The Adult Care and Public Health Scrutiny Committee were scheduled to meet to discuss the recommissioning of active recovery beds, a peer review of services for people with learning disabilities and autistic people, and winter planning arrangements. Councillors were also expected to review commissioned drug and alcohol treatment services, and the committee's work programme.

Active Recovery Beds Recommissioning

The committee was scheduled to consider a report on the recommissioning of Active Recovery Beds (ARBs) service, prior to a decision by the Executive on 4 November 2025. The Executive was expected to make a decision on proposals for active recovery beds. The committee was invited to determine whether it supported the recommendations to the Executive, and to agree any additional comments to be passed on.

The council commissions an ARB service to support Lincolnshire residents who may otherwise have to spend longer periods in hospital or residential care settings. The current ARB contract is due to expire on 31 March 2026, and there are no further extension options available within the contract. Discussions have taken place with the Lincolnshire NHS Integrated Care Board (LICB), who are prepared to continue to support the provision of an ARB service for the financial year 2026/27.

The report recommended a recommissioning exercise be completed for a new ARB service, comprising of 24 ARBs in 3 locations, to commence service delivery on 1 April 2026 for a period of 12 months with the option to extend for a further 2 periods of 12 months, up to a total of 24 months, giving a total contract period of up to 3 years until 31 March 2029.

The ARB contract is currently jointly funded between Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) and the LICB. The organisations pay a 50% share each towards the ARB cost of £1,000.88 per bed per week. Additionally, LCC pay for an Occupational Therapist to work with the individuals using the service whilst the LICB pay for the primary care workforce (GP provision). Both LCC and LICB pay an equal share of the procurement and contract management costs. The total cost of the ARB service in the first year is £1,649,967.20, with LCCs contribution being £753,363.60 and LICBs contribution £896,603.60. A service review identified a cost avoidance of £980,259.68 over a 3-month period in the Homecare required following ARB use.

The Executive was asked to consider the following recommendations:

• Approve the undertaking of a procurement process for a county-wide Active Recovery Bed service for a period of 1 year initially, with options to extend by up to a further two years subject to future funding availability commencing on 1 April 2026 and ending, at the latest, on 31 March 2029, subject to future funding availability, for the whole life value of £4,949,901.60.
• Delegate to the Executive Director of Adult Care & Community Wellbeing in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Adult Care and Public Health the authority to take all decisions necessary to progress the procurement up to and including determination of the final form of the contract(s) and the award and execution of those contract(s) and other documentation necessary to give effect to the above decision.
• Delegate to the Deputy Chief Executive and the Executive Director of Adult Care & Community Wellbeing, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, authority to take the funding reprioritisation decisions necessary to progress the work should this proposal receive agreement to proceed.

Lincolnshire Learning Disability and Autistic People Peer Review

The committee was scheduled to receive a report from Hayley Eccles, Deputy Director of Adult Social Services, which invited the Committee to consider the findings of the Learning Disability and Autistic People peer review.

In September 2025, Adult Care & Community Wellbeing hosted a team from Partners in Care & Health (PCH) to undertake a sector Peer Review for Learning Disability & Autism. The purpose of this exercise was to identify what is working well across Lincolnshire for people with a learning disability and autistic people, and what could be improved. The peer review team used a sector-led improvement methodology, drawing from the experiences and knowledge of other places to see what could be improved or changed to secure better outcomes for local people.

The methodology involved a combination of document analysis, interviews, and site visits, with evidence triangulated from multiple sources, including lived experiences, practitioner input, and strategic partners. The findings were mapped against national Care Quality Commission (CQC) themes and Local Government Association (LGA) guidance, following a pre-review scoping exercise using approximately 120 published documents and data, and a review of local self-assessment.

The review was led by PCH, which is a partnership between the LGA and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Care (ADASS). The review was funded by NHS England (NHSE). The Peer Review Team comprised of NHSE leadership, people with lived experience, the voluntary/community sector, and adult social care. Over two days, the team conducted 42 interviews and visits, speaking to more than 50 people, and collated and triangulated evidence for initial findings and recommendations. A range of recommendations were made at the end of the review.

The committee was asked to note and comment on these insights and how ACCW is taking these into account in the Adults Improvement Programme (AIP).

Intermediate Care and Preparations for Winter

The committee was scheduled to receive a report from Hayley Eccles, Deputy Director of Adult Social Services, which invited the Committee to consider winter planning arrangements for 2025/26.

The Department of Health and Social Care requires all Health and Social Care Systems to produce a strong and sustainable Winter Plan that will meet needs over the Winter months of 2025/26. The Plan is required to meet demand, surge, and super surges. Since June 2025, Adult Social Care have participated in all Winter Planning and fully participated in this year's Winter exercise Aegis. This has played a crucial role in planning and preparation, ensuring appropriate services are in place to meet the needs of Lincolnshire people and ensuring safe and timely discharges. Following oversight by both national and regional NHSE teams, the ASC Winter Plan, incorporating statutory and voluntary services, was recognised as being supportive and appropriate to meet potential demand across the System.

The committee was asked to note and endorse the Adult Social Care Hospital Social Work Team Winter Plan 2025/26.

Substance Use Services & Partnership Working (including links with Prisons)

The committee was scheduled to receive a report from Lucy Gavens, Public Health Consultant, which presents the commissioned drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services across Lincolnshire, as requested by the Committee on 4 June 2025.

The report provided an overview of the services available, including their scope, funding structures, and performance metrics. It also highlighted the system wide efforts between all partners, including the criminal justice system, to ensure a coordinated and effective response to substance use across the county.

The committee was asked to note the report which provides an overview of substance use prevention, treatment and recovery work across Lincolnshire.

Adult Care and Public Health Scrutiny Committee Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to receive a report by Simon Evans, Health, Scrutiny Officer, which enables the Committee to comment on the content of its work programme to ensure that scrutiny activity is focussed where it can be of greatest benefit.

The committee was asked to review its forward work programme, as set out in the report, and make suggestions on its content.