Jon Taylor (Head of Planning and PMO, NHS Devon) delivered the One Devon Joint Forward Plan (JFP) report, and discussed:

a)     The Joint Forward Plan (JFP) was a five year mandatory plan, which set out how the Integrated Care Strategy (ICS) would be delivered by the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and partners;

b)    NHS England Operating Planning Guidance had instructed that the Joint Forward Plan required updating this year, with publication required by April  2025;

c)     This year’s update was light-touch due to the following factors:

                      I.    The ICS had not yet been updated this year;

                     II.    The NHS Long Term Plan was expected to be published in the spring;

                   III.    The publication of the above two documents would require more substantial  changes to the One Devon Joint Forward Plan at a later date.

d)    This year’s update to the JFP took account of:

                         I.         Alignment with the NHS Devon Annual Plan;

                       II.         Alignment with NHS Operational Planning Guidance;

                      III.         Alignment with the latest NHS and local government Medium Term Financial Plans;

                     IV.         Updated governance procedures;

e)     The JFP was scheduled for consideration at the next NHS Devon Board meeting on 27 March 2025. It would then submitted to NHS England, before being published in April 2025;

f)      The Board were requested to endorse the updated JFP, and to confirm it aligned with local strategies.

In response to questions, the Board discussed:

g)     The system’s transition to ‘care in the community’, which alleviated critical hospital capacity and enabled patients to be cared for in their preferred place;

h)    Reablement and care capacity had been increased, facilitating a 120% increase in the number of people who were discharged straight home this year, compared to last;

i)      A need to address potential implications for the generation of young people impacted by the Covid Pandemic and national lockdowns in future reviews of the plan;

j)      In a more comprehensive review next year, NHS Devon would undertake extensive engagement prior to refreshing the plan, which would incorporate new priorities;

k)     There were numerous ICB actions and initiatives for children and young people ongoing, and communication with PCC was strong;

l)      Recognition of additional capacity within the multi-agency safeguarding hub;

m)   A need to consider the impact of the Government’s new reforms under the Children’s Wellbeing and Education Bill, particularly relating to the requirement for increased integration and cooperative working between partners;

n)    Recognition and support for the plan’s Public Health focus on the wider determinants of health, prioritising healthier, safer communities;

o)    A need to ensure that housing and employment was considered as an integral part of any future plan refresh, and that the Local Authority was involved given its statutory duties for housing delivery;

p)    Recognition of fragmentation and gaps within health protection across partners, with a need to enhance collaboration and integration;

q)    The importance of dental provision, and a need for future reviews of the JFP to identify dentistry as a distinct priority;

r)     Potential to lobby Government for increased health contributions from developers under S106 monies. Government was currently reforming the Planning system,  which could be utilised to secure greater contributions from developers towards heath infrastructure;

s)     The need to ensure the VCSE sector and Wellbeing Hubs were engaged in co-designing integrated local services, through strong planning and collaberation.

The Board agreed to:

1.     Endorse the updated draft Joint Forward Plan for 2025-20230, and confirm it aligned with priorities identified in the latest Health and Wellbeing Strategy.