Agenda item

To receive an report from Bindi Nagra (Chief Commissioning Officer) and Deborah Fowler (HealthWatch Chair) updating the Board on the new Enfield HealthWatch organisation. 

The Board received a report updating the board on the development of the HealthWatch function from Michael Sprosson, Service Manager Procurement.

1.         Presentation of the Report

Bindi Nagra, Joint Director of Commissioning, highlighted the following from the report: 

• A reference group had been established in March 2013 and Deborah Fowler recently appointed Chair of the organisation. 

• The process of selecting board members had begun: twenty eight expressions of interest received from a wide range of people with a variety of skills and experience.  Interviews were due to take place on 7 and 8 May 2013. 

• An advertisement for the Chief Executive Officer post had been placed in the Guardian. 

• A dedicated individual and phone number had been identified within the council.  This had been publicised and some phone calls received. 

Deborah Fowler, HealthWatch Chair, added:

• The immediate focus of the group had been on recruitment and it was hoped that trustees and a chief executive would soon be in place.  Two other staff members were also to be taken on. 

• The initial development phases had received good support from Commissioning Staff and the reference group.

• HealthWatch were keen to work with existing groups and to build on work that had already been carried out.

• Work had begun on creating a website and linking to the national body HealthWatch England. 

• A letter had been sent to all Links members welcoming their involvement in the new organisation. 

• A search for suitable premises had begun. 

• She, as Chair, had attended a national launch event in London. 

• Expectations management would be essential. 

• Although Enfield was not as far advanced in this area as other boroughs, everything was now in place to create a good solid organisation

2.         Questions/Comments

2.1             Andrew Fraser advised that he would be keen to assist through the engagement of children and young people in the youth parliament.  Also the Parent Engagement Panel could be used as a forum to support engagement with communities. 

2.2             Concern was expressed as to how to reach seldom heard people.  Deborah Fowler responded that HealthWatch had been set up as a new organisation by Government and this was one area where work would be carried out.

2.3             Although the organisation had been set up by the Council, it would be working independently.  Accountability was ultimately to the people of Enfield. 

2.4             The reference group which had been set up to set up to advise Health Watch was representative of a wide spectrum of the voluntary sector.

2.5             HealthWatch was anxious not to lose the knowledge and experience gained by the Links organisations. 

2.6             It was not anticipated that councillors would be involved directly in HealthWatch.  A protocol for councillor involvement would be drawn up by officers.

2.7             Councillor McGowan acknowledged that the organisation had been formed quite late in the process, but this had been after extensive consultation.  Final decisions on establishment would be made by the reference group and the Chair.

AGREED that the Board note the contents of the report and progress to date.