The Health and Wellbeing Board of North Northamptonshire Council met on Tuesday 31 March 2026 to discuss a range of important issues affecting the health and wellbeing of residents. Key decisions included the adoption of a new, more compassionate approach to tackling childhood obesity, the approval of a new SEND Joint Commissioning Strategy, and noting progress on the Community Safety Plan.

Northamptonshire Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report

The Board received and noted the Northamptonshire Safeguarding Adults Board (NSAB) Annual Report for 2024-2025. The report detailed the Board's work in safeguarding vulnerable adults, highlighting an increase in self-neglect referrals and the appointment of an independent co-chair. Statistics were presented showing a rise in safeguarding concerns across both North and West Northamptonshire. The Board was informed of NSAB's ongoing work in performance monitoring, themed inspections, and Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs). Strategic themes for the next annual report were being considered, including self-neglect and closer working with partners responsible for safeguarding children. Key transition stages such as prison release and the 17-19-year-old demographic were identified as areas for increased partnership collaboration. The Executive Director of Adults, Health Partnerships, and Housing, North Northamptonshire Council, noted that Care Quality Commission (CQC) local authority assurance reports would be presented to an upcoming NSAB meeting. The Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board offered support for broadening the remit of the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) to include adult safeguarding.

Health and Wellbeing Strategy - Update on Children and Young People

The Board supported a significant shift in approach to the Children and Young People element of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy, moving towards a weight-inclusive compassionate approach. This new approach aims to support children, young people, and families in a sensitive and non-stigmatising manner, focusing on overall health and wellbeing rather than solely on weight. Objectives one, two, and four of the strategy were approved for adjustment to reflect this change. Updates on workstreams included engagement with children, young people, and parents to understand their experiences, a mapping exercise of healthy eating and nutrition services, and the launch of a Healthy Eating Ambassadors pupil leadership scheme in primary schools. The National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) has also been updated to ensure a more compassionate approach. Partnership working has been strengthened, with facilitated sessions planned in Family Hubs. The Board also supported the mobilisation of the Sport England physical literacy movement, rebranding it as Shaping Health Through Movement, to increase participation in physical activity and enhance physical, mental, and social wellbeing, with a focus on those experiencing barriers. Funding has been secured for the Street Tag project in Corby, an app that rewards families for being active.

SEND Joint Commissioning Strategy

The Board approved the SEND Joint Commissioning Strategy for publication. This strategy outlines a shared vision for how organisations within the SEND Local Area Partnership will collaboratively commission services to meet the needs of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) across North Northamptonshire. Key priority areas include expanding and diversifying local specialist provision to reduce reliance on out-of-area placements, strengthening early intervention and SEN Support, investing in workforce development and system capacity, improving data sharing and joint planning, and ensuring equitable access and clear pathways for all children and young people with SEND. The strategy has been developed in collaboration with partners from Northamptonshire Children's Trust, the Integrated Care Board (ICB), and North Northamptonshire Council Children's Services and Public Health. It has also been reviewed by the SEND Accountability and Improvement Board. The strategy aims to deliver better coordination, quicker support, and services designed around the needs of children and their families, fostering an inclusive environment where every child and young person can thrive.

SEND Update Including SEND JSNA Update

The Board noted the progress made against the North Northamptonshire SEND Priority Action Plan (PAP). Steady progress has been observed in leadership, governance, commissioning, and service delivery, with a refreshed strategy and draft outcomes framework in place. Operational improvements are evident in the timeliness and quality of statutory assessments, supported by new systems and parental feedback mechanisms. Early Help and Inclusion initiatives, health service backlog recovery, and Preparing for Adulthood developments are showing positive momentum, although recruitment challenges and capacity constraints continue to impact progress in some areas. Risks related to workforce capacity, sufficiency planning, and governance clarity are being mitigated through strengthened leadership and closer partnership working. The next period will focus on finalising key strategies and frameworks, embedding delivery plans, and sustaining improvements in timeliness and sufficiency. The Board supported the continued multi-agency commitment to delivering sustained improvements across the SEND system.

Better Care Fund Quarterly Update

The Board noted the Better Care Fund's (BCF) performance against the plan for Quarter 3 of 2025/26 and approved the Q3 performance report for submission to NHS England. The Better Care Fund continues to be instrumental in supporting people to live independently and with dignity by integrating health, social care, and housing services. Performance is being monitored against three key metrics: avoidable hospital admissions, delayed hospital discharges, and admissions to long-term residential or nursing care. Unplanned hospital admissions are currently on track, with performance below target plan for October and November. Delayed hospital discharges are also on track, with performance slightly above the planned target but showing improvement. Admissions to long-term residential or nursing care are currently off track, with an admissions rate above the original plan, though efforts are underway to address this through system transformation programmes.

Community Safety Plan

The Board noted the North Northamptonshire Community Safety Plan for 2026-2029 and its five overarching aims: preventing serious harm from violence, knife crime and exploitation; protecting and supporting people from domestic abuse, sexual violence and exploitation; protecting and supporting women and girls; ensuring communities are cohesive and stable; and making neighbourhoods and towns safer for everyone. The plan emphasizes a person-centred, prevention and early intervention approach, effective partnership working, and data-led activity, with a place-based focus. The Board was asked to consider how its partners can contribute to the effective delivery of the plan. The plan has been co-produced with a range of stakeholders, including statutory agencies, the voluntary sector, and local residents.

ICB Consultation on Annual Report

The Board was asked to review the proposed narrative for the health and wellbeing strategy section of the Integrated Care Board's (ICB) Annual Report and Accounts for 2025/26 and provide any comments or feedback. The report highlights the ICB's contribution to the delivery of joint health and wellbeing strategies and its consultation with Health and Wellbeing Boards. The draft content outlines the Northamptonshire Health Inequalities Plan, which aims to increase healthy life expectancies, reduce health inequalities, and improve community cohesion. It also details the role of Health and Wellbeing Boards within the Integrated Care System and their statutory duty to oversee the preparation of Joint Strategic Needs Assessments (JSNAs) and Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategies. The Board was informed that the ICB has engaged with both North and West Northamptonshire Health and Wellbeing Boards regarding the content of this section. The Board could not approve the recommendations without the full context of the ICB Annual Report.