Agenda item

Ruth Fletcher-Brown (Public Health Specialist) to present

Ruth Fletcher-Brown, Public Health Specialist, presented an update on the above action plan which recognised that loneliness was experienced across the life course and could only be tackled by actions from all Partners and the public.

A powerpoint presentation was given which highlighted:-

What’s working well

-        Making Every Contact Count – 119 staff trained since January 2024

-        Focus group discussions with some inclusion groups

-        Early Intervention and Prevention Fund – 13 grants allocated to voluntary and community sector

-        Refreshed JSNA Loneliness Chapter including focus group feedback

-        Rotherham Adult Neurodiversity Support Service (RANSS) supporting clients

-        16 of the 45 neighbourhood centres with wifi, RotherFed working with tenants

-        VCS Befriending Providers Forum

-        Communications messaging during Christmas/New Year and during Campaign to end Loneliness June 2024

-        Strengths-based approaches – e-learning for Council staff

-        Humanitarian and Communities Group developed an action plan to tackle cost of living related issues including actions to tackle loneliness and isolation and establishment of a new Rotherham Creative Health Board

-        Shared research in mental health impacts in children and young people

-        Forming partnerships with Public Health to support impact research

-        Stroke Link Worker who saw people referred by Rotherham Hospital Stroke Team and helped them transition back into independence.  Also with a focus on tackling loneliness

-        Children’s Link Worker – this role was early intervention, looking at making sure a child had help with family issues, mental health and socialisation through groups, interests and hobbies.  The focus was purely on the child

-        SYP Hate Crime Co-ordinator working with partners and organisations across Rotherham to raise awareness of hate crime and how to report

-        SYP Community Engagement Officer working closely with individuals and communities

-        Open Arms drop-in sessions – VCS delivering a co-ordinated response to support communities most affected by the cost of living crisis

-        Loneliness included in the Be Well @ Work standards

-        Digital inclusion support for community groups

What are we worried about

-        Loneliness remained an issue with people presenting at services

-        Community cohesion – some groups may be feeling more vulnerable and isolated

-        The risk of lonely, vulnerable people being exploited e.g. online contacts, loan sharks

-        Helping clinicians and commissioners to understand the value of creative health and support it through Social Prescribing

-        Funding for the VCS

-        Tackling loneliness was a collective responsibility involving all sectors and the public

What needs to happen next and when

-        Full communication and engagement plan at the end of September using the findings from the focus groups

-        Two further focus groups – September 2024

-        Training on use and interpretation of the JSNA

-        Early Intervention and Prevention Grant – groups delivery from July 2024 to July 2025 with final report due in the Autumn 2025

-        Ward priorities – will be completed by 31^st October 2024 then work would progress on implementation

-        Creative health – clarity on priorities

-        Further MECC training sessions would be available in the Autumn

-        Opportunity to tackle loneliness through arts and health work

Discussion ensued on the report/presentation with the following issues raised/clarified:-

·        More than 119 staff trained in MECC as many of the other sessions linked in e.g. MECC on Mental Health, Cost of Living etc where loneliness was referenced

·         The Rotherham Autism Service was commissioned by Adult Social Care/NHS so the number of people accessing the Service was not known to Public Health.  However, Public Health did work with the Service through the Suicide Prevention work which would have links to loneliness

·         There had been a lot of work around digital inclusion but only 16 of the 45 neighbourhood centres

·         The programme could be more ambitious to train more people

·        Despite the ongoing digital inclusion programme, many households in the Borough did not have wifi in their homes

Ruth was thanked for her presentation.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the progress made to date be noted.

(2)  That the Health and Wellbeing Board Partner organisations continue to remain committed to the delivery of the action plan, reporting timely on progress and assisting with building intelligence and evidence to this theme area.  

(3)  That the Board receive an annual update on the progress of the Rotherham Loneliness Action Plan.