How and why is a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment important to planning a healthy weight environment?

The Health and Social Care Act 2012 (1) introduced requirements of councils, including the establishment of Health and Wellbeing Boards. Health and Wellbeing Boards are a formal committee which must include representatives from Integrated Care Systems, the local authority and local Healthwatch services (2), (3).

Some Health and Wellbeing Boards may find it helpful to collaborate with neighbouring areas where they share common problems as this can prove to be more cost effective than working in isolation (2).

Integrated Care Systems, which are place-based partnerships of health and care organisations, can support alignment across local authority and NHS bodies, and contribute to approaches developed by Health and Wellbeing Boards (4).

Image: Health and wellbeing boards – bringing together a range of partners to tackle obesity. Image source: (5)

Health and wellbeing boards have a duty to agree a joint health and wellbeing strategy and undertake a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment which aims to: Provide local and national data analysis and evidence to show the health and wellbeing status of local communities

Describe and illustrate gaps in health status, outcomes and people’s experiences and needs

• Provide information on local community views and evidence of effectiveness of existing interventions which will help to shape future plans for services
• Highlight key findings based on the information and evidence collected
• Inform the local Health and Wellbeing Board as to the content of the health and wellbeing strategy

The Joint Strategic Needs Assessment can inform the key health and wellbeing determinants with direct connection to planning (6). This can include evidence relating to:

• Housing
• Transport
• Physical activity
• Employment
• Education and early life
• Access to and provision of services
• Community safety
• Open space and public realm
• Air, water and noise quality
• Climate change
• Access to fresh food

The evidence base for the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment should be used to underpin planning policy designed to promote healthier food environments as required by the National Planning Policy Framework. Whilst some local authorities may already do this, the Town and Country Planning Association has found limited evidence of referring to the Joint Strategic Needs Assessments in local planning documents (7).