Medway’s JSNA contains over 30 topic specific chapters, grouped into themes, as well as other supporting information, such as an overview of people and place.
Joint Strategic Needs Assessments (JSNAs) identify and summarise the current and future health and social care needs of the local community. They are a fundamental part of planning and commissioning (buying) services at a local level.
JSNAs were introduced in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 and retained in the latest Health and Care Act 2022.
Local authorities and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) have equal and joint duties to prepare the JSNA through the Health and Wellbeing Board.
JSNAs are unique to each local area and provide the basis for the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy (JHWS). Together, the purpose of the JSNA and JHWS is to improve the health and wellbeing of the local community and reduce inequalities for all ages. Health inequalities are unfair and avoidable differences in health status between groups of people or communities.
The JSNA is a continuous process involving engagement and review, and is therefore updated regularly.
