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 1^st April, 2026.

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 1^st April, 2026, be approved as a true record.

Lorna Quinn, Public Health Intelligence Principal , to present the refreshed Joint Strategic Needs Assessment

Lorna Quinn, Public Health Intelligence Principal, gave the following powerpoint presentation on the annual refresh that had taken place:-

Purpose of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA)

-        To identify the key issues affecting the health and wellbeing of Rotherham’s residents, both now and in the future

-        It was an ongoing iterative process presented as a suite of resources including interactive reports, briefings, downloadable reports and datasets that were updated regularly as new analysis and insight became available

-        A recently developed health and wellbeing bulletin could be shared alongside the quarterly intelligence update

Section 1 – Breastfeeding

Strategic Goal

-        The first 1001 days were where the foundations of future health and wellbeing were built

-        There was a strong body of evidence to show breastfeeding was beneficial to children in numerous ways including long term outcomes

-        Rotherham still fell below England in breastfeeding prevalence but rates were improving – 44.1% in 2024/25 following 5 years of sustained improvement

JSNA Data

-        Although currently 11.5% points behind England, Rotherham’s rates were improving in line with national trends and comparable to rates across England 5 years ago

-        Rotherham was currently placed 4^th amongst its statistical neighbours, ahead of its statistical neighbours within South Yorkshire

-        Although national data showed a sustained improvement, more recent data from the Infant Feeding Team indicated that this may have plateaued

Delivery – Infant Feeding Team

-        Breastfeeding support was a commissioned service delivered by the NHS Infant Feeding Team and supported 1,756 mothers in 2025/26 – up by 318 on the previous year (22% increase)

-        The Service provided support across 5,931 contact events in 2024/25 – up by 708 on the previous year (a 13.6% increase), 34% of contact events were with mothers from the 20% most deprived deciles targeting support to help close the inequality gap

The Offer – Infant Feeding Team

-        The Team delivered breastfeeding sessions, attendance at breastfeeding drop-in sessions, the Ferham Mother, Baby and Toddler Group (targeted intervention for Pakistani/British Pakistani mothers which had seen a growth in attendance over the year and attendees coming to sessions at other locations) and Level 1 and 2 breastfeeding support training delivered to family hubs, staff and voluntary sector workers

Challenges Ahead

-        Infant Feeding Team had seen a 22% increase in mothers supported and a 13% increase in contact events with no increase in staffing

-        There was a risk that if the upward trend continued nationally, the gap between England and Rotherham widened, therefore, widening health inequalities between Rotherham’s children and the national average

Section 2 – Long-term Conditions

Strategic Goal

-        Good health was foundational to all of our lives but many people in Rotherham were living with chronic conditions

-        Prevention, early diagnosis, intervention and management of these conditions was key to helping people live as independently and as healthy as possible

-        Rotherham had a higher prevalence of long-term conditions so prevention and management was key to achieving some of the strategic  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Ruth Fletcher-Brown, Public Health Specialist, to present on progress made against the Suicide Prevention Action Plan

Ruth Fletcher-Brown, Public Health Specialist, presented a progress update on the 2025-28 Action Plan with the aid of the following powerpoint presentation:-

Suicide Rates for Rotherham 2022-2024

-        The latest suicide data showed that Rotherham had seen a small increase in suicides from 12.6 (2021-23) per 100,000 to 13.3 (2022-24).  However, the rate was statistically similar to the average for England at 10.9 per 100,000

-        Rotherham mirrored the national picture with males still accounting for most of the deaths to suicide in Rotherham.  The rate had slightly increased in 2022-24 to 19.0 per 100,000 compared to 17.2 in 2021-23.  However, it was still statistically similar to the national average for England at 16.8 per 100,000

-        Female deaths in Rotherham was 7.8 (2022-24) per 100,000 which had decreased from 8.1 (2021-23).  It was statistically similar to England at 5.5 per 100,000

Aim 1 Making Suicide Prevention Everyone’s Responsibility

-        Bespoke training for staff across the partnership

-        SPEAK – Suicide Prevention Explore, Ask, Keep-Safe.  14 x SPEAK sessions (8 x online and 6 x face-to-face)

-        Training commenced mid-April and would be targeted at schools/colleges who would then be able to access the ‘Sinking Feeling’ Toolkit

-        Autism Suicide Prevention Campaign launched on 10^th September, 2025

Aim 2 Support to those bereaved, affected and exposed to suicide

-        Sudden and Traumatic Bereavement Pathway updated and available on TriX

-        Walk with Us Resource – original and new easy read version delivered to all schools and colleges in Rotherham

-        72 staff from across Rotherham Partner organisations attended a workshop in May 2026 about talking to children who had been bereaved which promoted Amparo support and Walk with Us

-        Supporting children, young people and adults living and or working in South Yorkshire with practical and emotional support

-        Regular Zoom training sessions for practitioners and during awareness weeks

-        Amparo attended community events and promoted the service at CYPS staff event

-        Support provided to community and staff groups who had been affected by suicide

-        Cup of Calm drop-in sessions

Aim 3 Reducing suicides amongst high risk groups by reaching people where they live and work

-        Testing of the Rotherham Contagion Plan April 2026 facilitated by DHSC colleague

-        Community Response plan meetings in geographical areas where higher number of suicides had been seen – training for local practitioners, distribution of mental health newsletter

-        Rotherham Samaritans Wellbeing Pathway Activity

-        Be the One Autism and Suicide Prevention Work

-        Domestic Abuse and Suicide Prevention training

-        Chronic pain work including chronic pain pathway (Rotherham PARTS NHS)

-        Vista Project – attempted suicide prevention pilot implemented in response to real time data which showed a previous attempt as one of 3 top themes for those who had died by suicide

-        Vista commenced April 2025 and ran to mid-July 2026

-        Support for people who had attempted suicide or had suicidal ideation where it was a life event.  Chronic illness, bereavement/loss, feelings of worthlessness and rejection  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Sam Longley, Public Health Specialist, to present progress on Breastfeeding Friendly Borough Council

Sam Longley, Public Health Specialist, presented progress made over the past year.

Background

-        Healthy Weight Declaration adopted January 2020

-        Focus on Early Years, pregnancy and breastfeeding

-        Breastfeeding Friendly Borough proposal agreed June 2022

Aim

-        Support families to make informed choices

-        Create supportive environments for breastfeeding

-        Reduce stigma and improve outcomes

Informed and Supported Choice

-        8 out of 10 women stopped earlier than planned often due to lack of support

-        Compassionate approach promoted with no stigma or judgement

-        In Rotherham families valued the support provided by the Infant Feeding Team

Health Inequalities

-        Lower rates in deprived communities

-        Improving rates helped reduce inequalities

-        Targeted support was essential

Wider Benefits

-        Environmental benefits (reduced formula impact) with cost savings of £50-100 per month

-        Supports families during the cost of living pressures

Progress

-        Breastfeeding initiation – 60.87% (2025-26)

-        Rates improving year on year

-        National average 75%

-        Breastfeeding at 6-8 weeks in Q3 of 2025-26 was 45%

Targeting Inequalities

-        -50% of support in most deprived 30% areas

-        21.4% in most 10%

-        Strong progress towards reducing inequality

Key Achievements

-        UNICEF Gold accreditation (Midwifery January 2026)

-        Family Hubs Stage 1 Baby Friendly achieved

-        Infant Feeding Strategic Group established

Community and Environment

-        Breastfeeding-friendly venues expanding

-        Directory of supportive businesses in development

-        Campaigns and events delivered

Future Focus

-        Stage 2 Baby Friendly preparation

-        Expand peer support network

-        Engage businesses and partners

-        Strengthen ante-natal offer

Discussion ensued with the following items raised/clarified:-

·        Teenage mothers were a particularly hard to reach group.  The Health Visiting Teams were targeting young mums in terms of ante-natal contact and services they could offer.   Within the Family Hubs ante-natal was a key target and how  young mothers could be engaged in terms of parental support groups

·        Heat mapping of where the population lived and where groups specifically for teenagers were offered because often it was a barrier of people the young women did not see as their peers; work was in progress and logistically creating something

·        The Parent Panel gave opportunities to ask parents around this together with work with Jade etc. to find out what teenagers would like

Resolved:-  (1)  That the support for the ambition for Rotherham to become a Breastfeeding Friendly Borough be re-affirmed.

(2)  That future updates to the Board be provided within the Best Start Local Plan reporting cycle.

Alex Hawley, Consultant in Public Health, to present an update on the Best Start Local Plan

Alex Hawley, Consultant in Public Health, presented an update including national policy changes with the aid of the following powerpoint presentation:-

National Policy Context

-        Overlapping changes across Health, Education, Early Help

·        75% good level of development by 2028

·        Best Start Family Hubs and Healthy Babies

·        Healthy Child Programme guidance

·        SEND Reforms

·        Families First Partnership

·        NHS shift: prevention and community

What this means locally

-        Best Start Local Plan required – published by end of March 2026

-        Alignment across multiple programmes

-        Focus on school readiness outcomes

-        Strong partnership delivery needed

Rotherham Targets for Good Level of Development (GLD)

-        73.3% children achieve GLD 2028

-        56.6% GLD for FSM pupils

-        Explicit focus on reducing inequalities

Our approach in the Plan

-        A Shared Vision

-        Work in genuine partnership with parents and carers

-        The 4 cornerstones:

Welcome and Care

Communicate

Value and Include

Work in Partnershp

-        Quality of Early Years

-        Smooth transitions

-        Early intervention

-        Tackling inequalities early

-        Connected services

6 Priority Areas

-        Strengthening early communication, language and literacy for all children

-        Increasing access to early education for disadvantaged children

-        Improving the quality of Early Years Provision including Reception for all children

-        Identifying needs early and supporting children with SEND and vulnerable families

-        Providing joined-up family support through Rotherham’s Family Hubs

-        Tackling inequalities across the 0-5 system

Key Challenges

-        Complex system of overlapping programmes

-        Risk of duplication vs added value

-        Maintaining clear outcomes focus

-        Capacity across whole 0-25 pathway

Implementation Priorities

-        Detailed needs assessment

-        Theory of change and metrics

-        Map activity and identify gaps

-        Develop implementation plan

-        Involvement of all key partners across Health, Education, Early Help, Social Care, voluntary sector and others e.g. potentially important role for Housing

Next Steps

-        A more in-depth needs assessment for GLD

-        Develop and agree a theory of change logic model for GLD

-        To agree a set of metrics to measure change and progress towards the desired outcomes

-        To map existing operational or planned activities within related programmes

-        To identify gaps and opportunities for adding value

-        To determine lead officers for agreed new activity

-        Develop a high level implementation plan for the Best Start Local Plan

-        To agree a key topic focus for applying the Best Start and Beyond Framework within school age cohort

-        To agree a forward plan of reporting into the Health and Wellbeing Board for Best Start Local Plan and other outcomes within Aim 1

Discussion ensued with the following issues raised/clarified:-

·        The SEND forward plan had been submitted in accordance with the 19^th June, 2026, deadline

·        The delivery plan had to be submitted to the DfE by the end of the week (12^th June)

·        There were a series of interlinked initiatives coming on stream with the Government vision that there be a Best Start Programme which included Family Hubs, Families First Programme and SEND

·        The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Oscar Holden, Health and Wellbeing Board Support Officer, to present the 2025-26 annual report

Oscar Holden, Health and Wellbeing Board Support Officer, presented the Board’s 2025-26 annual report which outlined the activity and progress made during the first year of delivery under the refreshed 2025-30 Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

The following powerpoint was shown in conjunction with the report submitted:-

Context

-        Life expectancy at birth in Rotherham was 77.8 years for males (79.1 years nationally) and 80.9 years for females (83.1 years nationally) (2021-23)

-        The average healthy life expectancy at birth was 56 years for males (61.5 years nationally) and 55.6 years for females (61.9 nationally)

-        21.1% of the population with a limiting long-term health problem or disability in 2021 (17.5% nationally)

-        Rotherham had an ageing population with 55,872 people aged 65 years or over.  This was 20.2% of the population (18.4% nationally)

-        Rotherham was more deprived than 82% of local authority districts in England

Aim 1:  Enable all children and young people, up to age 25, to have the best start in life, maximise their capabilities and have influence and control over their lives

Baby Packs

-        Universal Early Help offer providing every expectant family with essential baby items via midwives whilst linking parents into Family Hubs and support services from pregnancy

-        Helped reduce financial pressure, improve Early Years outcomes and ensured all children had an equal start

Children’s Capital of Culture

-        Borough-wide programme of free creative, cultural and sporting activities shaped by young people with strong youth leadership and participation

-        Builds confidence, skills, wellbeing and a sense of belonging whilst tackling inequalities in access to opportunities

Aim 2:  Support the people of Rotherham to live in good and improving physical health throughout their lives, accessing and shaping the services and resources they need

Neighbourhood Health Pilot

-        National pilot delivering proactive, community-based care, identifying residents at risk earlier and supporting them locally to manage long-term conditions

-        Focuses on prevention areas such as diabetes, heart health, smoking and obesity, reducing hospital demand

Winter Plan

-        Multi-agency system response to winter pressures including vaccination programmes, respiratory hubs and expanded out-of-hospital care

-        Led to shorter wait times, improved urgent care access and better support for vulnerable residents

Aim 3:  Support the people of Rotherham to live in good and improving mental health throughout their lives, accessing and shaping the services and resources they need

Be The One Campaign

-        Suicide prevention initiative encouraging residents to recognise distress, start conversations and seek help early

-        Included community engagement and lived experience stories to reduce stigma and build confidence to act

Poverty Proofing (RDaSH)

-        Review of Mental Health Services to identify and remove financial barriers such as travel costs and access issues

-        Introduced practical changes (e.g. outreach appointments, clearer support information) improving access, engagement and equity in care

Aim 4:  Sustain an environment where detrimental impacts from commercial and wider determinants of health are reduced and opportunities for healthier living are nurtured

Healthy Homes Plan

-        Strategic focus on improving housing conditions e.g. damp, cold,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Carole Foster, Moving Rotherham Programme Manager, to update on the Moving Rotherham Partnership

Gilly Brenner, Public Health Consultant, and Carole Foster, Moving Rotherham Programme Manager, provided a development year update on the Moving Rotherham Partnership with the aid of the following powerpoint presentation:-

Why be active

-        Benefits for individuals, the economy and communities

The Challenges

-        Health inequalities were unfair and avoidable differences in health across the population and between different groups within society.  They arose because of the conditions in which we were born, grow, live, work and age

Development Year Aims – build the foundations for a co-ordinated, inclusive, place-based physical activity system in Rotherham

-        Test new approaches to engage inactive and underserved communities

-        Strengthen system leadership, partnerships and shared learning

-        Understand what works (and what does not) through real delivery

-        Gather insight to shape a long term Moving Rotherham Strategy

How we did it

-        FLUX - creative physical activity engagement outdoors

-        Every Move Counts - long term condition referral scheme

-        Place-based community work through Yorkshire Sport Foundation and local delivery providers

-        Inclusive activity network development

-        Schools and faith-based CYP engagement

-        System enablement work (communications, workforce, planning)

What was the impact

-        Increased visibility of physical activity, more conversations about physical activity across the Borough

-        Strengthened cross-sector co-ordination and relationships

-        Enhanced engagement in trusted community settings

-        Generated rich consultation insight and some important key learning themes

-        Increased system capability through training and development e.g. through Active Practice Charter and Inclusive Active Network

How evaluations were shaping future bid – the full bid should prioritise

-        Trusted settings as delivery anchors

-        Utilising the strength of existing networks and building new cross-sector networks

-        Community-led co-design and ensure voices of people with lived experience shared

-        Joined-up clinical and community pathways, embed into existing routine pathways

-        Adaptable and flexible to different groups in both communications and delivery ensuring inclusivity and accessibility throughout

-        Creative and inclusive delivery models

Moving Rotherham Physical Activity and Sport Strategy for Rotherham

-        Developing 5 year Physical Activity and Sport Strategy “Together we create the conditions where everyone in Rotherham can move more, in  ways that feel enjoyable and meaningful, to improve health, happiness and quality of life”

How change will happen

-        Core principles reflecting how partners think change should happen

Join things up

Start with people

Explore and be brave

Build for the long term

Embed equity, diversity and inclusion

How we will collaborate

-        Working together was essential to achieving change.  No single organisation could do it alone

Big Active Network

Other networks – inclusive activity, sports

System leaders

Moving Rotherham Board

Health and Wellbeing Board and Cultural Partnership Board

Our Priorities – 3 priority audiences

-        Children and young people, people with long term health conditions and/or disabilities and communities where activity levels were the lowest

3 enabling themes

-        Communication, inclusion and place making and system change

Understanding our progress

-        Creating a more active Borough within a constantly changing context was a significant and long-term  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

2026-27 Narrative Return

The Board noted the narrative return which had been completed and returned in accordance with the 19^th May, 2026, deadline.

Bob Kirton, TRFT, expressed concern at the increased demand the Trust was experiencing and welcomed the review of how urgent and emergency care was delivered. 

There were no issues to report.

Minutes of meeting held on 18^th February and 15^th April, 2026

The minutes of the Rotherham Place Board Partnership Business meetings held on 18^th February and 15^th April, 2026, were noted.

Minutes of Meeting held on 18^th February, 2026

The minutes of the Rotherham Place Boad ICB Business held on 18^th February, 2026, were noted.