The Health and Wellbeing Board was scheduled to discuss the progress of the Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) programme and the findings of a report on the experiences of Careline service users. Updates were also expected on the Better Care Fund.

HDRC Year 2 Update

The meeting was scheduled to receive an update on the second year of the Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) programme in Ealing. This programme, funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR), aims to enhance research capacity and capability within local government. Ealing Council was successful in its application to join the HDRC initiative in 2023, becoming one of 30 such collaborations across the UK.

The report pack indicated that Year 2 focused on the Connect and Establish phase, laying the groundwork for the programme. This involved establishing governance, performance, and financial frameworks, as well as initiating structured workstream rhythms and regular meetings. A key element was a baseline assessment of the Cultures of Evidence by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), which provided a starting point for cultural transformation. Strategic relationships were fostered through away days involving academics, community members, and council staff to build a shared vision and trust. The team was also expanded with the recruitment of several key roles, including a research capacity lead, communications lead, participatory research specialist, evaluation specialist, and research data scientist.

The Ealing Community Action Research Initiative, a significant part of the HDRC programme, was also highlighted. This initiative uses a systemic Participatory Action Research (sPAR) approach, led by the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) in partnership with Ealing Council and community and voluntary sector organisations such as Gosad and Southall Community Alliance. Community researchers were recruited and onboarded, and the project was officially launched in January 2025. Researchers received training and ongoing support from IDS experts. By the time of the scheduled meeting, 140 community stories had been collected and collaboratively analysed, leading to the development of a systems map illustrating pathways to both good and poor health outcomes. An action research phase was planned from September 2025 to March 2026, with six action research groups focusing on themes including green spaces, youth spaces, temporary accommodation, domestic violence, and language barriers.

The report pack also detailed progress on data linkage, specifically the Children and Young People (CYP) Data Linkage Project. This project aims to link council data on children's social care and education with the NW London NHS data warehouse (WSIC – Whole System Integrated Care) in collaboration with Imperial College London. The purpose is to build a robust, integrated dataset to support research, service planning, and policy development. Phase 1 linkage was scheduled to be conducted between March and May 2026.

Furthermore, the HDRC evaluation progress was outlined, including the ongoing Cultures of Evidence research project led by LSHTM and the development of a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) framework and plan. A deep dive evaluation of the community action research project was also underway. Training and capacity building efforts included an intensive online course on Measurement, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) and introductory training on Participatory Action Research. A training and capacity building strategy and delivery plan had been approved, with engagement with council teams taking a learning by practice approach. Two academic placements were also scheduled for February-April 2026, one investigating HMO conditions and their impact on mental health, and the other analysing data in children's services.

The report pack indicated that What's gone well in year 2 included strong foundational structures and processes, a strength of collaboration between partners, and a focus on equality, diversity, and inclusion, with community partners actively involved in workstreams and strategy groups. Challenges identified included clearly communicating the vision and purpose of HDRC Ealing, as the programme was still considered intangible for those outside the collaboration, and staff capacity to engage with the HDRC due to existing workloads and the perception of research as a luxury. Plans for Year 3 included continuing the Action Research Group phase, engagement with key teams, building a community of practice, infrastructure development, and transforming into an active research collaboration.

Careline Report from Healthwatch Ealing

The Health and Wellbeing Board was scheduled to receive a report from Healthwatch Ealing detailing the service user experience of Careline. This report was commissioned following concerns raised by the public about the transition of the Careline contract for Ealing residents from Ealing Council to Harrow Council during the 2024-25 fiscal year.

The report's executive summary indicated that discussions with 22 Careline service users and carers, and four Careline staff members, alongside meetings with Careline management at both Ealing and Harrow Councils, formed the basis of the findings. A key finding was that the majority of service users feel safe and independent due to Careline, with 86% stating it enables them to live independently. The transition from Ealing to Harrow reportedly caused very few operational issues, with only one service user reporting practical difficulties related to equipment collection and payments. However, communication about the transition was a significant concern, with many service users unaware it was happening until after it had concluded. Careline response times and support were generally viewed positively, with users reaching staff quickly for non-emergencies and incidents like falls being handled effectively. A notable finding was the low awareness of Careline in the wider community, with many eligible residents having never heard of the service. Frontline staff reportedly enjoy supporting service users but face demanding workloads, and while they felt supported by colleagues and managers, awareness of mental health support services offered by Harrow Council was limited.

The report's key recommendations included strengthening communications about service changes and transitions, increasing public awareness of Careline and its benefits, improving staff wellbeing support and awareness of available mental health services, and continuing Careline's good practice in proactive engagement, such as birthday calls and remote battery checks.

The report pack also included responses to these recommendations from Harrow Council and Ealing Council commissioning teams, outlining existing measures and plans for improvement.

Better Care Fund Verbal Update

A verbal update on the Better Care Fund was also scheduled to be provided. The Better Care Fund is a jointly commissioned fund between NHS England and the Department for Health and Social Care, designed to support the integration of health and social care services to improve outcomes for people in local areas. The specific details of the update were not available in the provided documents.