The Health & Wellbeing Board and ICB Sub-Committee (Committees in Common) met on Tuesday 4 November 2025 to discuss the Director of Public Health's annual report, neighbourhood working, and the draft NHS system strategy and commissioning intentions. The meeting also received updates on the Foundations for Change: Tackling Poverty strategy and the Building a Fairer Future Together Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Strategy.

Director of Public Health Annual Report 2024/25

The meeting received the Director of Public Health's annual report, Getting Serious about Prevention Together. The report highlighted the borough's public health challenges and proposed two priority outcomes: improving early childhood development and preventing and managing long-term conditions. It emphasised the importance of prevention, addressing the wider social determinants of health, and the role of Integrated Neighbourhood Teams in achieving these goals. The report also discussed the use of the Public Health Grant to tackle these issues, focusing on a value-for-money approach and community-led initiatives.

Discussions around the report focused on the need for culturally competent interventions, the transparent allocation of the public health grant, and the integration of council data into population health management tools. There was a strong emphasis on co-production with communities and the voluntary sector, with a commitment to empowering residents and ensuring services are rooted in local needs. The report was presented, with a recommendation to support the taking forward of its advice following publication.

Neighbourhood Working Update

An update was provided on the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP), for which Barking and Dagenham has been awarded wave one status. The programme aims to shift care from hospitals to communities, embrace digital transformation, and focus on prevention. Key activities include the recruitment of a place coach, the development of governance structures, and the identification of eligible resident cohorts for neighbourhood teams. The use of the Optum population health management tool to integrate various data sets, including local authority data on employment and housing, was discussed. The council's own Neighbourhoods Programme, which aims to create a more preventative, integrated, and community-led model of service delivery, was also highlighted as being aligned with the NNHIP.

The board noted the update and the outline delivery plan for Barking and Dagenham's implementation of neighbourhood health. Discussions also touched upon the importance of co-production with residents, ensuring continuity of care for complex needs, and developing robust outcome frameworks. The role of neighbourhood teams in addressing health inequalities and the need for realistic investment were also key themes.

Draft NHS System Strategy and Outline Commissioning Intentions

An update was provided on the draft NHS System Strategy and Outline Commissioning Intentions, developed as part of the NHS annual planning process. The strategy outlines priorities for long-term conditions, mental health, diagnostics, and community services, introducing the NEL Outcomes and Equity Framework. The commissioning intentions cover various areas including maternity and neonatal care, mental health and learning disability, planned care, diagnostics, and neighbourhoods.

A significant portion of the discussion focused on the challenges of health inequalities, the need for equitable resource allocation, and the digital divide within the borough. Concerns were raised about the projected spending on acute settings versus prevention, and the need for greater flexibility in funding to address local needs. The strategy aims to embed prevention, deliver integrated care closer to home, and leverage digital tools, with a commitment to working in partnership with local authorities and the voluntary sector. The draft strategy and outline commissioning intentions were presented, with a commitment to further development and engagement.

Foundations for Change: Tackling Poverty Strategy 2025/26

A summary of the council's new Anti-Poverty Strategy, Foundations for Change: Tackling Poverty, was presented for information. The strategy focuses on supporting vulnerable resident groups, including lone parents, large families, individuals with disabilities or long-term ill health, care leavers, and young people with mental ill-health who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET). Initial areas of focus include increasing child maintenance uptake, improving access to affordable food, and addressing material barriers to employment. An Anti-Poverty Board will be established to guide the medium-term strategy. The strategy was presented.

Building a Fairer Future Together - Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Strategy 2025-2029

The council's Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Strategy, Building a Fairer Future Together, was also presented for information. The strategy outlines four key objectives: closing equality gaps, providing fair and accessible public services, promoting cohesion and integration, and being an inclusive employer. It details six priority areas for closing equality gaps, including housing, health and care, employment, education, poverty, and safety. Progress will be monitored through annual reports to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The strategy was presented.

NHS Operating Model Update

A verbal update was provided on the implementation of the new NHS operating model. While details were limited, it was noted that the council is in a holding position regarding the restructure, with ongoing negotiations concerning redundancy costs. The development of regional model blueprints and the potential delegation of functions such as specialised commissioning and health justice services were mentioned. The board was to receive an update on the NHS operating model.

Winter Pressures Discussion

Partners provided feedback on organisational pressures and mitigation strategies related to winter pressures. While specific details were not extensively elaborated upon in the provided transcript, the discussion indicated a focus on coordinated responses to support residents during the winter months, with priorities including frail/older people, the whole population/workforce, rising needs, and babies, children, and young people. The Barking and Dagenham Winter Plan 2025/26 was noted.

The meeting also included the confirmation of the minutes from the previous meeting on 9 September 2025.