The Bexley Health and Wellbeing Board was scheduled to meet to discuss the Better Care Fund, the Autism Strategy, the Families First Programme, health and care reforms, and sexual and reproductive health. The board was also expected to discuss public questions and items for information and any other business.

Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham, Bexley and Bromley Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV Strategy

The board was scheduled to consider adopting the jointly developed Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham, Bexley and Bromley Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV Strategy 2025-2030 (LSLBB Strategy). The LSLBB Strategy sets out a unified vision for improving outcomes and reducing disparities across South East London, aligning with the London Mayor's ambition of zero HIV-related stigma, zero new HIV transmissions and zero HIV-related deaths by 2030.

The strategy is built around four main themes:

• Healthy and fulfilling sexual relationships
• Improving reproductive health
• Reducing the rates of sexually transmitted infections
• Preventing and living well with HIV

The strategy recognises that some groups are more affected by poor sexual and reproductive health, including people under 25, gay and bisexual men, people from minority ethnic backgrounds, and other marginalised groups.

Better Care Fund Quarter 2 Return

The board was expected to sign off Bexley's Better Care Fund (BCF) Return for Quarter 2 2025/26, which was submitted to the BCF National Team on 31 October 2025. The BCF aims to support local systems to deliver integrated health and social care. The Quarter 2 BCF Return confirms compliance with all national conditions, reports on progress against the BCF metrics and provides a financial overview.

At the time of submission of the BCF Quarter 2 return, some of the data required to assess progress against the BCF metrics was not yet available. Progress against the three main BCF metrics was summarised as:

• Emergency admissions of people aged 65 and over: July recorded 938 admissions (above plan of 884), August 904 (below plan of 931) and September 857 (below plan of 881).
• Discharge delays: Same-day discharge performance exceeded 90% in July and August. However, the average number of days from Discharge Ready Date to discharge (excluding 0-day delays) increased from 7.10 days in July to 8.44 days in August, above the target of 7.10 days.
• Admissions of older people (65+) to care homes: Provisional data shows 91 admissions year-to-date, equating to 218 per 100,000 population, compared to a planned rate of 263.5.

Autism Strategy - Progress Update

The board was scheduled to note the actions progressed since the launch of the Autism strategy and review the RAG rated Autism strategy action plan. Bexley's Autism Strategy was approved on 26 September 2024 by the Bexley Wellbeing Partnership and Public Cabinet on 24 October 2024. The Autism Partnership Board and the PFA/SEND Board are responsible for the delivery of the action plan aligned to the strategy.

The Bexley Autism Strategy has a vision that:

'Autistic people of all ages in Bexley are valued, supported and empowered to thrive as individuals.'

To work towards this vision the strategy has five priority areas:

• Raising Awareness Autistic people feel valued, understood and part of our community.
• Autistic people have good access to support and services to thrive as individuals.
• There are more opportunities for autistic people to be heard and to influence change in Bexley.
• Autistic people have better health and wellbeing.
• Autistic people have better access to education and employment.

Bexley Wellbeing Partnership – Health and Care Reforms

The board was expected to note and provide feedback on the proposed governance review process for the Bexley Health & Wellbeing Board and the Bexley Wellbeing Partnership, ahead of implementation in the 2026/27 financial year. They were also scheduled to endorse the proposed approach and timelines for reviewing and endorsing health strategies and plans in the immediate term (2025/26), including the development of the Local Neighbourhood Plan aligned with Joint Local Health & Wellbeing Strategy and Bexley Joint Forward Integrated Plan.

The NHS 10-Year Health Plan sets out a major shift toward prevention, neighbourhood-based care, and a streamlined NHS structure focused on strategic commissioning through Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). Health & Wellbeing Boards (HWBs) will play a central role, leading neighbourhood health planning, overseeing the Better Care Fund, and ensuring that ICB strategies reflect local needs identified through Joint Strategic Needs Assessments and Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategies.

Families First Programme

The board was scheduled to receive a presentation on the new Families First Programme (FFP). The Families First Partnership (FFP) is a national programme launched by the Department for Education to support local safeguarding partners in delivering key reforms to children's social care. It aims to create a more joined-up, family focused system that provides the right help at the right time—keeping children safe and strengthening families.

Public Questions

The agenda included an opportunity for any person whose name appears in the Register of Electors for the London Borough of Bexley to ask a question. The question must be relevant to the work of the Board and its Orders of Reference¹ in force at the time the meeting agenda was issued.

Items for Information and Any Other Business

The agenda noted that at the time the meeting agenda was published there were three items for consideration:

• Joint Strategic Needs Assessment Survey - As part of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA), a survey is currently available on the Council's website which seeks to gain a shared understanding of what affects people's health and wellbeing in our area.
• Healthwatch Annual Report 2024/25 - The Healthwatch Annual Report for 2024/25 was attached for information.
• Workplan 2025/26 - The Board's workplan for 2025/26 was attached and Board members were invited to amend/add to it as required.