Kingston Council is preparing to establish a new Steering Group to conduct a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) for 2026/27, aiming to identify and address the evolving health and social care needs of the local population.
The Kingston Partnership Board, which also serves as the Kingston Health and Wellbeing Board, discussed the formation of this crucial group at their meeting on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. The previous JSNA was completed in 2023, and the new assessment is vital for guiding the development of a forthcoming Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy.
The new JSNA is designed to assess current and future health and social care needs across the entire population, ensuring mental health receives equal priority to physical health. It will delve into health protection and upstream prevention of ill health, considering demographics, the needs of people of all ages, and particularly disadvantaged groups. Wider social, environmental, and economic factors impacting community health and wellbeing, as well as how residents access and understand health information, will also be key areas of focus. The policy intention is for the assessment to consider wider factors that impact communities' health and wellbeing, and local assets that can help improve outcomes and reduce inequalities.
The proposed Steering Group will be responsible for agreeing the format and content of the new JSNA, with the overarching aim of completing the assessment by the end of March 2027. The process will involve the Steering Group agreeing on a method for completion and the format of the JSNA, before overseeing the production of a draft document. This draft will then be presented to the Kingston Partnership Board for review and sign-off.
Resources for this undertaking will be drawn from the Kingston Ring Fenced Public Health Grant (RFPHG), which will support the facilitation of the JSNA's production and the design of the approved draft. Additionally, the Kingston Partnership Board will be asked to agree on staff member time to support the JSNA's production, review, engagement, and other necessary activities as members of the JSNA Steering Group.
The report presented to the Board outlined that the JSNA Steering Group would comprise representatives from various council departments, NHS bodies, and local organisations, including Kingston Hospital, Healthwatch Kingston, and Kingston Voluntary Action. The Board was asked to approve the establishment of this group and the proposed process for completing the assessment.
Stakeholder engagement will be a key component of the JSNA development process, with the specific format to be agreed by the Steering Group. National guidance also emphasizes working with HealthWatch and the local community throughout the JSNA preparation.
Ultimately, JSNAs are intended to enhance the health and wellbeing of the local community and reduce inequalities. Their findings are critical for informing the actions of local authorities, the NHS, and other partners in service planning and delivery. For more details on the proposal, refer to the KPB Report Template - 26/27 Proposal to prepare the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment JSNA for the.
The meeting agenda and related documents can be found on the council's website: Agenda frontsheet Wednesday 25-Feb-2026 13.00 Kingston Partnership Board and Public reports pack Wednesday 25-Feb-2026 13.00 Kingston Partnership Board. Previous minutes are available as Minutes Public Pack 25092025 Kingston Partnership Board.
