Work plan 5.1

Health Improvement Work Plan 2024 – 27

Work plan 5.1

Work with identified groups at risk including those with protected characteristics and those who live in poverty

Objective(s)

Develop an understanding of and address the local health needs of gypsy traveller communities, including barriers to services.

Delivery Team

  • Claire Wallace (Lead)

Activities

  • Share findings and understanding of good practice approaches, from local health needs assessment, with NHS Services.
  • Promote engagement and consultation with G/T on NHS Services and Community Planning Partnership plans.
  • Promote and monitor uptake of TURAS G/T Cultural awareness course amongst frontline staff.
  • Actively encourage community to register with a GP to generate a CHI number ensuring better care and treatment.
  • Promote the use of EQIA which includes impacts on G/T in new projects.
  • Work with MECOPP to promote the Community Health Matters Service to G/T in Highland Traveller Communities through National Hubs.
  • Develop a Quality Improvement action plan with Primary Care GP cluster.
  • Support “Progress In Dialogue” team to deliver project on Mental health/Trauma.

Governance

  • TBC

Performance Measures/Outcomes

  • TBC

Objective(s)

Promote availability of, and access to, financial advice to support income maximisation and cost of living.

Delivery Team

  • Sandra MacAllister (Lead)
  • Lynda Thomson
  • Jane Chandler
  • Eilidh Moir
  • Sarah MacKenzie

Activities

  • Promote and signposting to welfare support agency or relevant income maximisation service and/or energy support.
  • Promote and deliver Money Counts courses
  • Promote Brief Conversations e-learning course.
  • Promotion of the WAM app.

Governance

  • Population Health Programme Board.
  • Reducing Poverty Thematic Group.

Performance Measures/Outcomes

  • Increase in staff awareness of income maximisation services and increased signposting and referral to financial support.
  • Number of money counts courses.
  • Number of hits on the WAM app.

Objective(s)

Work in partnership to impact on reducing poverty and health inequalities.

Delivery Team

  • Sandra MacAllister
  • Lynda Thomson
  • Jane Chandler
  • Sarah Mackenzie
  • Dan Jenkins

Activities

  • Identify and work alongside relevant partnerships including HPAN; Reducing poverty group; Child Poverty Action Groups.
  • Develop work which helps to reduce poverty and poverty stigma and takes a more co-ordinated approach to tackling poverty as one of the root causes of health inequalities.
  • Delivery of Health Inequalities training courses.

Governance

  • Actions identified within the Child Poverty Action Plan will report to the Integrated Childrens Plan.
  • Other aspects of delivery reports to the HCPP thematic group Reducing Poverty.
  • No specific governance route within NHS Highland.

Performance Measures/Outcomes

  • Actions identified within the child poverty plan will have identified performance measures against the actions to be delivered.
  • Numbers of courses run and attendees – health inequalities training.

Objective(s)

Support the development and delivery of NHS Highland’s Anchor Strategy and Action Plan.

Delivery Team

  • Sandra MacAllister

Activities

  • Support the work of the Employability Group.

Governance

  • Population Health Programme Board.

Performance Measures/Outcomes

  • A set of identified metrics have been developed as part of the Anchor strategy.

Objective(s)

Create an inclusive environment where all patients, service users, their carers and/or family members can expect to be treated with compassion, dignity and respect.

Delivery Team

  • Oliver Wain (Lead)
  • Naomi Watson
  • Megan MacKenzie

Activities

  • Participate and contribute to NHS Highlands EDI Oversight Group.
  • Contribute and support the EDI Project Charter.
  • Development of and support for NHS Highlands BSL plan (see below)
  • Development and delivery of an Interpretation and Translation Service (see below)

Governance

  • Population Health Programme Board.
  • People and Culture Programme Board.

Performance Measures/Outcomes

  • TBC

Objective(s)

Increase the quality and number of completed integrated Impact Assessments in NHS Highland, ensuring that decisions and policies can evidence that full consideration has been given to any impacts identified.

Delivery Team

  • Naomi Watson (and Gayle MacRae)
  • Megan MacKenzie
  • Lynda Thomson
  • Dan Jenkins

Activities

  • Develop a new electronic Integrated Impact Assessment and process for NHS Highland.
  • Support staff in NHS Highland to be confident to know when to complete an IIA and to feel confident in doing so.
  • Development of training related to the IIA process.

Governance

  • Population Health Programme Board.
  • People and Culture Programme Board.

Performance Measures/Outcomes

  • Numbers of completed EQIAs.
  • Quality audit results of completed IIAs.

Objective(s)

Development of and continued support of NHS Highland’s British Sign Language Plan.

Delivery Team

  • Naomi Watson (Lead)
  • Susan Birse
  • Megan MacKenzie

Activities

  • Deliver the actions within the agreed BSL Plan 2024-2030
  • Continue to work with the Deaf BSL Community as we embed and develop the BSL Panel.
  • Work with Deaf Services to improve and expand mandatory Deaf Awareness Training, as well as develop and promote opportunities for staff to access BSL training in line with their roles.
  • Work with colleagues in ehealth and Language Line to trial remote video interpretation within ED & link with tender of Interpretation & Translation service to develop a more sustainable, long-term solution.
  • Focus on working with Raigmore ED to address the number of BSL related complaints.

Governance

  • Population Health Programme Board.
  • NHS Highland Board

Performance Measures/Outcomes

  • Progress made towards meeting the actions in the BSL Plan.
  • An effective BSL Panel, working in partnership with NHSH to improve access for Deaf BSL Users.
  • Deaf Awareness training made mandatory for all NHSH staff.
  • Deaf Awareness training made mandatory for all NHSH staff.

Objective(s)

To deliver an Interpretation and Translation Service that meets the needs of patients/service users and staff to fulfil the requirements of the Equality Act and associated, relevant legislation.

Delivery Team

  • Naomi Watson (Lead)
  • Susan Birse
  • Megan MacKenzie

Activities

  • Work with Directors and Senior Management to agree on a new approach for the Interpretation and Translation Service to ensure that there is equity of access and that the resources are utilised effectively.
  • Work with Procurement to tender for a new Interpretation and Translation Service.
  • Work with Highland Council to carry out a review of the Communication Support Service (BSL) during 2026.
  • Upon completion of the tendering exercise, develop and roll out new guidelines for the service.
  • Work with colleagues to develop an effective training programme to increase staff confidence in working with interpreters effectively.

Governance

  • Population Health Programme Board.
  • Executive Directors Group

Performance Measures/Outcomes

  • Implementation of a new Interpretation and Translation Service that is fit for purpose.
  • Equal access to interpretation and Translated material across NHSH.

Objective(s)

Monitor and support the delivery of Independent Advocacy services to meet the requirements under the Mental Health Care and Treatment Act and Carers Act.

Delivery Team

  • Naomi Watson (Lead)

Activities

  • Support quarterly monitoring meetings of service providers including Partners In Advocacy; Advocacy Highland and SPIRIT.
  • Work alongside contracts to prepare for a competitive tendering exercise in 2026.
  • The development of a Highland Advocacy Plan prior to a competitive tendering exercise.

Governance

  • No specified governance route.

Performance Measures/Outcomes

  • Quarterly monitoring meetings held against performance of the different contracts.
  • Information provides several different measures for delivery of the services.

Objective(s)

Develop and deliver Rural Transgender Health Research project with funding awarded by Remote and Rural Health and Care Centre

Delivery Team

  • Oliver Wain (Lead)
  • Katia Narsizi

Activities

  • Develop Research Protocol, survey and associated documents for Ethical Approval application
  • Develop collaborative partnerships with Primary Care stakeholders and LGBT community stakeholders
  • Recruit participants (GPs and trans populations) for survey and interviews as needed
  • Thematically analyse data to establish key themes for exploration
  • Publish a report of findings (March 2026)
  • Share findings and understanding of good practice approaches from research with NHS Services and community members.

Governance

  • Research, Development and Innovation team
  • Population Health Programme Board (TBC)

Performance Measures/Outcomes

  • Publication of a final report
  • Development of health improvement and research report resources for GP Quality Improvement and trans and non-binary communities
  • Journal articles for publication
  • Conference posters

Health Improvement Work Plan 2024 – 27