Agenda item

This report shares a report with the board from the Core Connectors team, based in Healthwatch York, which shares the results of their peer research.

The Board received a report from the Core Connectors team, working with Healthwatch York, which shared the results of their peer research. 

The Manager, Healthwatch York introduced the report. She explained that this scheme had begun as an NHS England programme concerning coastal areas of Humber and North Yorkshire, but that further funds had been made available for Healthwatch outside of these areas. Because of this origin, the aims of the project and prescribed questions were initially inherited, and Healthwatch York didn't have its usual autonomy concerning exactly what was asked, but together with the Public Health team, they had been able to add their own questions to focus on conversations with young people in the city.

Two young people from the Core Connectors team presented the report and spoke of their personal experiences and those of other young people with whom they had spoken. They conducted a semi-structured survey with 10 Core Connectors which addressed such issues as food insecurity, healthcare access, housing/financial strain, transportation challenges and mental/physical health. 

Their conclusions were that the following factors would make York a healthier city:

·       Reducing waiting times.

·       Increased mental health care options.

·       Better access to trans health care.

·       More support systems in schools.

·       Affordable food options.

·       More social spaces that don’t involve alcohol.

·       Better transport (cheaper prices, more frequent bus times).

·       Increased access to outdoor activities and green spaces for people with disabilities.

·       Referrals from schools to support services.

·       Improve cycle paths, pedestrian area and lighting.

And they made the following six recommendations:

·       Introduce cost of living support.

·       Reduce wait times for mental health support.

·       Tackle GP and dental wait times

·       Create affordable social and community spaces

·       Transition to Adult Services

·       Improve Public Transport

The Director of Public Health praised the Core Connectors presentation in particular and the wider work of Healthwatch’s report. He also acknowledged the speaker who had referenced this item in Public Participation, which aligned with the discussion of mental health in the report.

He said the aims of the group were commendable. While he recognised that it would be good to fulfil all of the recommendations as soon as possible he was keen to see how these priorities could be aligned with the current structures.

He noted that York had not historically had a specific children and young people’s mental health group – rather one for all ages, and within this group the voices of children and young people tended to be drowned out. With programmes such as Nothing About Us Without Us the case for an age-specific group, reiterated by the core connectors has been made and there was now a children and  young people’s mental health group.

Secondly there were plans ahead to work with York CVS along with ICB resources to invest in the third sector concerning Childrens and Young People’s health.

He advised that every few years Public Health undertake surveys of children in various year groups. A 5-year sample of 2-3000 children to establish priorities, and this broadly aligned with what the Core Connectors had focused on.

The board noted the focus on alcohol-free spaces and also on public transport and asked what the main priorities of young people were.

The Manager, Healthwatch York responded that different cohorts of young people clearly had different contextual priorities (for instance those at Askham Bryan College had more of a focus on rurality and transport, whereas those in Museum Gardens had a very different situational focus). She did however note that everyday living expenses were a recurring factor for young people. She added that NHS England would no longer be providing central funding for Core Connectors, but local funding would allow further support for a T level student at York College to take this plan forward – possibly with a focus on transport.

The board asked how the young people were selected to become core connectors and respond to the survey.

The core connectors responded that the broad parameters were that respondents be 14 to 25 years of age, and they began by asking people at York College, before broadening the field by talking to cohorts at Askham Bryan College, the Museum Gardens, an LGBT cafe in the city centre and a mental health event.

The board asked whether a formal follow up could be undertaken, tracking progress about the six recommendations and have a report back to say what has happened.

The Manager at Healthwatch York responded that the recommendations were quite broad and there were already some pieces of work being undertaken that may help to address some of the recommendations in the longer term, but the intention would be to have the Healthwatch report in July address this and any responses to the recommendations from board members would be appreciated.

The Director of Place noted that the Integrated Care Board had recently held a sort of public communication pre-engagement exercise, and some of the themes highlighted between that and this were very similar. While the sample size of this group was small, it was indicative of similar work done by the NHS.

In regard to priorities, she wondered whether transport, higher education and cost of living might form a focus for the next step, and in terms of the future of Core Connectors could they be used to assist with peer support networks?

The Corporate Director of Childrens and Education suggested that it was possible the authority had not been communicating well with the relevant people about what is already available – there are already capped £1 fees across the bus network for under-18s. The Schools Wellbeing Service provides Mental Health provision, as does York Mind and significant commitment and financial investment has been put into bringing together youth services and making York a trauma-informed city. The adults do not know everything that is happening in the city and resources perhaps need to go into ensuring that children do as well.

The board suggested speaking to both the Council and the Mayor regarding issues raised.

Cllr Webb responded that the Combined Authority Mayor had recently met with care leavers with the discussion very much focused on transport.

The Manager, Healthwatch York noted that the past “Young People’s Survival Guide” had been a useful resource in this area and pointed out that there would be a Core Connectors meeting at Priory Street on Tuesday 25 March.

Resolved:   That the Board would:

i.                Receive the Core Connectors report,

ii.       Provide a response to the recommendations to be collated for the July Health and Wellbeing Board

Reason:               To keep up to date with the work of Healthwatch York and be aware of what members of the public are telling us.