Agenda item

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, fuel poverty to prevent illness and reduce health inequalities

-        Encourages upstream intervention and cross-sector collaboration beyond traditional healthcare

VCSE Sector Collaboration

-        Recognises voluntary organisations as key partners in tackling issues such as isolation, poverty and access to support

-        Strengthens community resilience, early interventions and trusted links to vulnerable groups

Looking Ahead

The ambition for 2026-27 was to build upon our progress and to deliver the following:-

-        Carry out the agreed action plan and core activities in 2026-27

-        Continue to work collaboratively as a partnership to monitor the delivery of activities to meet the aims and measure against the priorities of the Strategy

-        Continue to support and accommodate the ongoing changes across the South Yorkshire Integrated Care System and ensure we continue to deliver against the aims in the new and emerging landscape

-        Influence other bodies and stakeholders including those with a role in addressing the wider determinants of health to embed health equity in all policies across Rotherham

-        Continue to focus on reducing health inequalities between the most and least deprived communities

-        Champion positive news stories coming from across the health and wellbeing network and share best practice across partners

-        Continue to produce an annual report each year with case studies giving people the chance to hear about what the Board had achieved and its impact

Discussion ensued with the following issues raised/clarified:-

·        The report contained a good range of case studies, not just for the Council, but Health and VAR

·        The relationship between the Health and Wellbeing Board and Neighbourhoods in relation to the recent Government announcements needed to be defined and should be referenced in the report

Resolved:-  (1)  That the content and key achievements of the Annual Report 2025/26 be noted.

(2)  That the Board contribute to the finalisation of the case studies provided for each priority of the Strategy and suggest any improvements.