JSNA National guidance

The duty to undertake a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) is set out in Section 116 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.

The government's 2010 public health strategy, Healthy lives, Healthy People: Our Strategy for Public Health in England states that Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and local authorities, including Directors of Public Health, each have an equal and explicit obligation to prepare the JSNA, and to do so through arrangements made by the local Health and Wellbeing Board. It is expected that Health and Wellbeing boards will develop joint health and wellbeing strategies, based on the assessment of need outlined in their JSNA.