The Adult Social Care and Public Health Cabinet Committee were scheduled to meet on Wednesday 12th November 2025 to discuss a range of issues, including the recommissioning of Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) services, the Adult Social Care Operational Pressures Escalation Plan, and an Accommodation Market Position Statement. The committee was also scheduled to receive verbal updates and consider performance data.

Election of Chair

Following publication of the agenda, an urgent item was added to elect a chair of the committee.

Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) Services

The committee was asked to consider and endorse a proposed commissioning strategy for Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) services in primary care, with new contracts planned from 1 December 2026 until 31 March 2033.

The report stated that Kent County Council (KCC) has a statutory duty to provide certain sexual health services, including contraception. LARC methods include coils and implants, offering a longer-term alternative to routine contraception. The proposed recommissioning aims to maintain and strengthen the service, ensuring continuity of care for Kent residents.

The report noted that LARC services are guided by national best practice and have a strong return on investment. The contracts would be funded from the Public Health Grant. The report stated that the anticipated contract term is from 1 December 2026 until 31 March 2033, with a funding allocation of £13 million.

The report considered three options for commissioning LARC: ceasing commissioning through primary care, commissioning via a single provider model, and continuing with the current commissioning model. The report recommended that the committee retain the service model and continue commissioning LARC directly from multiple primary care providers.

The report stated that without LARC being offered in primary care, patients would need to access this provision from the integrated sexual health services (ISHS) or out of area provision, placing pressure on an already busy service and causing delays in care.

An Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) had been completed for the service, with current evidence suggesting that there were no negative impacts to people in Kent because the service model was not reducing or changing in nature.

Adult Social Care Accommodation Market Position Statement

The committee was scheduled to discuss the Adult Social Care Accommodation Market Position Statement for 2025–2035, a document outlining the vision for housing and care in Kent.

The statement sets out how Kent County Council and its partners will work with the housing and care accommodation market to support people to live in safe, inclusive communities. The MPS focuses on accommodation-based care and support provided by KCC, but also recognises the council's wider system leadership role.

The document highlights the current state of housing and care provision across Kent, identifies gaps, sets out projected needs and provides clarity on where investment and innovation are required.

The overarching objectives of the market position statement are to:

• Build a shared understanding of current and future accommodation needs across Kent.
• Signal commissioning priorities and investment opportunities.
• Shape a diverse, sustainable market that offers high-quality, inclusive accommodation options.
• Promote independence and prevention.
• Foster innovation and partnerships.
• Strengthen workforce and financial sustainability.

The statement included details of the current and projected demand for the following types of accommodation:

• Supporting people in their own home
• Supported living
• Extra care housing
• Residential
• Eligible children and young people transitioning to adult social care

Adult Social Care Operational Pressures Escalation Plan

The committee was asked to note the Adult Social Care and Health Operational Pressures Escalation Plan 2025/2026, which describes how the council operates within the NHS Integrated Operational Pressures Escalation Levels (OPEL) framework 2024 to 2026.

The plan exists to ensure KCC responds appropriately to surges in demand across the Kent and Medway Health and Social Care System. The objectives of the plan are to provide information about the national operating frameworks and service requirements, describe the monitoring and reporting arrangements in place to provide early warning of surge pressure, inform staff about the national, regional, and local processes and procedures to be used to manage a surge in demand, identify roles and responsibilities for services, teams, and individuals, and describe the actions required in response to surge in demand.

The plan included details of how adult social care works with NHS partners in developing Hospital Discharge pathways and integrated community support services.

Adult Social Care Performance Dashboard

The committee was scheduled to note the performance of adult social care services in Quarter 2 2025/2026. The report provided an update on adult social care activity and performance during Quarter 2 (July to September) for the financial year 2025/2026.

The report noted that contacts and safeguarding concerns were at their highest levels for two years in Quarter 2, with the number of people supported with a mental health need continuing to increase. Adult social care was able to reduce the number of people with an open care needs assessment, care and support plan review or with an open safeguarding enquiry, despite the incoming safeguarding demand. The volume of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards¹ applications were higher than completions, an ongoing trend.

Of the seven Key Performance Indicators, four were RAG rated Green, with ASCH4, people at home 91 days after discharge having received enablement, moving from Amber to Green. None of the indicators are RAG rated Red, with all remaining continuing to be RAG rated Amber.

Adult Social Care and Health Complaints Report

The committee was asked to consider and comment on the content of the Adult Social Care and Health Complaints Report 2024/2025. The report provided an overview of the operation of the complaints and representation procedure for Adult Social Care and Health during 2024/2025. The report included summary data on the complaints, enquiries and compliments received during the year, and examples of the actions taken and improvements made from complaints.

A total of 1064 complaints were logged during 2024/2025 about services delivered or commissioned in relation to ASCH, a 7% increase from the previous year. 503 Enquiries were received in 2024/2025, a 7% increase on the previous year. 604 compliments were received, a 9% increase from the previous year.

KCC aims to respond to 85% of complaints within KCC's Key Performance target of 20 working days. The response time achieved within the 20-day target was 60%, a 2% increase from the previous year.

The reasons for complaints were categorised under the following main Corporate headings: quality of service (33%), policy and procedure (29%), communications (26%), service not provided (7%), staff conduct (3%), and equalities and regulatory (3%).

In 2024/2025, a total of £239,680.60 was paid to people making a complaint as gesture of goodwill payments, financial settlements or reimbursement.

Annual Report on Quality in Public Health

The committee was asked to note and comment on the content of the Public Health Annual Quality Report For 2024/25. The report provided an update on the actions Public Health has taken since the recommendations made in the 2022/2023 report to maintain the promotion of high quality, safe effective services.

A comprehensive review of quality processes in Public Health was conducted in May 2023, focusing on commissioned services, which resulted in 13 key recommendations for improvement. Key areas of improvement included recruitment, the development of a Public Health Quality Assurance Framework, and the revision of the Patient Safety Incident Policy.

The report noted that Public Health services are commissioned in response to the findings of the statutory Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) and additional needs assessments.

Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to note the work programme.