Agenda item

Report of Dr Sarah Raistrick, Coventry and Warwickshire CCGs and Sue Frossell, Consultant Public Health

The Board considered a joint report of Dr Sarah Raistrick, Coventry and Warwickshire CCGs and Sue Frossell, Consultant in Public Heath which provided an update on the development of the Call to Action across Coventry and Warwickshire, to involve businesses and organisations in pledging to make changes to improve health and reduce health inequalities in the light of Covid-19.

The report indicated that at the Board meeting on 27 July, 2020, it was agreed that the Marmot Partnership Group would take the strategic lead on supporting the system to address health inequalities relating to Covid-19. This had resulted in the development of the health inequalities Call to Action. The Call to Action was a recognition that improving health and reducing inequalities could only be achieved by the joint efforts of organisations and businesses across the city in making changes that would have a combined impact for residents and communities.

The Call to Action recognised that if all organisations and businesses made small changes to address health inequalities, the overall impact on the city and its residents would be maximised. Calls would go out to private businesses, statutory and voluntary agencies, with tailored messaging designed to inform and encourage organisations to pledge to make a small number of changes as a result of Covid and the widening health inequalities. Information about the Call to Action would include how taking action could benefit the individual business or organisation, as well as explaining the advantages to the wider community if health inequalities were reduced.

The Call to Action would be themed to specific areas and would be system wide. Although it would encourage organisations to consider a number of ways that they could make change to tackle health inequalities, the two core areas of focus would be:

·  Review/update of HR policies and processes to ensure that there were no unconscious bias and that there were no barriers for BAME employees in recruitment or progression.

·  Development of a social value policy or inclusion of social value approaches in procurement and other processes, to ensure wider benefits to the community through core social value such as offering apprenticeships to local people as part of a local project, as well as added social value which added value over and above the goods or works being provided.

The Call to Action was being managed by the Inequalities Team in Public Health and would be overseen by the Marmot Partnership. Discussions were in place with the Economic Development team regarding their potential support and involvement. The Call would also be supported by the newly formed Coventry and Warwickshire Anchor Alliance.

Discussions were underway with Warwickshire County Council to establish the Call to Action across the county. It was likely that the approach would be aligned across Coventry and Warwickshire rather than being directly integrated. Additionally, the Coventry and Warwickshire Inequalities Task Group, which feeds into the Population Health and Prevention Board had created an action to consider how the Call to Action could best be used to influence actions across the health system.

The report set out the support to be provided for businesses and organisations which included the development of a website to provide further information about the Call to Action and showcase the actions taken by organisations. The site would also contain a range of materials, templates and toolkits that would support businesses and organisations to take action to proactively work to reduce inequalities.

 All organisations would be encouraged to sign up to the Thrive at Work accreditation. Other suggested changes included signing up to the Disability Confident scheme, implementing the real living wage for low paid staff, and increasing the number of young people taken on as apprentices. It was proposed that businesses would be aware of the services available to them from the Coventry Job Shop and the Employer Hub. The report set out a draft list of suggested actions that businesses and organisations could consider, and this would be developed and expanded during the period of the programme.

It was intended It is intended for the Call to Action to be a year-long programme, engaging with as many businesses and organisations as possible through a variety of means, including social media and online promotion, direct engagement through colleagues in Economic Development, Employer Hub, and the Chamber of Commerce. A proposed timetable for 2020/21 was set out.

In response to a question about the significant impact of sub-standard housing on residents and the importance of working with landlords, it was clarified that the housing sector would be consulted.

RESOLVED that:

(1) The approach of the Call to Action to engage with businesses and organisations across Coventry and Warwickshire to raise awareness and support actions to tackle health inequalities be endorsed.

(2) Members to begin to consider what actions each member of the Board can take in response to the Call to Action.  Two key recommended areas of focus are:

a.  a robust review of HR equality polices and processes using a recognised tool; and

b.  embedding a social value approach, 

both these core areas will enable a system-wide approach to reducing general health inequalities within our communities.