The Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Board met to discuss the performance of Public Health and Adult Social Care services in 2024/25, and to review the proposed model for Community Information and Advice Services, and the Healthy Active Lives service. The board endorsed the proposed models for both the Community Information and Advice Service, and the Healthy Active Lives service, with a focus on improved health and wellbeing, increased capacity and ability to cope, and increased financial stability and resilience. The board also reviewed the Annual Complaints and Compliments Report for Adult Social Care services and the latest version of the Scrutiny Board work plan.

Community Information and Advice Services

The board endorsed the proposed model for the Community Information and Advice Service, supporting its three core strategic aims: improved health and wellbeing, increased capacity and ability to cope, and increased financial stability and resilience.

The Head of Service for Strategic Commissioning and Partnerships explained that the council had considered delivering the services in-house, but decided to focus on earlier interventions, using assets in the community. They argued that the independent community sector could offer a more holistic service, addressing a range of connected issues, rather than just one matter, and that this would avoid potential conflicts of interest, such as in debt management support where the debt was owed to the council.

In response to a question about the financial implications of the proposals, the Head of Service for Strategic Commissioning and Partnerships explained that the costs were identified considering current demand levels, the cost of delivering the existing service, and modelling potential future demand, taking into account the council's preventative approach.

The Assistant Director for Communities & Partnerships told the board that officers were focusing upon including all information and advice services together under the branding of Here2Help, creating a single directory that was expected to go live on the council's website over the next couple of months.

The Head of Service for Strategic Commissioning and Partnerships confirmed that the contract length of 5 plus 2 years allowed opportunities for review after 5 years, whilst offering the provider enough stability to bed in and deliver the service.

Healthy Active Lives Service

The board endorsed the proposed model for the Healthy Active Lives service, consisting of a universal offer, a targeted offer tailoring interventions for those with the greatest need, with a third element focusing on influencing strategy and policy. They also endorsed the proposed priority groups for the targeted offers: those from geographical areas of high need, people with Long Term Conditions, carers, and people with learning disabilities.

The Head of Commissioning and Performance explained that the services in scope of the review included physical activity services, Eat Well, Move More (a weight management programme for children and families), and the Integrated Lifestyle Service.

The Director of Public Health Education and Inclusion confirmed that the service was available to any eligible person who was a Solihull resident, or registered with a Solihull-based GP practice, and that this was funded through the Department of Health and Social Care.

The board agreed to future reporting on the delivery of the contract against set KPIs (Key Performance Indicators).

Adult Social Care Annual Safeguarding Overview Report 2024/25

The board received the Adult Social Care Directorate Annual Safeguarding Overview Report 2024/25, which provided a summary of safeguarding activity and practice across the directorate during the reporting year.

The Care Act 2014 and its statutory guidance set out the legal framework for local authority safeguarding responsibilities¹. Compliance with these duties is monitored through a range of mechanisms, and key safeguarding performance indicators are reported quarterly to the Health and Adult Social Care Cabinet Portfolio Holder, the Leader of the Council, and the Chief Executive via a performance dashboard.

Public Health Performance 2024/25

The board received a report providing an overview of performance progress achieved during 2024/25 for Public Health services within the board's portfolio. The report summarised current Public Health service performance against the in-year 2024-25 targets, the latest benchmarking data of performance against the West Midlands region and England average (where available), and service development actions to address areas of underperformance.

Adult Social Care End of Year Performance 2024-25

The board received a report on Adult Social Care performance in Solihull, assessed in line with the Department of Health and Social Care's (DHSC) national Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework (ASCOF)², with year-end results reported nationally. The report presented Solihull's performance against both national and local indicators for the 2024/25 year-end, and included benchmarking analysis using the most recently published national ASCOF data (2023/24), released in December 2024.

Annual Complaints and Compliments Report (Adults Social Care Services) 2024/25

The Senior Customer Relations Officer presented the Annual Complaints & Compliments Report (Adults Social Care Services) 2024/25, detailing information and analysis of complaint and compliment activity and related performance data for Solihull's Adult Social Care & Support Services.

Councillor Kate Jones, Liberal Democrat Group Spokesperson, Non-voting member, queried if any complaints could be refused and therefore not included in the report, and also asked for more information on the different categories of complaint outcomes.

The Senior Customer Relations Officer confirmed that no complaints submitted were refused, and explained the factors officers had to take account of upon receipt of a complaint, including who was raising the complaint and what right they had to any information disclosed in a complaint response.

The Director of Adult Social Care and Deputy Chief Executive explained how the council's complaint policies and annual reporting arrangements were in accordance with national legislative requirements, and reflected good practice followed by other local authorities and the health sector.

Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Board Work Plan 2025-26

The latest version of the work plan was presented for information.