The Council was established in 1991 as
an independent consumer organisation. We have a duty to
represent the public's views and interests, to review the
work of health and social services and to recommend any
improvements needed. Our main activities are:
As a public body we can contribute to the
new TSN initiative by ensuring that the health and social
needs of disadvantaged people are objectively assessed,
targeted for improvement and progress monitored. The Council
is a small organisation with a very small budget and our
services are targeted to promote equal opportunities for
all our region's residents. However, this year both the
equality obligation and the New TSN initiative will be core
components of our Annual Work Programme to ensure that people
in greatest need are aware of our role and services. We
will monitor this plan and ensure that staff are provided
with awareness training and specialist training where needed.
In addition to our own services we will
continue to work in partnership with other statutory organisations
and voluntary and community groups to progress this initiative.
Our action plan will specify the action
we will take and the timescales involved. We have consulted
widely on the proposed action and have specifically targeted
disadvantaged areas and people to get their views on the
targets that we have set. We have revised the plan and included
comments where appropriate.
| Objective |
Target,
Actions And Timescales |
| 1 |
To
ensure that New TSN is embedded in our Annual Work Programme |
New
TSN considerations and targets will be built into 2001/2002
Annual Work Programme to be produced by April 2001 |
| 2 |
To
raise and maintain awareness of New TSN within the Council |
- By September 2001, provide information on the
aims, objectives and targets under the new TSN policy
to all Council members
- By October 2001, ensure that New TSN forms part
of EHSSC members and staff training and development
programme
- By December 2001, ensure that collaborative arrangements
are in place with statutory, voluntary and community
organisations to review progress of Action Plan
|
| 3 |
To
promote policies and programmes of action which aim
to reduce inequalities experienced by disadvantaged
people, groups and areas |
- Promote information on the role of the Council
within disadvantaged areas by December 2001
- Rotate Council meetings throughout the area paying
particular attention to disadvantaged areas and
giving community workers the opportunity to discuss
local health and social care issues
- To monitor the achievements of Health Action Zones
by December 2001
- To collaborate and assist in the application and
development of Healthy Living Centres by March 2002
- To monitor the progress of the EHSSB's New TSN
Action Plans to ensure that inequalities are addressed
by March 2002
- To work with the EHSSB and other agencies to identify
groups which appear to be at greatest risk of social
exclusion
- To monitor the production and implementation of
the health and well-being improvement plan produced
by the multi-sectoral partnership established within
the EHSSB area
|
| 4 |
To
ensure that access to good quality childcare and family
support is targeted towards those in areas of greatest
need |
Monitor
the development and implementation of the EHSSB Children's
Services Plan |
| 5 |
To
promote the social inclusion of those who are most disadvantaged
by encouraging community development approaches and
involving local people in decisions about their health
and social care needs and the services provided |
- Assist in the progress of implementing the recommendations
of the report of the Community Development Working
Group
- To work with the EHSSB, Trusts, the Voluntary
Sector and disadvantaged communities in the development
of community needs assessment techniques
- To target disadvantaged communities and local
people in Council's research and user involvement
projects. Timescales to be detailed in the Annual
Work Programme
|
| 6 |
To
measure the extent to which inequalities experienced
by disadvantaged people, groups and areas are being
reduced |
- Ensure that the targeting of social need is fully
recognised in equality impact assessments of the
Council, DHSS&PS, EHSSB and Trust policies
- Monitor specific public health strategies for
their ability to reduce inequalities
- Monitor the implementation of interventions to
evaluate how they reduce inequalities in the EHSSB
area
|
| 7 |
To
ensure that those in greatest need are identified |
Work
in collaboration with other statutory and voluntary
organisations and the community to ensure that effective
population needs assessments are carried out |
| 8 |
To
ensure that resources are matched to health and social
care needs so that inequalities experienced by disadvantaged
people are reduced |
- To monitor the EHSSB's Action Plan to ensure that
resources are allocated to reduce inequalities
- To monitor the implementation of the Capitation
Formula and the ongoing work to improve the sensitivities
of the formula in the specified areas
|
| 9 |
To
assist with providing evidence which supports informed
decision making on tackling inequalities |
Participate
with the DHSS&PS in a programme of research which
will support informed decision-making in tackling health
and social need |
