The Health and Wellbeing Board of Wiltshire Council met on Thursday 21 May 2026 to discuss plans for improving outcomes for young children, the implementation of the Better Care Plan, and the development of neighbourhood health services. The meeting also covered updates on the Families First Partnership Programme and proposals for strengthening the Board's governance.

Best Start in Life Plan

The Board was scheduled to receive a report on the Best Start in Life Plan (BSiL) for Wiltshire, covering the period 2026–2030. This plan outlines a comprehensive approach to improving outcomes for children from conception to the age of five, aiming to reduce inequalities and ensure all children are supported to thrive. Key goals include increasing the proportion of children achieving a Good Level of Development (GLD) by 2027/28. The plan focuses on three priority areas: better support for families, more accessible early education and childcare, and improving the quality of early years education. The report indicated that the plan had already been published and was available on the Wiltshire Council website. The proposal was for the Board to approve the plan for publication and sharing for information.

Families First Partnership Programme

A presentation was scheduled on the Families First Partnership Programme (FFPP), delivered by Simon Thomas, FACT Lead. This programme aims to create a seamless system for family help, integrating targeted early help and Child in Need support. It also focuses on establishing multi-agency child protection arrangements and embedding Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) across all stages of support and protection. The programme's approach in Wiltshire emphasises keeping children and families at the heart of services, building on existing strengths, and delivering through partnership.

Better Care Plan 2026/27

An update was scheduled on the Better Care Plan (BCF) for 2026/27, presented by Amy Jones, Director of Commissioning. The plan details integrated strategies, funding rationale, and goals for Wiltshire within the Bath and Northeast Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW) Integrated Care Board (ICB) area. The 2026/27 plan is described as a bridging year focused on consolidating critical services and strengthening neighbourhood health and social care models. Key priorities include enhancing therapy capacity in Home First pathways, reducing variation in multidisciplinary team (MDT) practices, and shifting care away from bed-based services towards home-based recovery. The BCF funding is intended to support older people with frailty, those with complex long-term conditions, and individuals at risk of hospital admission or delayed discharge. The Board was asked to endorse the contents of the plan and note that the Chair had approved it prior to submission.

Neighbourhood Health Update

A report on Neighbourhood Health was to be presented by Emma Higgins and Caroline Holmes from the Wiltshire ICB. This update was expected to cover progress in developing Wiltshire's neighbourhood health model, including the approval of proposed neighbourhood footprints for Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs). The report indicated that Wiltshire had made substantial progress in this area, with INTs going live on 1 April 2026. The Board was asked to approve the proposed neighbourhood footprints, note the progress made, and endorse the methodology for developing the Stage 2 Neighbourhood Health Plan. The update also included information on Neighbourhood Health Centre planning and emerging proposals for Place Board development.

Strengthening Governance, Membership Engagement and Statutory Delivery for Wiltshire Health and Wellbeing Board

A report from the Director, Public Health, Professor Kate Blackburn, was scheduled to address options for Strengthening Governance, Membership Engagement and Statutory Delivery for the Wiltshire Health and Wellbeing Board. The report aimed to reposition the Board as the authoritative place-based forum for population and neighbourhood health, ensuring a clear link between needs assessments, strategy, and neighbourhood-level delivery. The Board was asked to consider preferred options for strengthening its governance and engagement, with a recommendation to adopt Option 2, which involves a strengthened governance and accountability model. This would include revised Terms of Reference and a System Governance Framework to clarify meeting structures and enhance discussion and challenge in the delivery of duties.

The meeting was also scheduled to confirm the date of the next meeting for 16 July 2026 and to consider any urgent items.