Calderdale Health and Wellbeing Board

Calderdale Health and Wellbeing Board
Name	Calderdale Health and Wellbeing Board
Type	Health and wellbeing board
Jurisdiction	Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale
Established	2013
Headquarters	Halifax
Parent organization	Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council

Calderdale Health and Wellbeing Board is a statutory partnership body for the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale combining local authority, NHS, and public health leadership. It develops integrated Health and Social Care strategies across Calderdale and coordinates responses with organisations such as NHS England, Public Health England, and regional clinical commissioning groups. The board provides joint leadership between elected representatives including members of Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council, senior executives from Clinical Commissioning Group, and directors from statutory agencies such as NHS Foundation Trusts and local charities.

Overview

The board operates within the policy framework established by the Health and Social Care Act 2012 and aligns with national priorities from NHS England, Department of Health and Social Care, and guidance produced by Care Quality Commission. It interfaces with regional structures including the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the Yorkshire and the Humber health systems, and local anchor institutions such as Calderdale College and Calderdale University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Membership brings together elected councillors, senior officers from Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council, clinical leaders from NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups, representatives of Healthwatch England and statutory partners including West Yorkshire Police and HM Prison Service where relevant.

History and Formation

The board was established following provisions in the Health and Social Care Act 2012 that mandated local health and wellbeing boards. Its formation followed local governance reviews influenced by earlier policy documents from NHS England and strategic casework linked to municipal reform trends exemplified by the Localism Act 2011. Early meetings involved stakeholders from the NHS Confederation, voluntary sector networks such as Voluntary Action Calderdale, and regional public health leads formerly aligned with Public Health England and predecessor bodies. The board’s initial priorities reflected national imperatives following reports like the King’s Fund analyses and inquiries referenced by the Care Quality Commission.

Governance and Membership

Governance is led by a chair drawn from elected representatives or senior health leaders and includes councillors from Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council, executive directors from NHS Calderdale CCG, clinical chairs from primary care networks aligning with Royal College of General Practitioners standards, and directors of public health. Statutory partners include nominations from Healthwatch England, providers such as Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, and representatives of the voluntary sector, for example associates from Citizens Advice. The board’s standing orders and accountability mechanisms reference statutory duties outlined by the Local Government Association and liaise with oversight bodies like the NHS Improvement and the Care Quality Commission.

Roles and Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities encompass producing a joint strategic needs assessment (JSNA) and a joint health and wellbeing strategy (JHWS) to address population health priorities across Calderdale. The board commissions workstreams to tackle issues highlighted in national frameworks such as the NHS Long Term Plan and public health mandates from Public Health England. Responsibilities include aligning commissioning across services provided by Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, integration initiatives with adult social care teams, safeguarding collaboration with Children’s Services and liaison with agencies such as West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service on community safety and prevention.

Key Initiatives and Strategies

Initiatives have targeted prevention and integration, including programmes supporting mental health in partnership with Mind affiliates, chronic disease management aligned with NHS Diabetes Programme, and local responses to demographic pressures described in regional strategies from the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership. Projects have often engaged primary care networks, social prescribing schemes referenced by the National Academy for Social Prescribing, and cross-sector efforts with education providers like Calderdale College and housing associations. Emergency planning and resilience work draws on templates from Public Health England and regional resilience forums.

Performance and Impact

Performance is monitored via outcome indicators consistent with national dashboards used by NHS England and metrics reported to the Care Quality Commission and local scrutiny committees of Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council. Evaluations reference public health outcomes such as reductions in smoking prevalence, improvements in access targets, and progress against mental health waiting time standards. Independent scrutiny has involved partners from Healthwatch England and voluntary sector audits, with impact also assessed through partnerships with academic bodies including universities and applied research centres.

Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships

Stakeholder engagement spans statutory partners—NHS England, Public Health England, West Yorkshire Combined Authority—and community organisations such as Voluntary Action Calderdale, Citizens Advice, and local patient groups. The board convenes engagement exercises with service users, carers, and providers from primary care networks, secondary care trusts like Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, and non-governmental organisations such as Mind and Age UK to co-produce strategy. Strategic partnerships include collaboration with regional infrastructures like the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership to align commissioning, workforce planning, and transformation programmes.

Category:Health in Calderdale