The Well Waterford Committee: an innovative, cross-sectoral, multi-agency action to improve health and well-being in Waterford

Mullan, Elaine and Morrissey, Eoin (2023) The Well Waterford Committee: an innovative, cross-sectoral, multi-agency action to improve health and well-being in Waterford. In: The Well Waterford Committee: an innovative, cross-sectoral, multi-agency action to improve health and well-being in Waterford :. UNSPECIFIED.

Text (UG HP conf 2023 - Well Waterford.pptx) UG_HP_conf_2023_-_Well_Waterford.pptx.pdf - Published Version Download (1MB)

Abstract

Introduction: Slaintecare Health Community(SCHC) local Development Officers and co-ordinators, Healthy Cities and Counties(HCC) development officers, Active Cities(AC) officers, Climate Change(CC) officers and Active Travel(AT) teams are all relatively new community-facing roles across Ireland. All have a remit to collaborate with local stakeholders and to address environmental and systems barriers to health, wellbeing and physical activity, and have significant funds to spend. Approach: in recognition of the need to formalise the informal contacts and discussions that were already happening, to ensure cross-collaborations with the local authority, and ensure that all relevant organisations were involved, an initial, in person networking meeting was held in August. A wide range of organisations (Public Participation Network, Waterford Area Partnership, Family Resource Centres, Health Promotion, Waterford Sports Partnership, Social Inclusion & Community Activation Programme, Community Safety Partnership) and local authority functions (Councillors, Community, Age Friendly) were represented. The aim was to hear overviews from SCHC, HCC, AC, AT and CC, discuss how they related to or impacted upon existing services, and develop a model for future cross-sectoral engagement and collaboration. Results: a structure was devised (diagram), terms of reference agreed, we aligned with the Waterford Local Community Development Committee, were formally named the LCDC Health and Wellbeing Strategic Group and informally called the ‘Well Waterford’ committee. Significant member resources were diverted to help Ukrainians, which meant meetings were cancelled and we lost momentum. But members of the ‘implementation team’, comprising the new roles, meet regularly. Lessons learned: true collaboration based on shared understanding takes time and effort, and multi-agency working is challenging. Implicit biases regarding health determinants and community engagement, and different funding and management structures, mitigate against strong intersectoral action and stifle innovation. Online meetings further impair this. Regular in-person meetings are needed to generate ideas and maintaining enthusiasm and synergies.

Item Type:	Book Section
Uncontrolled Keywords:	/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/climate_action
Departments or Groups:
Depositing User:	Admin SSL
Date Deposited:	02 May 2024 10:05
Last Modified:	02 May 2024 10:05
URI:	https://repository.wit.ie/id/eprint/7779

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