Issue - meetings

The Committee received a report which provided an update on the Thriving Communities Programme and, in particular, the initial phase of the Social Prescribing Innovation Partnership.

The report outlined the Oldham Model whereby the Council and its partners were committed to a cooperative future and the Oldham Plan which set out the Oldham Model for delivering tangible and sustained change.  The Thriving Communities element of the model would deliver the common objectives of the health and social care integration, Oldham Cares.  The programme would deliver £9m plus of reduced demand in the health and care system as well as delivering wider benefits to Oldham residents around improvements to their general physical and mental health and wellbeing.

The Social Prescribing Network was highlighted which bridged the gap between medical care and the community.  It was estimated that there were more than 700 community groups across Oldham delivering close to 1000 activities, events and positive interventions / support for residents.  In Oldham West since January 2018 in excess of 250 people had been supported since January 2019.  The network was helping people turn their lives around and work alongside existing services.

A three-year contract had been initiated in April 2019 which had been commissioned via an Innovation Partnership which was a new model of commissioning that allowed the approach to be iterated and evolved through co-production with residents and a higher emphasis on social value.  A ‘Care Champion’ model was being tested in Cluster East which would see the development of peer networks for patients who have common illnesses attached to surgeries.  Oldham residents could also directly refer themselves via the Oldham Cares website.  Referrals and connections into community support had dramatically ramped up as the model was operating borough wide and three times the levels predicted in the business case.

Social Prescribing data was captured from interactions and trackers in the Social Prescribing network and work was ongoing to address obtaining timely health data.  The report reflected referral sources.

Fast Grants were outlined in the report which commenced in July 2019 and would deliver £60k each year into grassroots community groups.  The next phase had been launched with over 40 applications received.  Members were informed about the Social Action Fund which would commission five medium-sized projects and included the Oldham BAME Consortium, Wellbeing Leisure, Oldham Play Action Group & Wifi, Street Angels and Groundwork.

The Health Improvement Workstream and Thriving Communities had agreed to merge to give a stronger voice to earlier intervention and prevention to unpick system wide issues like obesity and oral health. 

Members were informed about workforce development which would develop a common way for staff to work across organisational boundaries in a strength-based way.  Workforce training would be made available to community groups who could benefit. 

Members were informed on the stronger focus on evidence and evaluation with the Thriving Communities index which provided insight into where positive and negative norms lay within the borough.  The index was available to members.  Members engagement on the programme was also  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11