Epping Forest District Health & Wellbeing Strategy 2018-2028 ContEntS Foreword Page 3 Background Page 4 Local Picture Page 6 our Vision Page 8 our Aim Page 8 How Will We Do It? Page 9 Helping ourselves – Useful tools • 5 Ways to Wellbeing Page 11 • livewell in the Epping Forest District Page 12 How Will We Measure Success? Page 14 2 ForEWorD As a lifelong resident of the Epping Forest Ultimately, by supporting our residents to district, I am proud to represent the people and improve their health and wellbeing we will help place where I live. We have the benefit of easy reduce the pressure on our local GP’s and the access into London via the Underground, along Accident and Emergency department at Princess with direct access to one of the most beautiful Alexandra Hospital, which continues to be natural forests in the country, from which our significantly stretched. district takes its name. Much of our area is rural with green open spaces, Having listened closely to local protected wildlife habitats and peoples’ views, along with outstanding historic those of professionals, the buildings, and this all Epping Forest District helps to make Epping “Our vision is that Health and Wellbeing Forest a great place in Epping Forest District has Strategy defines what which to live, work we mean by health and do business. a culture and environment and wellbeing and that promotes and supports sets out the district’s In the majority of our good health and wellbeing vision and priorities wards people enjoy for the next ten years. good health and we for everyone” The Strategy explains have below average levels how we will address for smoking, diabetes and health inequalities that exist substance misuse compared to in our area including; working other parts of Essex. Surveys tell us better together with our wider that 70% of Epping Forest residents rate health and third sector partners, across their general health as good. However, we do boundaries, and more closely with our planners, recognise that there are health inequalities in housing and environmental health staff. some of our wards and we are working closely with partners from Essex County Council Public Our Council and partners are committed to Health, the West Essex Clinical Commissioning ensuring that this Strategy is implemented Group and third sector organisations to address across the Epping Forest district and this and reduce the impact of disadvantage and consequently health and wellbeing is a key focus low household income on residents’ health and in our Corporate Plan 2018-2023. wellbeing. We know that we need to encourage more people to take part in regular, physical activity. Equally, we recognise the importance of good mental health and healthy relationships across all age groups. The Epping Forest district has an ageing population and we are particularly committed to addressing the needs of our older residents. We appreciate how important it is to our older residents that they remain living independently in their own homes for as long as possible and, through working with our partners, Cllr Chris Whitbread we are keen to support this. Leader, Epping Forest District Council 3 BACkgroUnD this Strategy sets out the aims and aspirations of the Epping Forest Health and Wellbeing Board to improve the health and wellbeing of everyone living in the Epping Forest district. The Board is made up of representatives from With a higher than average ageing population Epping Forest District Council, Essex County who can suffer with more complex, long term Council Public Health, West Essex Clinical conditions which often result in increased Commissioning Group and a wide range of local reliance on services, we know that we must health and third sector organisations. work more efficiently together to address key issues. We are mindful that all dimensions of deprivation impact significantly on health and wellbeing and we are committed to reducing health inequalities in our communities. 4 We want the Epping Forest district to be a place where: • our children and young people have the best start in life, grow up healthy and happy with the skills to reach their full potential • our older people feel connected, valued, celebrated and supported within their communities • our residents lead healthy, happy and active lives and are equipped with the resilience to cope with life’s changes and challenges • our residents have good access to employment opportunities, as well as working environments that encourage healthy lifestyles and positive health and wellbeing • our residents can eat healthily through access to fresh, nutritious, locally sourced food and where the type and quantity of fast food outlets is reviewed and managed • the local physical environment lends itself to supporting good health and wellbeing through good design, access to a range of interesting and stimulating open spaces, active travel including; cycling and walking, and formal recreational opportunities for all age groups In the next ten years we will address the health inequalities that exist in our district, which contains wards that are amongst some of the most deprived in Essex. A collaborative response will enable us to pool our resources and combat the challenges of declining funding for public services, both within the nHS and local authorities, and to face these challenges head on. Working as a collective partnership the Epping Forest District Health and Wellbeing Board will: • Provide leadership and direction to improve health and wellbeing within the district • raise the profile and be a voice for good health and wellbeing • Identify what our local health priorities are and review these on an annual basis • Work together with key partners to deliver a collaborative approach to funding, activity coordination and delivery for all in the community 5 LoCAL PICtUrE In general terms, the health of people in the Epping Forest district is better than the England average. Deprivation: Unemployment: as a whole is lower than average, although in over 16 year olds in Epping Forest is estimated it is estimated that 14.4% (3,400) children to be 5.7%. This is less than the England average live in poverty. of 7.2%. 5. 7% 3,400 England 7.2% children in poverty Life Expectancy: is 7 years lower for men and 3.5 years lower for women in the most deprived areas of Epping Population Forest compared to more affluent areas. Increase is expected to grow from 128,100 people minus minus 31/2 7 to 155,700 year s year s by 2035 6 Physical Activity: Obesity: 60.5% of adults 63.9% of adults and 17.9% are physically of 10 - 11 year old active, however, children are overweight 63 .9% only 21.8% of 21. 8% or obese. adult s adults are doing exercise 3 or more 17 .9% enough physical 10-11 y ear olds activity to benefit times a week their health (i.e. exercising 3 or more times per week). Mental Health: Local agencies see a range of poor mental health cases across the district amongst children, young people and adults. Smoking: Depression Anxiety 20. 2% Self-harming of adults are Thoughts of suicide smokers Dementia: Sexual Health: 1,780 people aged over 65 in Epping Forest are thought to have dementia. This figure is Low rate of estimated to rise to 2,770 by 2030. teenage pregnancy. Average level of chlamydia 1,780 testing and percentages rising to testing positive. 2,770 over 65’s by 2030 7 oUr VISIon our vision is that the Epping Forest district has a culture and environment that promotes and supports good health and wellbeing for everyone. oUr AIM our aim is that Epping Forest District residents, across all demographics, have the opportunity to lead healthy and fulfilling lives and we have adopted the following themes of work to achieve this: Start well: All children and young people have access to early help and have the best start in life Be well, Stay well and Work well: All working age adults know how to be well, stay well and work well Age well: All adults who are aged sixty five and above live safe, healthy and independent lives for as long as possible These three themes offer a ‘whole life course’ approach to supporting and promoting health and wellbeing, meaning that action to reduce health inequalities starts before birth and continues through to older age. We recognise the importance of the following in ensuring holistic wellbeing: • Physical Activity • good Mental Health and Wellbeing • Healthy relationships These approaches will be at the very heart of delivering our health interventions, building confidence in the community to seek support, keeping people safe (safeguard) and helping people to support one another. 8 HoW WILL WE Do It? Wherever possible we want to support individuals and communities to take responsibility for their own health. We will work to: • Empower Individuals, Promote Self-Care and Strengthen our Communities: Improving health and wellbeing through a range of interventions, promotions and campaigns. We will work to champion peer support and foster a culture of care. This approach will make it everybody’s responsibility to look out for one another and help to tackle serious issues such as dementia, loneliness and social isolation. • Work in Partnership and Collaboration: Identifying and removing barriers, sharing resources and working together. • tackle Inequalities: Ensuring that needs are understood and interventions are targeted where needed. • Focus on Prevention and Early Intervention: Preventing the wider causes of ill health and poor lifestyle choices, to lessen the dependency on frontline services and health-related work. • Drive Sustainability: Ensuring that we retain services. • Maximise Local Assets and Access resources and Funding opportunities. • Make use of technology and Increase Communication and Engagement: Using technology to improve access to information and proactively telling people about the services available.