How you can help us to understand the health and wellbeing needs of our communities

As a council we have to carry out assessments to find out the health and wellbeing needs of our communities, to help us to plan and commission the best possible services for residents. 

The community wellbeing outreach team conduct surveys in the community

These assessments are known as the joint strategic needs assessments (JSNA), and are carried out in partnership with the voluntary sector and the NHS, alongside Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin’s Big Health and Wellbeing Conversation. Our joint findings are shared and used to inform health and care decisions for the community. 

In Shropshire, the place-based joint strategic needs assessment is being used to build profiles of 18 key place-plan areas, mainly market towns and their surroundings. 

The assessment is being developed by using data about the health and wellbeing of the population, and by understanding the views of our population through a health, wellbeing and community survey. Local people can take part in online or in person with our community wellbeing outreach team. 

So far, Highley, Oswestry, Bishop’s Castle and Whitchurch have all completed the joint strategic needs assessment survey, and the programme has now moved to the county town of Shrewsbury. 

The survey takes account of a wide range of factors that are known to impact on health and wellbeing, including housing, equality, environment and relationships.  These factors are sometimes known as the wider determinants of health.  

Cecilia Motley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for adult social care, public health and communities, said:- 

“The joint strategic needs assessment is a helpful tool that we are using to paint a picture of the diverse communities that live in our county, and the ways that we can best support people to live healthier lives. 

“We know that only 10% of our health and wellbeing is actually affected by healthcare, and that it is just as important to consider the broader factors that impact our day to day lives, too. 

“So far, we have been able to use the results of the surveys to build a detailed overview of the health and wellbeing needs in Highley and Oswestry, and this has already led to positive planning outcomes that will benefit the lives of the people who live there.” 

The place-based joint strategic needs assessments for Shropshire will continue to progress over the next 12-18 months, and local Shropshire Councillors will help to engage their communities as they are scheduled for assessment. 

You can find out more on the JSNA webpages on our website.