The Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee of Buckinghamshire Council met to discuss the system winter plan, mental health services, adult social care, and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection of adult social care. The committee was also scheduled to receive updates from the chair and to consider its work programme.

System Winter Plan

The committee was scheduled to hear from health and social care representatives about the system winter plan. According to the agenda, the plan was prepared in partnership across the system.

The listed contributors were:

• Caroline Capell, Programme Director – Performance and Delivery (UEC Buckinghamshire)
• Raghuv Bhasin, Interim Chief Executive, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust
• Craig McArdle, Corporate Director, Adults & Health, Buckinghamshire Council
• George Gavriel, Director, Bucks GP Provider Alliance
• Mark Begley, Head of Operations Emergency and Urgent Care, South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
• Jeff Parker, Head of Service for Urgent Care, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
• Kevin Barnes, Community Pharmacy, Thames Valley

Adult Day Opportunities and Overnight Respite Care

The committee was scheduled to discuss the next steps in implementing a new service model for Adult Day Opportunities and Overnight Respite Care. This followed a decision by the cabinet on 9 September 2025.

The listed contributors were:

• Councillor Isobel Darby, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing
• Craig McArdle, Corporate Director, Adults & Health
• Sara Turnbull, Service Director, Strategy, Improvement & Governance

The agenda included links to several appendices:

• Day Opportunities and Overnight Respite - Business Case
• Day Opportunities and Overnight Respite - Consultation Findings
• Day Opportunities and Overnight Respite - Future Demand
• Day Opportunities and Overnight Respite - EQIA
• Day Opportunities and Overnight Respite - Legal background
• Day Opportunities and Overnight Respite - Market Sufficiency Engagement

Care Quality Commission Inspection of Adult Social Care

The committee was scheduled to hear about the key findings from the CQC inspection of adult social care and the improvement plans being developed around specific services. According to the agenda, the inspection process was completed over six months, with four key stages. The council was rated as 'Good' with a score of 73% in the assessment report published on 18 July 2025.

The listed contributors were:

• Councillor Isobel Darby, Cabinet Member for Health & Wellbeing
• Craig McArdle, Corporate Director, Adults & Health

Mental Health Services

The committee was scheduled to receive a brief overview from Oxford Health colleagues on the mental health services provided to Buckinghamshire residents and how these services are accessed. Jeff Parker, Head of Service for Urgent Care, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, was listed as a contributor.

Other Matters

The agenda also included:

• Public Questions: The committee was scheduled to hear from members of the public who had submitted questions in advance relating to items on the agenda.
• Chairman's update: Councillor Stuart Wilson, Chairman of the Committee, was scheduled to update the committee on scrutiny related activities since the last meeting.
• Work Programme: The members were scheduled to consider and agree on the items for the next meeting.
• Information Only: The committee was scheduled to note the Q4 performance for the Health & Wellbeing portfolio and the scorecard for Q4.