The Devon Health and Wellbeing Board is a forum for key leaders from the health, public health and care systems to work together to improve the health and wellbeing of the population and reduce health inequalities. Health and Wellbeing Boards were formally introduced in April 2013 as part of the Health and Social Care Act.
Board members collaborate to understand communities’ needs, agree priorities and encourage commissioners to work in a more joined up way, and the Board has a duty to encourage integrated working for the purpose of advancing the health and wellbeing of the people in its area.
The Board has the following terms of reference:
- ensure the delivery of improved health and wellbeing outcomes for the population of Devon, with a specific focus on reducing inequalities
- promote the integration of health, social care and public health, through partnership working with between the NHS, Social Care Providers, District Councils and other public sector bodies
- promote an integrated health improvement approach to public health service provision
- provide a local governance structure for the local planning of and accountability for all health and wellbeing related services
- assess the needs and assets of the local population and lead the development of the statutory Devon Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) in partnership with Clinical Commissioning Groups
- similarly, produce and update a Devon Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy to provide a strategic framework to meet the needs identified in the JSNA
- promote joint and joined-up commissioning and pooled budget arrangements, where that makes sense as a means of promoting integration and partnership working across areas
- ensure that all commissioning plans and policies reflect the health and wellbeing priorities identified through the joint needs assessment process
More information about the board, its members and meetings can be found on the County Council’s democracy pages