Health and wellbeing board

Structure of the NHS England from April 2013<ref name="DH reform briefing">

Health and Wellbeing Boards are a type of organization established in England as part of the Health and Social Care Act 2012. Their primary purpose is to act as a forum where key leaders from the health and care system can collaborate to improve the health and wellbeing of their local population and reduce health inequalities. Members typically include representatives from local authorities, NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), public health professionals, and representatives from local communities.

Overview

Health and Wellbeing Boards were introduced to ensure that local commissioners across NHS, public health, and social care could work more effectively together. They are tasked with promoting integrated health and social care services, encouraging the development of more effective and efficient services that meet the needs of local populations.

Functions

The main functions of Health and Wellbeing Boards include:

• Developing and publishing a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) which identifies the current and future health and wellbeing needs of the local population.
• Preparing a Health and Wellbeing Strategy based on the findings of the JSNA, setting out priorities and guiding the commissioning of health services, social care, and public health.
• Promoting integration and partnership working between the NHS, social care, public health, and other local services and agencies.
• Encouraging closer collaboration between commissioners of health services, social care, and related services to improve health and wellbeing outcomes and reduce inequalities.

Membership

Membership of Health and Wellbeing Boards is designed to reflect the local health and care system. While the exact composition can vary, it typically includes:

• Senior representatives from local authority departments, such as adult social services and children’s services.
• Representatives from local NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups.
• The Director of Public Health for the local area.
• Representatives from local Healthwatch organizations.
• Other members as decided by the board, which may include representatives from local voluntary and community sectors, local NHS Trusts, and other relevant stakeholders.

Challenges and Opportunities

Health and Wellbeing Boards face several challenges, including managing the diverse needs of local populations, ensuring effective integration of services, and dealing with financial constraints. However, they also offer significant opportunities to improve health and social care outcomes through collaborative working and innovative approaches to commissioning and service delivery.

Impact

The impact of Health and Wellbeing Boards is measured through improvements in health and wellbeing outcomes, reductions in health inequalities, and the effectiveness of integrated health and social care services. Their success depends on strong leadership, effective collaboration, and the ability to respond to the changing needs of the population.