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Autism Strategy

We want Merton to be an autism-friendly borough in which people with autism are able to reach their full potential at all stages of their lives. With this in mind, we have developed a strategy for the next five years which takes a whole life course approach, encompassing children, young people and adults with autism and taking into consideration the needs of families and carers.

This is a joint strategy between the London Borough of Merton and Merton NHS Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) in collaboration with a range of partners, including NHS providers, Merton JobCentre Plus, Schools and the voluntary sector. In preparing this strategy we have engaged with a wide range of stakeholders, including people with autism and parents and carers, people working in education, housing, employment and health services to seek their views on what is working well and what needs to improve for people with autism.

The strategy is underpinned by a 5 year action plan which sets out the actions we will jointly take to deliver the aims of the strategy. We have also created an easy-read version of the strategy and a 5-page summary document.

Child Healthy Weight Action Plan

Reducing Childhood Obesity in Merton has been a key priority within the Health and Well-being Strategy since 2015. The refreshed Health and Well-being Strategy (2019-2024) maintains this focus and includes childhood obesity as one of 3 priorities within the 'Start Well' children and young people's theme. The previous Merton Child Healthy Weight Action Plan (CHWAP) was developed and implemented from 2016-2018. The plan has had significant successes in progressing work to tackle childhood obesity locally. However, childhood obesity is still high and requires a sustained partnership approach. This Child Healthy Weight Action Plan (2019-2022) has been refreshed through a process of engaging partners to develop a plan for future action through the Child Healthy Weight Steering Group, engagement with wider partners, reviewing the evidence of what works nationally and regionally, and reviewing the successes and challenges of the previous plan. The London Great Weight Debate as well as the Great Weight Debate Merton which focused on engaging with residents in the east of the borough, BAME communities, parents/carers and young people, provided an in-depth insight into views and opinions on childhood obesity, the findings of which have been used to steer the refresh of the Child Healthy Weight Action Plan (CHWAP).

This CHWAP Summary document provides a review of the successes from the 2016-2018 action plan as well as setting out the key themes and high-level actions which will be taken during the life of the plan.

The Child Healthy Weight Steering Group which includes a range of partners in Merton will lead on ensuring this plan is operationally delivered with appropriate reporting through the Children's Trust Board and Health and Well-being Board.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Strategy

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Strategy 2015-2018

The Merton CAMH Strategy (2015-2018) provides our vision is for every child in Merton to enjoy good mental health and well-being and to able to achieve their ambitions and goals through being resilient and confident. We will do this through establishing high quality services that are focussed on individual needs and which promote good mental health through a clear focus on prevention, early detection and early help when issues first arise.

We will also ensure we have a range of services that make a real difference to children and young people with established or complex problems.

The strategy has been informed by national guidance at a time of CAMH transformation across England and by our local Joint Strategic Needs Assessment.

The strategy has been developed by our Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMH) Partnership and presents the first major step towards fulfilling our goal of bringing together all partners in a commitment to transform services, and setting out the actions we will jointly take over the next three years with children, young people and their families.

Health and Wellbeing Strategy

When we talk about healthy place, we are talking about the physical, social, cultural and economic factors that help us lead healthy lives by shaping the places we live, learn, work and play. These factors also shape the choices we make, for example the food we eat or how we choose to travel from one place to another. Our Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2019 – 2024: A healthy place for healthy lives has a vision of "working together to make Merton a heathy place by creating the physical and social conditions for all people to thrive, and to complement the provision of holistic health and care services". As well as the full Strategy there is a Strategy Summary which was produced with the input of our Young Inspectors.

​Overall responsibility for this strategy lies with the Health and Wellbeing Board.

Sexual Health Strategy

The strategy sets out how Merton Council and NHS South West London Clinical Commissioning Group, along with their partners and the residents of Merton, plan to improve sexual health in the borough. It sets out plans to respond to increasing sexually transmitted infections and HIV rates, and prevent long-lasting impacts of poor sexual health and well-being. The sexual health profile includes the local data for Merton which explains and supports the vision and priorities in the strategy.

Suicide Prevention Framework

Suicide Prevention Framework 2018-2023

This document provides a working framework for Merton's suicide prevention plans for 2018 to 2023. It has been developed with a range of stakeholders who have all provided insight and steered the development of the Framework. It outlines key issues and highlights the outcomes we wish to achieve over the duration of the plan. Our vision is for a zero suicide Borough where no suicide is inevitable. It is a Borough where our residents know where to get help when they need it, where those supporting people at greater risk of suicide are well trained and where our communities encourage people to talk about good mental health.

The Framework is based around five key priorities including reducing risk in high-risk groups, reducing access to means, good mental health and support for at risk groups, suicide awareness and good mental health for all and support for those bereaved by suicide.

We aim to deliver between five to seven actions per year, outlined in an annual action plan.