Nottingham City Council is planning to commission an Integrated Wellbeing Service. The Service will support residents with health behaviour change interventions from April 2024 by amalgamating a range of interventions into one service model and providing an easy, accessible front door for a range of wellbeing and behaviour change services, from stop smoking to healthy lifestyles and weight management. All services will be built around an understanding of the need to support positive mental health and wellbeing to empower people to make the choices that support longer, healthier lives. The model also recognises that people may need to address more than one health concern and will be set up to facilitate smooth transition between services.
To ensure the scope of the service meets the local needs and expectations a range of consultation and engagement activities have been undertaken with residents, service users, service providers, strategic partners, and local services for their views. Engagement and consultation activities included:
1) Soft market engagement with prospective service providers in April 2) Conversations with local stakeholders – that will continue, including after the service has been awarded through continuous improvement
3) Public engagement survey with residents and partner organisations (from 31st March 2023 to 30th May 2023)
The final service specification is currently being developed. This will create a framework for how the service will work. There will be one lead provider who will co-ordinate all services involved ensuring that the public, and healthcare professionals making referrals, are given a simpler route into a variety of digital, telephone and face-to-face services with a recognisable Nottingham ‘brand.’ It will offer greater capacity and improve access to these services with the aim of people only needing to tell their story once as they navigate the numerous services available.
The vision for the service aims to:
Maintain and improve the health of Nottingham City
Prevent future ill-health and its negative impacts on the local population
Reduce future and existing pressures on local health and care services
Put the service user at the centre of provision, in-line with the personalisation agenda.
Keep a look out on the website and in the newsletter for more update as they happen.
Bulwell and Top Valley Health Checks
Health Checks were carried out by the in the Top Valley and Bulwell area at the Bulwell Market Place Health and Wellbeing event on 6th April. Participants were asked questions targeted about lifestyle factors and gave insight into personal well-being, activity levels, alcohol consumption, BMI and weight, smoking status, blood pressure and identifying people’s readiness to make positive change. The pharmacy team, Social Prescribers and Health and Wellbeing Coaches at the event supported discussion on lifestyle changes and how people who were ready could self-refer and access services.
Data collected at the event has allowed the pharmacy team to identify potential risk factors, or areas in which they could provide personalised advice, to assist with health promotion and prevention of potential health conditions. The PCN team are working to develop the Health Check concept and make it more inviting and accessible for people in the local area.
Dr Andrew Foster, Population Health Inequality Lead, has been working to ensure the information collected at the Health Checks can be populated on to Systm1, the primary care patient system. This will ensure the data is available in peoples medical records for continuity of care.
Future Health Checks have been scheduled for the 28th of June and 7th of July in line with Bulwell Day of Action, please come along and look out for the team in the “Get Bulwell and Top Valley Moving” T-Shirts for a health check or signposting advice.
At Nottingham City Place Based Partnership (PBP), we have identified a common need to raise the profile of the additional roles (known as ARRS roles) and multidisciplinary teams in general practice. The aim is to describe to the public and patients the holistic care now provided in general practice enabling people to make informed choices about their care and reduce pressure on GPs.
To help healthcare services promote these services and increase patient awareness, we have created a number of digital assets to use. These include bespoke YouTube videos for a range of roles, narrated by people in these roles within Nottingham city:
If you would like digital assets to use to promote these roles, please contact Tim Brudenell-Straw on tim.brudenell-straw@nhs.net. Bespoke assets for each roles and social media channel have been created.
Smoking and Tobacco Survey
We want to know more about attitudes towards smoking and tobacco in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire County Council are undertaking research to deliver insight into our communities’ behaviour, attitudes and perceptions in regard to tobacco and smoking across a wide range of issues. This major survey aims to gather information on why people smoke and vape and who does so; and how people feel about smoking in their communities, including their stance regarding potential policy and regulation developments.
The survey is meant for anyone living in Nottingham city or Nottinghamshire county aged 16+, regardless of whether they smoke, vape, or neither. You can access the survey here: https://online1.snapsurveys.com/ho1msa. The survey will take no more than 10 minutes to complete and is open until 16th June 2023.
Please support this local survey to enable us to be the leading voice on tobacco control across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire and create a smokefree generation.
Race Health Inequality Summit
On 11th May, we held our first Race Health Inequality Summit. The event, led by Nottingham City Voluntary Service, brought together leaders from across Nottingham to discuss how race affects people’s health outcomes and the healthcare people receive, and what steps we can take as a partnership to address these inequalities.
As well as powerful talks from a range of expert speakers, it was a great chance for partners representing different organisations from the public and voluntary sectors to come together and make valuable new connections. We saw a fantastic turnout, with over 200 people in attendance – a testament to the passion there is within the city to making healthcare better for everyone.
Race health inequality is a particular issue in Nottingham, with local data shining a light on how race can affect a patient’s health outcomes.
The summit provided an opportunity for partners to address some of these issues. The day had a particular focus on mental health and maternity care, where health inequalities are known to disproportionately impact people from minority communities.
Serena Coultress from Nottingham City Council’s public health team set the scene by using available data to outline the scale of race health inequality in relation to mental health. For example, black and Asian people are much more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia than white people. We then heard from, Penelope Siebert from Nottingham Trent University who introduced the Better Health Project 7, a targeted communications project that aims to improve awareness and engagement in mental health services for people from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.
Next up was the official launch of the PBP Race Health Inequalities Maturity Matrix led by PBP programme leads, Clive Foster MBE and Donna Sherratt. This bespoke tool, designed in partnership between community representatives and PBP partners, is already being used by individuals, organisations and systems to assess their cultural competence and shape action plans to improve. We are pleased to say that 30 organisations signed up to adopt the matrix by the end of the Summit.
Lunch and networking followed and guests had the opportunity to visit with the more than 15 voluntary and community organisations in the marketplace. The energy and passion were palpable and the commitment to working together to find solutions was clear.
Clive Foster with Agnes Agyepong of Global Black Maternal Health
After lunch we were delighted to be joined by speakers who took a detailed look into how race inequalities affect maternal health for both the mother and the child. Agnes Agyepong from Global Black Maternal Health, Gemma Poole from The Essential Baby Company, and Manisha Steth from Support Me, all gave powerful talks on how people from certain communities can have poor birth experiences due a lack of awareness of their cultural needs and systemic inequalities.
Sharon Wallis, Director of Midwifery at Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH), spoke about the work the trust are doing to address these inequalities as part of the Ockenden Maternity Review. This includes the measures they are taking to increase representation from minority communities in their workforce and increasing awareness of cultural sensitivities around giving birth across the workforce.
These talks led to some great discussions on what the PBP could do to support all of this important work. There was a call to action to system leaders to make connections with communities to be the change that is needed.
We were also treated to an inspirational talk from Bilborough Councillor, Faith Gakanje-Ajala. She spoke passionately about her experiences facing discrimination when moving to the UK from Zimbabwe, and her ambition to improve outcomes for all minority communities in the city. She was joined by her counterpart from the African Womens Empowerment Forum (AWEF) Aruna Birch, who spoke of her 35 year journey in the UK and that it had long been her wish to attend a Race Health Inequalities Summit. Members of AWEF were an important part of the steering group that was integral to making the day a success.
Leslie McDonald
Clive Foster joined others throughout the day, by paying tribute to Leslie McDonald. Leslie was an inspirational figure who held an unwavering commitment to seeking health equity for all of Nottingham’s communities.
Leslie’s involvement in the PBP has ensured that all partners of the PBP are focused on addressing Race Health Inequalities – he was instrumental in setting up the PBP programme. Leslie sadly passed away in April and will be deeply missed by all that knew him. In his concluding remarks, Clive noted that it is now the responsibility of all of us to continue Leslie’s legacy through this work.
So what’s next…..
Once all of the rich conversations, insights from the presentations and event evaluations are analysed the PBP Race Health Inequalities programme will have a blueprint to take forward.
If you would like to know more about this work or you would like to be directly involved please contact juless@nottinghamcvs.co.uk.
On behalf of the PBP, Clive Foster, MBE and Donna Sherratt, we would like to thank everyone involved in making this day a huge success.
Fighting Social Isolation in Bilborough with Caribbean Cooking Sessions
Did you know that cooking can help your mental wellbeing? Studies have shown the act of making food can help reduce anxiety and low moods, especially when done with other people in a friendly, communal space.
This is why our BACHS PCN social prescribing link workers started the Caribbean Cooking Sessions in Bilborough. These sessions have proved to be a massive hit with attendees, who have discovered the practical and mental health benefits of cooking.
The Caribbean Cooking Sessions are delivered over 4-weeks by Chef Errol from All Things Caribbean, an expert in Caribbean cuisine. Participants are given step-by-step lessons on how to create authentic Caribbean dishes that anyone can make, no matter their skill level or cooking experience. These dishes can be taken home after the lessons so participants can show off their new skills to their family.
As well as making delicious food, these sessions can significantly improve the mental wellbeing of participants. As many attendees suffer issues around social isolation, anxiety, and depression, it can be hard for them to get out of the house and meet new people. These sessions provide a perfect opportunity to do just that, giving them a practical, useful, and fun activity to take part in with others.
The sessions have been really popular and helpful for participants, improving their confidence around cooking and potentially introducing them to a new passion in life. One participant has even gone on to work alongside a Michelin star chef after taking part in the 4-week course and volunteering alongside Errol.
If you or someone you know would benefit from joining our Caribbean Cooking Sessions call Jason on 07587 862872 for further details. Sessions are held at Sheila Russell Community Centre in Bilborough, taking place on Tuesdays from 10am – 1pm.
Helping Men Get Creative and Make New Friends in Aspley
Arts and crafts clubs may stereotypically be more associated with women, but creative pursuits are just as important for men. This is why our social prescribing link workers in BACHS PCN (Bilborough, Aspley, Cinderhill, Hyson Green, and Strelley) started the Crafty Man Club, a male-only space to help men socialise and be creative.
While there were many mixed-gender arts and crafts groups existing in the BACHS PCN, these were predominantly attended by women. This was despite many men in the area expressing an interesting in creative clubs such as these. To help create an environment where men felt comfortable attending, it was decided that creating a ‘male-only’ space would be beneficial to these individuals.
As well as a space to be creative, it was also a chance for men who found themselves socially isolated to meet up with like-minded people. Older men in particular can find it difficult to meet other men to socialise with, which can leave them isolated and lonely. This was a big problem for many of the men who attended, some of whom had experienced bereavement, mental health issues, or struggled socialising since retirement.
The club has proved to be incredibly popular, with attendees loving the activities and social groups they have created there. Attendees have made new friends and discovered new creative talents they never knew they had!
“It is nice to meet different people who have different interests as they bring different ideas.” – Crafty Club Attendee
The Crafty Man Club is free and runs every Monday at Aspley Library from 11am – 1pm. If you would like to attend, just drop round for a chat! You can also contact Gina Mollett on 07312 842 236 or email Gina.mollett@nhs.net.
Changing Futures Workforce Forum
As part of the Changing Futures programme, a Workforce Forum has been set up to support any/all front-line staff who work with people experiencing Severe Multiple Disadvantage (SMD) in Nottingham City. The Forum is facilitated by a clinical psychologist and supported by the Practice Development Unit (PDU).
The purpose of the Forum is to enable staff from different organisations to learn from, and share experiences with, each other to improve how they work with people who experience SMD. The sessions presents an opportunity to talk through situations and problem solve as a group as well as helping each other to find practical solutions to issues raised. The ethos focusses on learning, development and support for each other in a positive non-judgemental environment.
The sessions run regularly and anyone working on the front line with people experiencing SMD are welcome to attend. The next forum meeting is:
Wednesday 29th March, 1 – 3pm
The Congregational Federation, 8 Castle Gate, Nottingham, NG1 7AS
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