The Health & Wellbeing Board and ICB Sub-Committee (Committees in Common) met on 10 June 2025, to discuss health priorities in Barking and Dagenham. The board re-adopted the place partnership's priorities for 2025/26, agreed on key health outcomes to focus on, considered a plan for deep dives into areas of health need, approved the publication of the Homelessness Health Needs Assessment, received an evaluation of the Health Inequalities Programme 2023/24, reviewed the COVID-19 and Flu Winter Plan 2025/26, noted the Better Care Fund Plan 2025/26, and discussed a physical inactivity place partnership update.

Partnership Priorities

The Health and Wellbeing Board and ICB Sub-Committee agreed to re-adopt the place partnership's priorities agreed for 2024/25 as ongoing focus areas for 2025/26. These priorities align closely with the partnership's strategic frameworks and those of individual partners. The priorities are:

• To improve health and wellbeing for residents of all ages, with a focus on early diagnosis/intervention and reducing health inequalities.
• To take a preventative assets-based population health approach to maximising health and wellbeing, independence and self-care, reducing the need for health and care services.
• To enable residents with a learning disability or autism to lead an ordinary life that supports independence and positive health.

Place Based Outcomes

The Health and Wellbeing Board and ICB Sub-Committee agreed to further develop an agreed place-based outcomes framework, and agreed to the leadership of the delivery of action plans with associated performance indicators against the agreed outcomes, by the relevant partnership groups.

Following discussions on embedding the Marmot Framework into Barking and Dagenham, four potential place-based health outcomes have been proposed:

• Improving the number of children achieving a good level of development by five.
• Preventing and managing long term conditions.
• Creating fair employment and good work for all.
• Reducing obesity and smoking.

The first two outcomes are recommended for initial focus. These outcomes require a long-term commitment across partners to address, and all action will focus on targeting the community groups with greatest needs.

Joint Strategic Needs Assessment Deep Dives

The Health and Wellbeing Board and ICB Sub-Committee considered the proposed plan for deep dive needs assessments related to health and wellbeing needs identified in the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA).

A series of deeper dive analyses/needs assessments will be undertaken by the public health intelligence team to support focused work across the Barking and Dagenham Partnership. The following areas raised previously are already being taken forward:

• Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Targeted Inequalities Analyses

The following topics are included in the Deep Dive programme:

Homelessness Health Needs Assessment

The Health and Wellbeing Board and ICB Sub-Committee approved the publication of the Homelessness Health Needs Assessment.

The Homelessness Health Needs Assessment summarises key findings from quantitative and qualitative local and national data on homelessness, rough sleeping, temporary accommodation, and hidden homelessness. It highlights key health and well-being needs and service gaps for the homeless population in the borough.

Key findings include:

• Nearly half (42%) of households owed a relief duty had previously lived with friends or family who could no longer support them.
• Most asylum seekers were of Black African ethnicity.
• A high percentage (73%) of rough sleepers had drug, alcohol or mental health needs, and many had a history of care, prison or armed forces.
• In the week ending 23rd June 2024, 18% of TA placements of LBBD residents were made outside the borough.
• Over half of the primary care registered patients experiencing homelessness were males (65%), with an average age between 20 and 49.

Health Inequalities Programme Evaluation 2023/24

The Health and Wellbeing Board and ICB Sub-Committee noted the report and the findings of the individual workstream summaries, as outlined in detail within Appendix 1 of the Health Inequalities Programme Evaluation. The Committee also noted that the Programme is ongoing and is supporting the development of neighbourhood working and integrated neighbourhood teams.

The report summarises the findings of evaluation of the B&D Health Inequalities Programme 2023/24 (September 2023 to August 2024). It includes individual workstream evaluations, plus the key lessons from across the Programme (prioritisation, siloed working, lack of long-term and strategic approach, ensuring added value) which have shaped the Programme going forward.

COVID-19 and Flu Winter Plan 2025/26 and Winter Wash Up

The Health and Wellbeing Board and ICB Sub-Committee reviewed and provided feedback on the proposed COVID-19 and Flu Winter Plan 2025/26. The Committee noted that a multi-agency approach is needed involving the NHS, ICB, local authority, schools, community and faith groups, working with residents, to increase uptake of winter vaccinations (COVID-19 and Flu).

The report highlights the plan to increase uptake of winter vaccinations and minimise the risk of outbreaks in the vulnerable group (e.g. schools, care homes, housebound) for the upcoming Autumn/Winter COVID-19 and flu campaign 2025/26.

The Health and Wellbeing Board and ICB Sub-Committee also noted the contents of the Winter Wash Up report and preparation for the 2025/26 Winter Plan.

The report provides a comprehensive overview of the outcomes and key learnings from the Barking and Dagenham Place Winter Plan for 2024/25. It has been developed in collaboration with system partners following a dedicated winter wash-up session held in April 2025.

Better Care Fund Plan 2025/26

The Health and Wellbeing Board and ICB Sub-Committee noted the Better Care Fund Plan for 25/26.

The Better Care Fund enables the local authority and NHS organisations to jointly plan and deliver local services to support Barking and Dagenham residents. It reflects the national policy objectives and local strategic priorities for adults and communities.

The BCF funds projects and services that are delivered by stakeholders from across the system, designed to improve health and social care outcomes, prevent re-admission to hospital, maintain and improve independence and support hospital discharge.

Physical Inactivity Place Partnership Update

The Health and Wellbeing Board and ICB Sub-Committee noted the opportunity of the Physical Inactivity Place Partnership to address long term structural issues and increase activity to improve health and wellbeing. The Committee also noted the proposed new approach to accelerate development of the funding proposal for the Delivery Phase 2026 to 2028, and suggested opportunities for widening involvement, including how their organisations can contribute to the approach and activities in the 2025 Development Phase.

Barking and Dagenham is amongst 80-100 'place partnership' areas with the opportunity to share access to £190m of Sport England funding to 2028. Cross-sector working has been underway since December 2023, with a Sport England funded 12-month Development Phase commencing in January 2025 supported by London Sport.