Strategy documents and reports

The Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) Annual Report provides a broad overview of health and wellbeing in Southwark. It provides an analysis of our changing population, along with details of the health inequalities in the borough. It complements the Annual Public Health Report (APHR).

Read our latest Joint Strategic Needs Assessment report

The report is published as part of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy

The Joint Health Wellbeing Strategy executive summary sets out our aim to improve the health and wellbeing of Southwark residents, with a focus on reducing inequalities worsened by the rising cost of living.

We provide additional support to residents that have the poorest outcomes, focusing our efforts on our most disadvantaged communities. Our call to action is to unite to tackle inequalities. Our 5 priorities are:

• a whole-family approach to giving children the best start in life
• healthy employment and good health for working-age adults across the health and wellbeing economy
• early identification and support to stay well
• strong and connected communities
• integration of health and social care

At the core of the strategy is a commitment to work with our communities in designing and delivering services.

• plan on a page - Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2022 to 2027
• outcomes framework- Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2022 to 2027
• Local authority health profiles from the Office of Health Improvement and Disparitie

Each year the Director of Public Health publishes an independent report on the health of the local population. This provides an update on the progress to:

• improve the health and wellbeing of people in Southwark
• identify any emerging health issues
• highlight areas for improvement

Our Annual Public Health report forms part of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) process.

It provides decision makers with priorities and recommendations to take action locally.

Read our latest report, cleaner air, healthier lives

Previous annual public health reports 

• the value of partnership working to support residents during COVID-19 (2022)
• statistical appendix (2019)
• our climate, our health (2019)
• statistical stats appendix (2018)
• everything to gain and nothing to lose (2018)
• public health summary for Southwark - our borough (2018)

Health needs assessments identify the health and wellbeing needs of Southwark residents. They may focus on a particular health condition or the wider determinants of health. These are factors that affect people's health such as lifestyle, housing and income.

The needs assessments are based on:

• national and local data 
• insights gained from local partners and residents 

We take into account the views of residents in the local community. Needs assessments are then used to inform policies and services.

Health needs assessments for Southwark:

2024

• Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Populations in Southwark

2023

• children and young people’s mental health 
• cancer screening in Southwark 
• sexual health in vulnerable groups 
• asylum seekers and refugees 
• female genital mutilation 

2022

• special educational needs and disabilities 
• air quality 

2021

• carers’ needs

• household food insecurity

2020

breast screening

2019

• immunisation – pre-school 
• immunisation – school age 
• immunisation – adults 
• child death 
• childhood obesity 
• dementia prevention 
• cancer JSNA factsheet 
• cervical cancer screening 
• smoking 
• demography factsheet

2018

• oral health 
• bowel cancer screening 
• long-term conditions 
• multiple long term conditions in Southwark 
• CVD risk factors and prevention 
• sexual health in Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham  
• learning disabilities 
• rough sleepers 

2017

• school-age children 
• mental health 
• suicide and self-harm 
• alcohol 
• cumulative impact zones 
• drug-related deaths 
• substance misuse admissions 
• club drugs 
• active travel 
• protected characteristics 
• housing

This strategy aims to make sure that residents receive access to good quality and timely support. The strategy has 5 priority areas:

1. Reduce the risk of suicide, attempted suicide and self-harm in high-risk groups.
2. Prevent suicide in high-risk locations and reduce access to the means of suicide.
3. Reduce the risk of suicide, attempted suicide and self-harm among children and young people and provide support to educational settings.
4. Monitor and collect data on suicide, attempted suicide and self-harm.
5. Support the media to take a sensitive approach to suicide and suicidal behaviour.

Download the strategy and related documents:

• preventing suicides in Southwark strategy 2023 to 2028

• Appendix 1: our action plan. preventing suicides in Southwark 2023 to 2028 

• Appendix 2: data and supporting evidence. preventing suicides in Southwark 2023 to 2028 

• public consultation report. preventing suicides in Southwark strategy 2023 to 2028 

Our Outbreak Prevention and Control Plan (OPCP) sets out our current approach to providing local leadership and support for the response to COVID-19.

Led by Public Health but working closely with many councils, health services and voluntary sector partners, this document outlines our operational approach to the challenges of COVID-19.

Read our outbreak prevention and control plan

This document is a live document that reflects emerging threats and guidance as they arise.