The overall purpose of the Warwickshire Health and Wellbeing Board is to provide leadership and direction for the health and social care economy in the county leading to improving health and wellbeing of the local population and reducing health inequalities.
Following over a year in its shadow form, Warwickshire Health and Wellbeing Board became a fully constituted partnership body on 1 April 2013, and since then has taken a lead on a number of initiatives and activities, ensuring that the priorities and outcomes outlined in the Health and Wellbeing Strategy are considered within commissioning and action plans.
Health and Wellbeing Boards are a central concept in the government’s reform of health and social care. The vision is that the Board will act as the main strategy forum for health, social care and public health in the County; bringing together colleagues from the county council, district and borough councils, the NHS, public health and social care. The Board’s key responsibilities are to:
- ensure a coordinated approach to health, social care and public health across the County
- lead the development of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment
- develop a shared Health and Wellbeing Strategy that will act as an overarching strategy for all the partners involved
- receive and consider the commissioning plans of the GP led clinical commissioning consortia
- be responsible for the development of HealthWatch
The membership of the Board consists of members from Warwickshire County Council, district and borough councils, GP representatives from the GP led clinical commissioning groups, the Director of Adult and Children’s Services, Director of Public Health, Healthwatch and provider representatives.