherham

•        Impact of parental behaviours

•        Wider societal influences e.g. living in areas with polluted air

Recommendations

In Rotherham we will develop, jointly with all stakeholders and partners, a clear and ambitious plan to improve support for children, parents and families in the first 1001 days; key actions are outlined below.

What we can do together

Work in a partnership with our services to improve the health and wellbeing of families and their young children.  In particular have a focus on:

1. Reduction in Smoking in Pregnancy rates
2. Improve diet and nutrition
3. Promote physical activity
4. Increase breastfeeding prevalence
5. Increase Ages and Stages Questionnaire -3
6. Improve air pollution
7. Support offered by Public Health Commissioned Services

The First 1001 Days, between conception and a child’s second birthday, was critical to life-long health and wellbeing as it was difficult to reverse negative consequences beyond 1001 days.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 89

Teresa Roche, Director of Public Health, to report.

Terri Roche, Director of Public Health, introduced the 2019 independent annual report which focussed on the period of life between conception and a child’s second birthday, the so-called “1001 Critical Days”.

Evidence showed that the first 1001 days was critical to life-long health and wellbeing. It was not only a significant time for the child, but also incredibly relevant to parents and would be parents.

With it being acknowledged that early public investment set the foundation for greater societal return on such investment, by paying attention to this important area now, and reducing inequalities, it was hoped to lessen expensive interventions that would have potentially been required later in life.

The focus of the 2019 annual report was:-

-     The First 1001 Days – a legacy for life

-     Key influencers on the First 1001 Days  

-     Preparing for Parenthood

-     Pregnancy

-     The First 2 Years of Life including showcasing what Rotherham was doing

The First 1001 Days – Window of Opportunity

-     Between conception and a child’s second birthday

-     Critical to lifelong health and wellbeing

-     Not every baby had the same opportunities in Rotherham

-     Impact of parental behaviours

-     Wider social influences e.g. living in areas with polluted air

What we can do together

Work in a partnership with our services to improve the health and wellbeing of families and their young children in particular having a focus on:-

-     Reduction in smoking in pregnancy rates

-     Improve diet and nutrition

-     Promote physical activity

-     Increase breastfeeding prevalence

-     Increase Ages and stages Questionnaire – 3

-        Improve air pollution

-        Support offered by Public Health Commissioned Services

The report also provided an update on the progress made on the recommendations contained within the 2018 annual report.

An offer was extended to all partners for presentation of the report to any meetings felt appropriate.

Resolved:-  That the report be noted.