Terms of reference

Introduction

The Local Government White Paper "Strong and Prosperous Communities" was published in October 2006 and gave a clear indication that health and well-being partnership arrangements should be established in England. Discussion at the Oxfordshire Partnership Steering Group and the Public Service Board led to the establishment of the Health and Well-Being Partnership Board in Oxfordshire by September 2007.

Aim

To enable key commissioners and users of adult health, care and well-being services to

• agree priority outcomes for health and well-being in Oxfordshire,
• promote action across partner agencies in planning and commissioning services for health and social care improvement
• monitor delivery of these actions, assess effectiveness and review priorities as part of the commissioning cycle.

Objectives

1. To focus on outcomes and demonstrate improvement in health and well-being.
2. To provide strong local leadership for improvement in health and well-being.
3. To monitor health improvement work across the county including the implementation of recommendations from the annual report of the Director of Public Health for Oxfordshire.
4. To oversee the development of high quality, personalised provision of care.
5. To support the involvement of service users in developing a strong strategic role as members of this Board.
6. To develop work across organisational boundaries to promote health and well-being, including further development of joint financial arrangements where appropriate.
7. To ensure the implementation of priorities set out in the Sustainable Community Strategy, the strategies of individual organisations and delivery of local area agreement targets.
8. To ensure that commissioning decisions and implementation follow agreed principles including those set out by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)

Membership

• Oxfordshire PCT - Chair of the Clinical Executive, chief executive, director of commissioning or planning and system reform, practice based commissioning lead
• Oxfordshire County Council - Portfolio holder for Social and Community Services, deputy leader, chief executive, director for Social and Community Services
• The director of Public Health for Oxfordshire
• Cherwell District Council
• Oxford City Council
• South Oxfordshire District Council
• Vale of White Horse District Council
• West Oxfordshire District Council
• Public and Patient Involvement Forum representation
• User representatives - mental health, learning disabilities, older people, adults with physical disabilities, carers.
• Voluntary sector representation

Working arrangements

• The meetings will be co-chaired by the county portfolio holder for Social and Community Services and the chair of the PCT Clinical Executive.
• Provider organisation representatives will be invited to the meetings when appropriate to the topic being discussed.
• Papers to be circulated at least 10 working days before a meeting.
• Plain English will be used in preparing all working documents.
• Members who are unable to attend a meeting may arrange for a substitute to attend and participate, provided they have the necessary authority from their organisation.
• Meetings will be held quarterly

Reporting and governance arrangements

The board will be subject to the governance arrangements agreed by the Oxfordshire Partnership Steering Group.

The Health and Well-Being Partnership Board will not have executive power of its own but will discharge its responsibilities by means of recommendations to the relevant partner agencies to act in accordance with their own discretion within their own respective powers and duties.

These terms of reference do not imposes on any of the participating bodies any financial or other commitment upon, or imply any derogation from, any responsibility in respect of services for the population of Oxfordshire.

Structures