Our Partnership Board

About the Board and its role

The Partnership Board further strengthens joint working arrangements between organisations involved, including the NHS, councils, care providers, Healthwatch, community and voluntary groups. Together, the Partnership improves health and care for the 2.4 million people living across the area.

The Board will be an important group for the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership, bringing in elected members, non-executives and public lay members into the decision making process.

Chaired by Cllr Tim Swift, Leader of Calderdale Council and Chair of Calderdale Health and Wellbeing Board, the first meeting will discuss the Board’s terms of reference; allocation of transformation funding and the development of the Partnership’s five year plan which will be published in winter.

"Working alongside communities, the Partnership Board aims to give people the best start in life with support to stay healthy and live longer. Many factors determine whether someone leads a long and healthy life, including good housing, access to green space, and building an inclusive economy that creates more good jobs, reduces health inequalities and promotes opportunity for all. These important factors are at the heart of the Partnership and I’m looking forward to working alongside other Board members to ensure we discuss these issues fully whilst providing the best support possible for those we serve. This is a priority to us all and one I welcome." - Cllr Swift

"It’s so important that the work of the Partnership is influenced by the voice of local people across West Yorkshire, Harrogate and Craven, so we are really pleased that the new Board has co-opted four members of the public to take seats. The members of the partnership and the Partnership itself have a clear commitment to listening to the public’s views, and we believe that this meeting in public gives further opportunities for people to have their say. People who have lived experience of health care services are often best placed to know what is important to them, their communities, family, friends and neighbours. I look forward to being part of these important conversations and therefore putting people first and foremost at the centre of all we do."

 - Helen Hunter, Healthwatch representative for the area on the Board

"For any partnership like ours to work, it’s imperative we think and act differently. Local people rightly ask that care is more joined up and the Partnership Board creates a way of ensuring that we work collectively on the things that matter most. We depend on one another to give every child the best start in life and to give people the opportunity to live and age well. The Board is a step forward in making this a reality right across West Yorkshire and Harrogate."

 - Rob Webster, CEO-designate for West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership

The importance of joining up care for people at a local level in the five local areas of Bradford District and Craven; Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield is at the heart of local and West Yorkshire plans. All decisions on services are made as locally and as close to people as possible. To achieve this local health and care system requires democratic accountability and the six councils involved in the Partnership (Bradford, Calderdale, Craven, Kirklees, Leeds, and Wakefield) are equal partners around the top table.

There will be no change in the legal powers or duties of all organisations involved that are represented on the Board - put simply; the Board will oversee a closer and more collaborative way of working towards shared goals.

The Board will meet in public every three months, four times a year. To register your interest in attending these meetings or to ask a question before the meeting takes place please email Westyorkshire.ICS@nhs.net or call 01924 317659. You can also watch the meeting live on our website.