Agenda item

Rachel Copley, Public Health Practitioner, to provide update on the progress of the Healthy Homes Plan

Rachel Copley, Public Health Practitioner, presented a briefing on the Healthy Homes Plan which sat within Aim 4 of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

The proposed Plan would be an annually refreshed document outlining the significance of poor housing on health and wellbeing in Rotherham and the key steps being taken to improve the housing sector.

The following powerpoint presentation illustrated the purpose of the Plan:-

What is the Healthy Homes Plan?

-        Collaboration between Housing and Health Directorates using data that indicates the impact of poor housing on health and outlines the importance of cross-sector action to tackle this issue

Main sections of the Plan

-        Current Housing and Health Strategies

-        Local demographic and housing data

-        Health risks in housing

-        Available support

-        The action plan

Plan Content:  Current Housing and Health Data in Rotherham

-        Rotherham housing data – total dwellings 122,000 (approximately)

15.30% private rented

64% owner-occupied

20.70% Council housing

-        Rotherham Demographics

      Population – 270,000

      Deprivation – 35^th most deprived local authority

      Life expectancy has decreased

      Rotherham has higher rates of Asthma, Heart Disease, Stroke, Lung Cancer and MSK issues

Action Plan – split into 3 themes

1.      Intelligence and evidence gathering

2.      Reducing fuel poverty in Rotherham

3.      Increasing support and assistance to tackle housing related health risks

The full version of the document and action plan was attached as an appendix to the report submitted and would be published on the Rotherham Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) Housing page.

The action plan would be a regular agenda item on the Rotherham Energy Network meetings which were held every 6 weeks with any major changes to the action plan or full document submitted to the Public Health and Housing Strategic Management Teams.

Discussion ensued with the following issues highlighted/raised:-

-        The plan was refreshed annually and hosted on the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment website

-        A paragraph could be added to the report with regard to poverty, overcrowded housing and increasing levels of children in poverty

-        Housing was the one area that the Health Service’s portfolio and the wider determinants had the less impact.  Was there anything the NHS could do to change this?

-        In discussions regarding the neighbourhood pilot, Housing had expressed potential interest in the Health Hub

-        South Yorkshire Children and Young People Alliance was doing a lot of work in terms of children with Asthma.  Was there an opportunity to link that up?

-        TRFT to evaluate what could be delivered in people’s homes with the aim of the traditional hospital work being conducted within the home setting as well as in the hospital

-        A range of respiratory conditions contributed to the low age expectation in the Borough.  Working with the Fire Service and other agencies around health and wealth checks and checking on the domestic environment  would be a good showcase of neighbourhood working

-        The Housing Strategy should be shared widely to give the opportunity for an understanding of the challenge within Rotherham around housing and what that meant on the ground for delivery of care and support.  The Strategy looked at the broader challenge and might be helpful for partners to have an understanding of it

-        In order for people to access the help they needed for their homes they needed to know what help was available.  The Rotherham Winter Health Being event was to be held on 8^th October in Riverside House.  Partners across Public Health, the Community Energy Team etc. would be present with information available for any members of public to take away or discuss with staff

-        The Housing Strategy was aligned with the Healthy Homes Plan

-        Housing Services were engaging with Public Health, the Climate Change Team and in particular the Community Energy Officer who had events planned throughout the year using all forms of engagement such as social media

Resolved:-  That the Healthy Homes Plan and its action plan be noted.