The following outlines the range of services within local government that contribute to healthier lives and which offer further opportunities for greater collaboration and networking. These are usually the assets that more disadvantaged communities have and should be built on. Services contributing to healthier lives and protecting the vulnerable Improving health and wellbeing Healthy homes Housing renewal and improvement Air quality Education services Mobile library service Safe drinking water Provision of leisure and recreational facilities Access to the coast and countryside Regeneration programmes Protecting and supporting vulnerable individuals Safeguarding and protection services Provision of residential care Supporting looked after children Fostering and adoption services Homelessness service Housing adaptations Behaviour support education Additional learning needs education Empowering individuals and communities Promoting healthy lifestyles Community pride programme Youth offending services Family support services Provision of extra care housing Re-ablement services Meals at home Community care Entitlement and advice services Community First Programme Managing the night time economy Healthy schools programme Protecting health and reducing inequalities Housing standards Consumer protection and advice Workplace safety Food safety Road safety Licensing services Disease control Abatement of statutory nuisances Cleansing and waste services Managing the built environment Beach safety Third sector and wider stakeholders There was recognition of the need to ensure full engagement and integration with the third sector and with people in local communities, building upon their skills, networks and knowledge. The eight workshops held across Wales focused upon three factors: health improvement needs, current services and support, and wider opportunities that existed across each of the life stages (early years, children and young people; working age adults, and older people). Findings were specific to each life stage and detailed feedback is reported on the Health Improvement Review web pages. This will be used to
those in greater need. Ensuring easy access and integration of services will be crucial as will engaging people in helping to find solutions. Further details on specific needs at each life stage have been identified within the workshop feedback. The following case study provides an outline of how this could work. Life course approach This approach will draw upon local evidence, services and experience to determine the best solutions to support health improvement, working closely with other health and public services such as leisure, housing and transport, and other community support networks and assets. It will look for different solutions through models such as social enterprise and building community capital and using the skills and opportunities offered by the third sector. It will help identify what core health improvement services and support is needed, where more targeted support may be required and what interventions should be aimed at addressing the needs of high risk individuals. For each life course stage this common framework will help support planning and determining health improvement interventions in an integrated way with the person at the centre. It would also enable us to demonstrate a holistic approach across the whole lifespan from pregnancy to older age, linked to related outcomes. Proportionate to need Reducing health inequalities should be at the heart of our work where services are provided ‘proportionate to need’, addressing the varying needs of different population groups. This is illustrated in the Early Years services in Wales, whereby every family receives health visiting services but the most vulnerable families receive an enhanced service under Flying Start. To support health improvement the whole population should be able to access consistent, up to date easily accessible information or services, tailored to needs at each life stage. More specific interventions should be tailored according to need as illustrated below.