Agenda item

A presentation introducing Partnership Southwark is enclosed. This was supplemented by slide shown on the night illustrating the Partnership Southwark structure.

A ‘Trigger Template’, used by the NHS and commissioners to communicate changes to scrutiny,  is enclosed to inform the discussion on developing a protocol.

The chair introduced this item by explaining that Partnership Southwark and the Integrated Care System is a review topic this year.  As well as the presentation introducing Partnership Southwark there is also a ‘Trigger Template’ enclosed with the papers. The ‘Trigger Template’ document used by scrutiny to gather information from the NHS and commissioners on changes to health services that might impact on the local population. This is enclosed to inform the discussion on developing a protocol – which is a proposed outcome for this topic. 

Dr Nancy Kuchmann and Martin Wilkinson presented and then the chair invited questions from members and the following points were made:

·  NHS leads confirmed that the aim of devising a protocol and revisiting the Trigger Template is to agree ways of working together.  The NHS said that this would set out roles and clarity on communication with a draft being devised by officers, with input sought from members on approach and principles, and the commission agreeing the final version. Members supported this approach.

·  A member asked about FGM, and referred to national research on safeguarding and asked about local initiatives, particularly as Southwark was identified as having the highest prevalence across the UK several years ago. Specific concerns were raised about responses when FGM survivors go for smear tests. The NHS leads said that the Safeguarding Executive take a lead on this as FGM is a cross cutting issue involving health, police and social care. They undertook to get back about, provide an update on current plans, and suggested that the annual Safeguarding interview may be a good point to add this to the work programme.

·  A member spoke about the importance of voluntary sector and their vital role in  keeping populations such as pensioners and older people active and well, and the importance of providing sufficient resources . NHS agreed and the leads were asked how Partnership Southwark support this. They responded that the voluntary sector is vital and they are a key part of Partnership Southwark. The focus tends to be on objectives where the partnership can make an impact.

·  NHS leads were asked about the work streams and if ‘start well’ , ‘care well’ and ‘age well’ link up with housing.  They confirmed that housing is involved and relevant officers will attend, with a view to addressing specific issues, and that this is one of the key purposes of the partnership.

·  They were also asked if a project in Lambeth, where older people and a nursery were co-located, could be replicated and if there was a value to bringing different populations together.  NHS leads said that this was the kind of initiative that would be supported through the Think Family approach, and types of co-location do take place currently in services such as Cambridge House. Partnership Southwark can further cultural change,  as well as adding value to existing relationships,  and tackling specific objectives that can best be delivered by a partnership.

RESOLVED

There will be an update on FGM provided, with a view to considering this at the same time as the annual Safeguarding report and interview.