Joint Strategic Needs Assessments and Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategies – draft guidance
Overview
Joint Strategic Needs Assessments (JSNAs) and Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategies (JHWSs) are about the NHS, local government and communities working together to improve health and wellbeing outcomes and reduce inequalities. The purpose of statutory guidance in relation to this is to:
- lay out the statutory duties, which underpin JSNAs and JHWSs to be undertaken by clinical commissioning groups and local authorities through health and wellbeing boards from April 2013
- explain how JSNAs, JHWSs and commissioning plans fit together in the modernised health and care system
- Set out how an the JSNA and JHWS process will enable the NHS and local government, working with their community and partner organisations, to make real improvements to the health and wellbeing outcomes of local people.
Why We Are Consulting
We are consulting on the draft guidance to ensure that it is clear and fit for purpose in supporting health and wellbeing boards in undertaking JSNAs and JWBSs from April 2013. It is also an opportunity to seek views on what further supportive materials health and wellbeing boards would find useful in undertaking JSNAs and JHWSs; which the Department of Health can work with sector-leaders to develop.
What Happens Next
After the consultation, the Department of Health will consider the comments it has received, and the response will be published alongside the final guidance.
A summary of the response to this consultation will be made available before or alongside any further action, such as laying legislation before Parliament, and will be placed on the Consultations website at: