Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA)
The Department of Health Guidance defines JSNA as:
“A process that identifies current and the future health and wellbeing needs in light of existing services, and informs future service planning talking into account evidence of effectiveness. JSNA identifies ‘the big picture’ in terms of the health and wellbeing needs and inequalities of a local population”.
‘The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007’ created the requirement for upper tier local authorities and PCTs to undertake Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) from 01 April 2008.
The duty to produce a JSNA rests jointly with the Directors of:
Public Health
Adult Social Services
Children’s Services
Where easily available, information has been updated for 2009 although a full re-write and review with a wide range of partners is planned for 2010. The full re-write will inform the refresh of the Darlington Sustainable Community Strategy.
The JSNA is intended to inform commissioning plans and priority setting for health and social care organisations as well as being a resource of interest for everyone who works to improve health.