To review the scope of 0-25 Services, including obesity, face to face one year old and two to two and half year-old checks, update on vaccine take up, oral health.

Members received an update from Lincoln Sargeant, Director of Public Health and Mark Richards and Joanne Needham, Public Health Specialists on the 0 to 25 Provision which included obesity, face-to-face one-year old and two-two and half year-old checks, vaccine take up and oral health.  

Members asked a number of questions regarding free school meals including why some children were not accepting free school meals; if there was an alternative for the children who chose to not have free school meals; how Members were able to receive more information on the Torbay Neighbourhood Growing Programme; what work was being carried out to understand the reasons why free school meals were not being taken up; why the data was not specifically related to Torbay for vaccinations and the vaccination take up; why the uptake for the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine in secondary schools had dropped; what work was being carried out with early years providers; and how quickly the process for developmental checks and section 23 notices takes and the pathway for follow ups. 

Members were advised that the data provided for the free school meals uptake was not currently broken down into each school, however this was being reviewed.  Officers would be working with local schools to try to establish the reasons for people not taking up free school meals and what actions the schools were planning to take.  The Sub-Board was advised that local schools ensured that communications were sent to parents regarding the eligibility for free school meals for their children.  Officers were currently not working with early years settings but were working with local primary schools to educate and understand children’s relationship with food. 

Members noted that the Torbay Neighbourhood Growing Programme was currently in its initial phase in the Foxhole area.  However, Officers would be happy to work with Community Partnerships within Torbay to identify other areas to start similar programmes. 

Members were advised that the most recent data on vaccination uptake sits within the NHS and was restricted.  The reasons for the nationwide fall in MMR vaccine uptake were complex and multi-factorial but Officers were aware that delayed catch-up after the COVID pandemic was a factor.  It was noted that there was a new provider for the schools vaccination programme in Devon and there would be an increase in health promotion and collaboration work to ensure greater take up of immunisations across Torbay schools. 

Members were informed that the section 23 process was fairly new, and the process formed the earliest pathway for those who fall under this category and were issued a section 23 notice.  Section 23 meetings had been happening with members of the voluntary sector and nurses present.   

Resolved (unanimously):

1.            that the Sub-Board request that the Director of Public Health works with local Community Partnerships to progress further growing programme schemes within Torbay;

2.            that the Sub-Board request that the Director of Public Health works with local schools to review the uptake of free school meals and link with the effects on the HAF programme, ensuring access is made available to all children entitled to receive free school meals; and

3.            that the Director of Public Health be requested to introduce colleagues to the Skateboard Working Group to raise awareness of the Torbay on the Move Torbay initiative.