The Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Committee were scheduled to meet to discuss changes to the Integrated Care Board¹ (ICB) and to review the performance outturn report for 2024-25. They were also scheduled to review their work programme for the coming year.

Performance Outturn Report 2024-25

The committee was scheduled to review the Performance Outturn Report 2024-25, which provides an analysis of progress and performance between April 2024 and March 2025 against the council's priorities. The report reflects the new performance framework and targets aligned to the priorities and outcomes of the Borough Strategy as agreed by cabinet on 22 May 2024.

The report was split into two parts:

• Part 1, a statistical analysis of the performance position at the end of March 2025
• Part 2, commentary on performance against delivery of priority 2 and their respective outcomes, summarising performance and action being taken to improve performance where required.

The report looked at performance against targets, trends over 12 months, and inter-authority comparison. Of the 128 performance indicators, 74% of indicator targets were either exceeded, met fully, or met within 95% of the target. This compared to 61% of indicators at outturn 2023-24. 26% of indicator targets were not met, compared to 39% of indicators at outturn 2023-24.

Over the last 12 months, 59% of indicators showed improvement, 5% maintained the same performance, and 36% showed a downward trajectory. The position at outturn 2023-24 was that 40% of indicators showed improvement, 9% maintained the same performance, and 51% showed a downward trajectory.

18% of all indicators where comparison is possible were in the top quartile, compared to 13% at outturn 2023-24, whilst 34% are in the bottom quartile, compared to 44% at outturn 2023-24.

The report also included a summary of areas of both improvement and challenge, including:

• Health and wellbeing: Performance remains challenging, and St Helens compares comparatively poorly in terms of health indicators compared to England, the Northwest, and comparator group averages, particularly in areas including life expectancy, mortality due to suicide, and alcohol-specific hospital admissions.
• Independent living: Performance against target at outturn remained very strong, with all indicators exceeding targets.
• People have a positive experience of health and care: Performance against the outcome also remained very strong.

The committee was asked to note the performance position at the end of March 2025, the actions planned by the People Services Directorate and services to address specific areas for performance improvement in relation to Priority 2, and to consider whether there are any potential items for further scrutiny as part of the committee's work programme based on performance information received.

Cheshire & Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB) Changes to Localities

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the changes to Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). Jamaila Hussain, Interim Executive Director of People Services and St Helens NHS Cheshire & Merseyside ICB Place Director, was invited to attend the meeting.

The committee was scheduled to discuss the key developments and their implications, including:

• Significant spending cuts
• Shift in role and responsibilities
• Organisational restructuring
• Local impacts
• Implications for councils and local health systems/things to consider

The committee was also scheduled to discuss the ICB's position statements on planned changes and the potential implications on localities.

Scrutiny Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to review the items listed within its work programme document for 2025/26 and agree on priorities and timescales. The Adult Social Care & Health Scrutiny Committee Work Programme 2025/26 included the following items:

• Committee Agendas
• Performance Reports
• ICB Changes to Localities
• Infectious Diseases and Health Inequalities
• Transition for Adults with Learning Difficulties/SEND²
• Suicide Prevention Task Group Recommendation Update
• Healthwatch Suicide Report
• Joint Review with Place Economic Inactivity due to long term illness
• Homes First Model Spotlight Review
• Disability Access to Council Facilities