Health and Wellbeing Board

Waltham Forest's Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) is a partnership between:

• leaders from the health and care system
• democratically elected members
• patient representatives

They work with North East London Integrated Care Board (ICB) and the Public Health Team to help provide the right health services in the borough. In Waltham Forest the HWB is aligned with the local Health and Care Partnership Board and these boards meet together quarterly. 

All the meeting papers are available on our Democracy webpage.

 HWB's duties include:

• To assess the needs of the population through the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA). 
• To promote joint commissioning and integrated provision by joining up social care, public health and NHS services with wider local authority services

Health Inequalities 

This is a cross-cutting priority across the Strategic Partnership Boards. Health equity is a concern for all public services and every organisation has a role to play. This requires coordination and partnership working. Strong leadership on health equity is essential for action on health inequalities and is being strengthened in Waltham Forest through the Health & Wellbeing Board. This links to recommendations to reduce inequalities and improve health outcomes from ‘A Fairer and Healthier Waltham Forest’ which has vital insights into the health inequalities experienced by our communities. 

Social Determinants 

The HWB is addressing social determinants in Waltham Forest as these are fundamental to improving health and reducing inequalities. This requires a whole system response and approach.

Social determinants are the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes. They are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of systems shaping daily life. They include personal characteristics, lifestyle factors, social and community networks, living and working conditions, general socioeconomic, cultural and environmental conditions.

Long Term Conditions 

The number of people with multiple long-term conditions appears to be rising so has been identified as a priority for the HWB.

Long-term conditions or chronic diseases are those for which there is currently no cure, and which are managed with drugs and other treatment, for example: diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, arthritis and hypertension.

Protecting Communities from Drug and Alcohol Related Harm

This is another cross-cutting priority across the Strategic Partnership Boards, led by HWB with SafetyNet (our Community Safety Partnership).

Our vision is that Waltham Forest residents live free from the health and social harms of alcohol and drugs with fewer people having alcohol and drug related problems. All those who need support are identified early, treated with dignity and respect and are easily able to access the support and recovery they seek from evidence based, high quality services.

Cross-cutting priorities relevant to the HWB are undertaken through the other Strategic Partnership Boards. This minimises duplication and strengthens joint working.

• Priorities of the Strategic Partnership Boards 2023-2025 (PDF)

We are in the process of refreshing our Health and Wellbeing Strategy which aims to improve health and reduce inequalities within Waltham Forest. 

Our previous Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2016-20 (PDF) focused on:

• Best start in life by developing, thriving and achieving
• Living healthy, longer, happy lives by being prosperous, active and sustainable
• Thriving maturity and protected community so residents feel safe, supported and independent

The films below feature our residents and communities, and celebrates our borough and the people who live here.

Visit the Strategic Partnership Boards page to view the most recent annual report which details the impact of the Health and Wellbeing Board's work.