Northamptonshire Health and Wellbeing Board

West Northamptonshire Health and Wellbeing Board is a formal committee of West Northamptonshire Council, consisting of senior leaders and stakeholders from across West Northamptonshire who provide a strategic lead for the health, care and wellbeing system.

The overall purpose of the Board is to secure:

• better health and wellbeing outcomes for the local population
• better quality of care for all patients and care users
• better value for the taxpayer
• a reduction in the health and wellbeing outcomes gap (inequalities) between different groups

Health and Wellbeing Boards were established under the Health and Social Care Act 2012 to provide a forum for partners to work together to improve the health and wellbeing of their local populations.

The Health and Care Act 2022 has since introduced additional structures with new duties and powers to join-up services that the Health and Wellbeing Boards sit within.

Key responsibilities of the Health and Wellbeing Board

• Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) assess the current and future health and social care needs of the local population, using information collated from different sources and partners. Health and Wellbeing Boards have a statutory duty to oversee the preparation and publication of a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment 
• Health and Wellbeing Strategy (2023 ro 2028)  provides a jointly agreed and locally determined set of priorities for West Northamptonshire. 
• Director of Public Health annual report which is a vehicle for informing local people about the health of their community, as well as providing necessary information for decision-makers in local health services and authorities on health gaps and priorities that need to be addressed. Health and Wellbeing Boards have a duty to agree publication of this report.
• To endorse oversee the successful implementation of Better Care Fund (BCF),  Improved Better Care Fund.
• Disabled Facilities Grants are an allocation provided by central government to local authorities to enable people with a disability to live independently in their own homes. 
• A Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment which details the need for pharmaceutical services. It sets out what services are currently offered and the future needs of residents. See the JSNA. 
• NHS Northamptonshire Integrated Care BoardIntegrated Care Boards must consult with Health and Wellbeing Boards when preparing or refreshing forward plans.