Joint Strategic Needs Assessments

Joint Strategic Needs Assessments (JSNAs) are used to identify the health and well being needs of a local population and steer the commissioning of services to meet these needs. To make sure homeless people get the health services they need, it is essential they are included as part of this process.

background to JSNAs

Since 2007, a statutory duty was placed on upper-tier/unitary local authorities and Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) to carry out a JSNA. These have usually been carried out by the Director of Public Health, Director of Adult Social Services and the Director of Children’s Services in a local area.

In 2010 the government released the NHS White Paper. which set out a series of reforms. Part of this included transferring responsibility for undertaking the JSNA to the Local Authority, and this process will now be led by Health and Wellbeing Boards (HWBs). It is anticipated that HWBs will be established in every area by 2013, running in shadow form from 2012. More than 130 Local Authorities signed up as early implementers - you can find out if your area is one of these in this HWB Directory from the Kings Fund.

In December 2011 the Department of Health issued 'Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and joint health and wellbeing strategies explained' to support emerging health and wellbeing boards as they engage with the refresh of Joint Strategic Needs Assessments and develop their preparatory Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

As we outline below it is crucial homeless people are taken into account in these processes. Homeless Link and St Mungos have produced a briefing about how Local Authorities can ensure the needs of homeless people are included in the JSNA process. This is also useful for voluntary sector providers- more information about potential opportunites for engaging in your JSNA can be found on our Health Needs Audit Toolkit.

 

 

AIMS of the JSNA

The JSNA aims to:

  • Provide analyses of data to show the health and well-being status (including both needs and assets] of local communities
  • Define where inequalities exist
  • Use local community views and evidence of effectiveness of interventions to shape future services

The content of a JSNA should underpin and steer the development of strategies to meet a population’s health and well being needs. One of the key commissioning strategies which the JSNA will inform are those developed by the new GP led Clinincal Commissioning Groups (CCGs). CCGs will have responsibility for commissioning the majority of local health services.

 "The JSNA was introduced to create stronger partnerships between communities, local government and the NHS, providing a firm foundation for commissioning that improves health and social care provision and reduces health inequalities" [DH, 2011]

WHAT INFORMATION DOES THE JSNA INCLUDE? 

A variety of data sources can be used for the JSNA process. The LGID (Local Government Improvement and Development) has published a JSNA 'data inventory' which presents a framework to use.

The homelessness sector can provide rich sources of data for this process. As we outline in our briefing, sources of data which can be used include:

• Supporting People (SP) client record and outcomes data
• Internal client monitoring data
• Case studies and direct experiences of homeless people’s views about health and social care
• Data from the Older Homeless People’s Needs Audit
• Data from a Homeless Health Needs Audit

Carrying out a Homeless Health Needs Audit  can provide a picture of health and service usage across a local area. It is an ideal way to gather this information and engage with your local JSNA team. The Audit Toolkit includes examples and case studies from areas who have been involved in JSNAs.

Have you been involved in your JSNA?

Have you had success in engaging with your JSNA? Any challenges or good practice to share? We would like to hear from you and help promote learning from the sector. Please get in touch to tell us more.