The Adults and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee is scheduled to consider updates on neighbourhood health initiatives, the Barnet Safeguarding Adults Board's annual report, and performance reports for adult social care services. The committee will also review NHS Quality Accounts, receive updates on Task and Finish Groups, and discuss work programmes and the Cabinet Forward Plan.

Update on Neighbourhood Health

The sub-committee is scheduled to receive an update on the development of Barnet's neighbourhood health model. This initiative aims to integrate health, social care, primary care, and voluntary and community services around local communities, with a focus on prevention and early intervention. The report is expected to detail progress in establishing five neighbourhoods, strengthening partnership governance through a refreshed Memorandum of Understanding, and increasing community involvement via the Barnet Healthy Neighbourhoods Network. A key focus for the next phase is the development of an Integrated Neighbourhood Team (INT) model to provide proactive support for residents with complex needs. This model will incorporate elements such as social prescribing, coordinated case management, advance care planning, and professional advice. The report will also outline confirmed investment for the Integrator Function, neighbourhood analytics, and INT development, and will seek comments from the committee on the developing approach, intended benefits for residents, health inequalities, community involvement, and how impact should be demonstrated.

Barnet Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report

The sub-committee is scheduled to review the Barnet Safeguarding Adults Board (BSAB) Annual Report for 2025-26. This report details the board's activities in achieving its strategic plan objectives and outlines steps taken to implement learning from safeguarding adults reviews. Key achievements for 2025-26 include the development of a new three-year Strategic Plan for 2026-29, informed by consultations with residents, carers, and professionals. The board also introduced a new Quality Assurance Framework to strengthen oversight of safeguarding practice. The report is expected to cover progress in areas such as supporting unpaid carers, improving safeguarding awareness for those experiencing homelessness, advancing transitional safeguarding for young people moving to adult services, and exploring the risks and opportunities associated with artificial intelligence. The report will also present safeguarding data for 2025-26, indicating that 2,292 safeguarding concerns were completed, leading to 620 formal safeguarding enquiries. Neglect and acts of omission remained the most common type of abuse. The new Strategic Plan 2026-29 focuses on three key themes: Prevention, Assurance, and Engagement.

NHS Quality Accounts - Mid-Year Update

An update on NHS Quality Accounts is scheduled for discussion, with mid-year reports expected from the Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust, North London Hospice, and the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. These reports will provide an overview of the quality of services being delivered by these NHS organisations.

Adult Social Care Performance and Complaints Reports

The sub-committee is scheduled to review two reports concerning adult social care services. The first, the Adult Social Care Performance Report, will provide a summary of performance, risk, and other updates for the first quarter of 2026/27. This report is expected to include provisional Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework (ASCOF) measures for 2025/26, offering a comparative analysis of Barnet's performance against peer groups, London, and England averages. The second report, the Adult Social Care Annual Complaints Report for 2025-2026, is a statutory requirement and will detail the management of complaints, compliments, and learning from feedback. It is expected to highlight key themes such as quality of service, decision-making, communication, and delays, and outline actions taken to improve services.

Task and Finish Group Updates

An update on the progress of various Task and Finish Groups will be presented. These groups undertake in-depth investigations into specific issues. The report is expected to provide details on the membership, scope, and progress of groups such as those examining Allotment Management and Governance, Food Security, Fostering, Young Carers, Flats above Shops, Parking and Controlled Parking Zone Policy Principles, and Financial Sustainability in Schools.

Work Programmes and Cabinet Forward Plan

The sub-committee will consider its own Work Programme for 2026-27, as well as the Work Programme for the Barnet Health and Wellbeing Board for the same period. Members will have the opportunity to comment on these programmes and consider whether any items from the Health and Wellbeing Board's work programme should be requested for pre-decision scrutiny. Additionally, the Cabinet Forward Plan, which outlines upcoming key decisions, will be reviewed, allowing the sub-committee to identify any items it may wish to scrutinise before they are considered by the Cabinet.