Agenda and draft minutes

There were no Declarations of Interest made at the meeting.

No questions had been received in advance of the meeting and there were no members of the public or press in attendance at the meeting.

There were no communications to report.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the previous meeting held on 26^th November, 2025.

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 26^th November, 2025, be approved as a true record.

Alex Hawley, Consultant in Public Health, to present an update on Family Hubs.

Alex Hawley, Consultant in Public Health (Best Start and Beyond) and Kirsty Woodhead, Head of Service Family Help, gave the following powerpoint presentation on the successful delivery of the 3 year transformation project, the embedding of the Family Hub model (extended for a fourth year) and the expectations and focus of the Programme until the end of the next funding period (2028):-

Infrastructure

Over the first 4 years the Programme has transitioned to a system-wide offer for children and families.  There was a strong and sustainable infrastructure in place:-

-        A clear programme management structure supported by workstream leads

-        Regular communication and engagement were supported through the Best Start in Life Guide and the monthly Family Hub newsletter

-        Governance and performance were embedded through a monthly operational group with separate quarterly performance and communication meetings

-        Early engagement initiatives, such as Baby Packs, continued to strengthen registration rates with 93% of families choosing to register

-        Regular reporting mechanisms established to Department of Health and Social Care and Department of Education

What’s in a Family Hub

The Family Hub Programme in Rotherham operated through a strong partnership approach with services delivered for children and families 0-10 (25 with SEND).  A range of services were typically delivered from Family Hubs including but not limited to:

-        Parenting support e.g. parenting groups and discussion groups

-        Peep learning together groups

-        Midwife appointments

-        Health Visitor and Nursery Nurse appointments

-        Infant feeding support

-        Breast pump loan scheme

-        Ante-natal classes and sessions for expectant parents

-        Groups and activities for children under 5 and their families e.g. stay and play, baby massage and sensory sessions

-        Groups for young people such as targeted youth groups

-        Groups for parents of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

-        Employment support from DWP Family Community Work Coaches

-        Peer support for families affected by perinatal mental health

Outreach Services

To reduce barriers, a range of services were delivered in community venues across the Borough including

-        Community-led infant feeding sessions, parenting support, Peep learning together groups, Midwife/Health Visitor and Nursery Nurse appointments, infant feeding support, ante-natal classes/sessions for expectant parents, groups and activities for children under 5 and their families, groups for young people such as targeted youth groups, groups for parents of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

Parenting Support

-        Togetherness

The Programme continued to see an increase in the Togetherness (previously named Solihull) online course registration and active learners

As of November 2015, there were 681 registered learners

-        Volunteers

The Programme had introduced a peer support and volunteer offer with 29 active volunteers (as of end of September 2025)

-        Evidence based interventions that were offered and delivered to parents and carers – face-to-face and online

Triple P Baby, 0-12 years, Teen, Stepping Stones, Transitions

Family Links

Caring Dads

Sleep Tight

Fear-Less

Togetherness – understanding your child’s behaviour

PEEP (Learning Together Programme)

Journey to Parenthood Programme (health)

One Plus One, Arguing Better, Me, You  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

Oscar Holden, Corporate Improvement Officer and Emily Parry-Harries, Director of Public Health, to present an update on the Board’s Strategy priorities

Oscar Holden, Corporate Improvement Officer, gave the following powerpoint presentation on the Board’s 2025-30 strategy priorities:-

Since the 26^th November Board meeting, further consultation had taken place with the Public Health Data Intelligence Team and members of the Health and Wellbeing Board to refine the metrics to arrive at the suggestions above.

A streamlined version of the current action plan was also discussed that represented the actions of the Board as a 12 month rolling programme.  A final version was to be submitted to the next meeting following consultation with the Executive Group.

If agreed, the new priority metrics would be added to the Rotherham Health and Wellbeing Strategy as an appendix and the new action plan format used as from March 2026.

Discussion ensued with the following issues raised/clarified:-

-        The Integrated Care Board Forward Plan was listed on the action plan for consideration at the June, 2026, Board meeting.  However, there was a lot of organisational change taking place and probably still ongoing at that time so may not be appropriate for consideration.  From a national perspective there was guidance to be issued shortly around Neighbourhoods and the connect to Health and Wellbeing Boards.  The timings were not known but was definitely something that would need to be discussed at the Board at a future date

-        Which metrics of the Safer Rotherham Partnership (SRP) were to be considered under Priority Four as there were a number (approximately 40 metrics) which would not map across naturally into the Health and Wellbeing remit.  It was the understanding that the metrics were already covered by the SRP but checks would be made as to which ones they would be

-        It was important that the views of Rotherham’s children and young people were taken into account in the Strategy/priorities and metrics.  The feedback that had been received from the various meetings would be revisited next year when the forward plan was refreshed to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

Katy Lewis, Carers Strategy Manager, RMBC, to present the Carers Strategy 2026-31.

Katy Lewis, Carers Strategy Manager, gave the following powerpoint presentation on The Borough That Cares All-Age Strategy 2026-2031:-

The Borough that Cares Strategic Framework 2022-2025 – Achievements

-        Improved access to information – created the Council Carers Information Hub, Carers Directory and Carers Newsletter

-        Information Navigators integrated to support carers who are digitally excluded

-        Expanded community support through a small grant programme

-        Strengthened carer voice and influence – establishing The Borough That Carers Strategic Network as a voice, influence and engagement group

-        Established a Multi-Agency Strategic Group to drive change within organisations

-        Increases Carers Assessment capacity through the employment of Carers Link Officers

-        Celebrated carers – Carers Week and Carers Rights Day were now recognised community events in the Borough

Looking Forward – Engagement to inform the Strategy

-        A programme of engagement took place between March and August 2025 to gather the views of carers and a range of other stakeholders

-        23 engagement events took place

-        399 participants engaged

-        Participants included carers and young carers, the people they cared for, Social Care and Health professionals, care providers and the voluntary and community sector

-        A facilitated engagement session was undertaken with young carers and their families in July 2025

-        Researched best practice and utilised national and local data

Our Five Commitments

-        5 themes emerged from the engagement which translated into commitments:

1.      Identification and Early Intervention

Identify carers, including young carers, earlier in their journey and ensure timely access to advice, support and preventative services, before needs escalate into crisis

Provide clear practical guidance on the Carers’ Service offer and how to navigate it, ensuring carers are aware of available support through clear, multi-channel communication

Explore flexible support options for carers in employment including better workplace awareness, access to low-level interventions and improved links with employers

Promote carer friendly Health services that recognise the barriers carers face in accessing care for themselves and ensure carers are supported to prioritise their own health

2.      Support carers and ensure their voice is heard

Ensure carers were routinely provided with clear, timely information during key Health and Social Care Service interactions

Develop clearer pathways for carers especially at the point of diagnosis so they were easily connected to the right services and support

Recognise the value of shared experiences and increase opportunities for carers to connect with and support each other

Work with schools, Youth Services and Family Support Teams to identify and support young carers earlier ensuring their emotional wellbeing and family stability were prioritised

Provide training and resources to frontline staff across Health and Social Care to improve recognition of carers and ensure they are treated as partners in care

Continue to involve carers in shaping services and monitoring progress ensuring their voices remain central to everything we do

3.      Support carers through times of change

Support carers through key transitions and ensure that Health and Social Care professionals provide carers with timely, updated information when the condition of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

Ruth Fletcher-Brown, Public Health Specialist, Adult Care, Housing and Public Health, to present updates from the Public Mental Health Action Plan (formally known as the Better Mental Health for All).

Ruth Fletcher-Brown, Public Health Specialist, gave the following powerpoint presentation on the review that had taken place with all partners on the Health and Wellbeing Board’s approach to early intervention and prevention:-

Current Picture

-        Rotherham Health and Wellbeing Board adopted the Public Mental Health Strategy, Better Mental Health for All, in 2017

-        The Better Mental Health for All Strategy and Action Plan for Rotherham 2017-2025 outlined actions that partners of the Health and Wellbeing Board were committed to take to improve the mental health for all people living and working in Rotherham

-        Delivery of this was overseen by the Better Mental Health for All Group which represented all partners of the HWBB

-        Rotherham Health and Wellbeing Board submitted a detailed application form in 2023 to become a signatory of the Prevention Concordat for Mental Health.  This was approved in September 2023

Stakeholder Event – Partners of the Health and Wellbeing Board attended a workshop in July facilitated by Andy Bell, Centre for Mental Health.  Stakeholders at the workshop

-        Heard from the lived experience of local communities in Rotherham

-        Worked collaboratively on a vision of a mentally healthier place to live

-        Looked at mental health in Rotherham today

-        Heard insights and ideas from national research and good practice from across the country on what worked to promote good mental health

-        Identified priorities for promoting and protecting mental health in Rotherham

Healthy life expectancy and mental health

-        Healthy Life Expectancy (HLE) was closely linked to mental health and mental ill-health and poor wellbeing were associated with reduced HLE:

Reduced quality of life

Increased mortality risk

Physical health connection

-        In Rotherham HLE has been decreasing from 59 in 2015-17 to 56 years in 2021-23 for both males and females

Mental Health Conditions

-        It was estimated that 19% of the population aged 16 and over and 12% of the population aged 65 and older have a common mental health condition

-        The prevalence of depression in Rotherham has increased between 2013 and 2022, from 9.9% to 17.3%, remaining above the England average of 13.2%

-        1.5 out of every 100 individuals were newly diagnosed with depression in 2023/24

Children and Young People

-        40% of secondary school children reported their mental health as ‘fair’ or ‘poor’

-        Girls were twice as likely to report persistent loneliness (22.4%) compared to boys (10.6%)

-        1 in 2 children in care had emotional wellbeing that was a cause for concern in 2023/24

Engagement around Mental Health – Groups and individuals told us

-        Increased stress and pressure were identified as a major cause of poor mental health

-        Bereavement can cause loneliness and poor mental health

-        COVID brought challenges and opportunities.  Some people said that others were still anxious about going out

-        They did not want to be a burden to their families.  Some families lived a long distance away and even if they lived nearer, families had their own lives

-        Caring  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.

(1)  It was noted that a visit was to take place later that day from Minal Bakhai, GP and NHS England’s Lead for the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme, to speak about the progress Rotherham was  making on its NHS Neighbourhood work. 

(2)   At the Place Board, currently chaired by John Edwards, recent discussions had focussed on what the partnership would look like in the future.  It was still at the point of exploring given that it was not currently known what resources would be available and how it would continue beyond the changes that were taking place.

ICB colleagues continued with their commitment notwithstanding the changes that were currently taking place.

Resolved:-  That the update be noted.

To receive the report from Chris Clark- Project Lead, City of Doncaster Council, on the Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder project, to raise the Board’s awareness.

Further to Minute No. 57 of January, 2025, an update was submitted, for information, on the Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Project.

It was noted that the grant funded project had run from April, 2023 until March 2025.  Chris Clark, the then Project Officer, was not in attendance due to the funding having ended in May, 2025, and unfortunately there was no-one to champion the next actions for the project.

Kym Gleeson reported that Healthwatch Rotherham had produced a report on FASD in March 2025, and agreed that the importance of the work had to be continued. 

Resolved:-  (1)  That the information provided regarding the conclusion of the Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Project for South Yorkshire be noted.

(2)  That the Board endorse the continuation of the work carried out by the Foetal Alcohol Disorder Syndrome Project and supported any endeavours to securing future funding.

It was noted that the BCF Q3 Reporting Template, covering the period 1^st October to 31^st December, 2025, had to be submitted to NHS England by 30^th January, 2025.

Resolved:-  That the submission of the BCF Quarter 3 documentation to NHS England by the 30^th January, 2025, deadline be noted.

Minutes of meeting held on 17^th September, 15^th October and 19^th November, 2025

The minutes of the Rotherham Place Board ICB Business meeting held on 17^th September, 15^th October and 19^th November, 2025, were noted.