The Adult Social Care and Public Health Cabinet Committee met on Thursday 24 September 2026 to discuss performance updates, review service contracts, and approve revised partnership agreements. Key decisions included the recommissioning of several community wellbeing services, the approval of a new mental health assessment service contract, and the endorsement of a revised Section 75 Partnership Agreement with the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board.

Verbal Updates from Cabinet Members and Directors

Councillor Georgia Foster, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, provided an update on her recent visits to Hedro's Short Break Centre in Staplehurst and the Community Equipment Service Provider MedEquip. She highlighted the positive impact of the refurbishment at Hedro's and praised MedEquip's efficiency in transitioning from their previous provider, NRS. Councillor Foster also promoted the council's Kent Connect to Support website and Know How to Start campaign, encouraging members to share these resources. She also mentioned the Big Conversation on Care initiative, a national consultation on the future of adult social care, and confirmed that the recommissioning of older persons' residential and nursing services had completed procurement and entered the mobilisation phase, with new contracts expected to be operational by January 2027.

Councillor Jamie Henderson, Cabinet Member for Environment, Coastal Regeneration and Public Health, shared his experience visiting Porchlight in East Kent, a charity supporting individuals with homelessness and mental health challenges. He spoke about World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September and the launch of Kent and Medway's suicide and self-harm prevention strategy, encouraging residents to seek support through the Release the Pressure helpline or safe havens. Councillor Henderson also highlighted Know Your Numbers Week and Sexual Health Awareness Week, urging promotion of the council's sexual health services. He discussed the upcoming Stoptober campaign, emphasising the health and financial benefits of quitting smoking, and urged eligible residents to book their flu jabs early for winter preparedness. He also raised concerns about MMR vaccine rates remaining below the World Health Organization's recommended 95% for outbreak prevention.

Dr Anjan Ghosh, Director of Public Health, discussed summer preparedness alongside winter preparedness, mentioning the Health and Wellbeing Board's upcoming meeting and its four priorities: mental health, the MMRT programme, Better Care Fund, and neighbourhood health. He detailed work on age-friendly communities in Ashford, Faversham, and Sevenoaks, including innovation micro-grants and the recruitment of age-friendly ambassadors. Dr Ghosh also announced a stroke prevention pilot in Dartford and Gravesham, focusing on atrial fibrillation testing and health promotion interventions. He highlighted the publication of a carers' needs assessment and ongoing work in substance misuse and addiction, including direct routes into treatment and a gambling harms reduction programme. Dr Ghosh also reported on new sexual health contracts and an evaluation of the online sexual health offer, as well as work on the Marmot programme to monitor the impact of coastal initiatives. Finally, he mentioned the completion of a secondary age children's health needs assessment.

Helen Woodland, Corporate Director of Adult Social Care and Health, spoke about positive meetings with health colleagues and a reset in the relationship with the NHS to improve hospital discharge processes and support independent living. She mentioned a pilot for the Home First project with Dartford and Gravesham Trust, with plans to roll it out across the county. Ms Woodland also highlighted the Kent Care Awards, celebrating frontline carers, and the upcoming Kent Registers Managers Conference. She thanked commissioning and operational staff for their work on the MedEquip contract and emphasised the importance of the council's apprenticeship programmes, noting recent successes in social work and occupational therapy apprenticeships.

Adult Social Care Performance Dashboard

The committee received an update on Adult Social Care performance for April to June 2026. Of the seven Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), three were rated green, two amber, and two red. Councillor Georgia Foster, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, explained that KPI six (residents aged 65 and over in residential care) had downgraded to red due to a revised target aligning with the Reforming Kent strategy's prioritisation of community-based services. KPI seven (KCC-supported people in residential or nursing homes with a CQC rating of Good or Outstanding) also downgraded to red, reflecting a 3% drop out of over 500 homes in Kent.

Helen Groombridge, Adult Social Care and Health Performance Manager, presented further details, noting that repeat contacts to Adult Social Care Connect remained low, waiting times for care needs assessments improved, and review activity reached its highest level in two years. Demand for enablement services remained strong, with significant reductions in needs for those receiving support. Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard applications also reduced. Despite ongoing pressures in areas like safeguarding, Adult Social Care was managing demand and delivering positive outcomes.

During the discussion, Councillor Cass Lucas questioned the reduction in Care Needs Assessment requests, suggesting it might be an opportunity to review the target timeframe. Ms Groombridge explained that the reduction was partly due to preventative work and alternative support offers, and that the same workforce managed assessments and reviews, requiring a balance of resources. Councillor Sydney Nylann raised concerns about safeguarding inquiries not always reaching the statutory Section 42 level, and Ms Groombridge outlined work to understand referral pathways and introduce a notification pathway for providers. Councillor Alex Ricketts inquired about the increase in older people receiving direct payments, and it was confirmed that this has been a long-standing policy objective to promote choice and control, with efforts to support staff in offering this option to older people.

The committee was asked to note the performance updates.

Public Health Performance Dashboard

Victoria Tovey, Assistant Director of Public Health Commissioning, presented the Public Health Performance Dashboard for Quarter 1 of 2026-2027. Six KPIs achieved green status, including excellent performance for the health visiting service, with Kent being a top performer in the South East. Four KPIs were amber, and two were red. Ms Tovey explained that recent transformation programmes, including recommissioning and new contracts, had led to some expected drops in performance, particularly in health checks and new lifestyle services, but performance was expected to improve.

Chris Beale, who is leading the mobilisation of lifestyle services, provided further detail on NHS Health Checks. He acknowledged a significant drop in delivery due to the transition to new provider arrangements and the insourcing of programme management functions. However, he stated that activity levels were expected to return to previous levels by Quarter 2, with a communications campaign planned to boost engagement. Mr Beale also discussed the transition of the smoking cessation service to a new provider, ABL Health Limited, and the successful transfer of the Cessation of Smoking Trial in the Emergency Department (CoSTED) programme.

Councillor Mr Wickett expressed concern about the 20% drop in NHS Health Checks, highlighting their cost-effectiveness and future financial burden. Mr Beale explained the transition to direct contracts with GP practices and the ongoing work to increase invitations and uptake. He also noted that bringing the service in-house had resulted in cost savings. Discussions also covered geographical disparities in health check uptake and measures to address them, including an outreach programme and linking with local pharmacies. Ms Morton inquired about the East Kent provider for the one-use service, which was identified as ABL.

The committee was asked to note the performance of public health commissioned services.

Community Wellbeing Service for Adults with Sensory Needs

Councillor Georgia Foster introduced the proposal to recommission the Community Wellbeing Service for Adults with Sensory Needs. The service supports approximately 25,347 residents and the recommendation was to approve a three-month extension to allow time for re-procurement. The new contract will be for two years with two one-year extensions, at a proposed cost of £1.03 million per year. Georgina Walton, Assistant Director (Adults Commissioning and Partnerships), elaborated that the service contributes to the council's statutory duty under the Care Act to promote wellbeing and prevent, reduce, or delay care needs. Extensive engagement with people with lived experience, providers, and partners had informed the future model, emphasizing the need for a specialist, standalone sensory service.

Councillor Robert Mayall questioned the financial implications of the contract extension, and it was confirmed that the cost would remain the same as the current financial envelope. Ms Foster clarified that the extension was purely to facilitate procurement and transition. Councillor Alex Ricketts asked if the decision to roll over contracts was LGR-heavy, meaning it was being deferred to a successor authority. Ms Foster explained that the extension was necessary for procurement and that the new contract would include provisions for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). It was confirmed that the service is statutory and part of the council's Care Act requirements.

The committee was asked to consider and endorse the proposed decision.

Community Wellbeing Service for Older People, Physical Disability and Dementia

Councillor Georgia Foster introduced the recommissioning of the Community Wellbeing Service for Older People, Physical Disability and Dementia. This service supported 41,500 residents in 2025, and the recommendation was to approve a six-month extension to the contract to allow for procurement and mobilisation of a new two-year contract valued at £2.62 million per year. Georgina Walton explained that the proposed model brings together these services under a strategic partner and service delivery network, providing a single route into the service while retaining specialist support. This approach aims to simplify access, reduce duplication, and improve consistency. The service is funded by public health and considered to provide good value for money.

Councillor Alex Ricketts questioned the financial implications of the six-month extension, and it was confirmed that the cost would reflect contract growth and would be realigned with the Medium Term Financial Plan allocation in the new tender. A mobilisation budget of up to £200,000 was also mentioned, to be funded through savings within the Carers' contract budget. It was clarified that the strategic partner function would be funded separately by Public Health. The committee was asked to consider and endorse the proposed decision.

Mental Health Assessment Service

Councillor Georgia Foster introduced the decision relating to the recommissioning of the Mental Health Assessment Service. This service is part of the council's statutory duty under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). The current contract expires on 30 April 2027. The report highlighted legislative uncertainty following a Supreme Court judgment that changed the definition of deprivation of liberty, potentially reducing the number of residents requiring assessment. Therefore, the new model needs to be resilient and adaptable.

Ben Campbell and Maureen Stewart presented the report, seeking approval to procure a new two-year contract within the existing budget to support compliance with statutory duties and improve timely access to assessments, thereby enhancing outcomes and safeguarding for vulnerable residents. Councillor Alex Ricketts inquired about the cost of the new deprivation of liberty assessments and whether it was absorbed within the contract negotiations. It was explained that the existing budget would be used, but the exact financial implications of the reduced demand were still being quantified. Reassurances were given regarding early safeguarding measures during supplier changes.

The committee was asked to consider and endorse the proposed decision.

Section 75 Legal Partnership Agreement

Councillor Georgia Foster introduced the proposal for the approval of a revised Section 75 Legal Partnership Agreement with the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board, which underpins the Better Care Fund (BCF). The current agreement, established in 2015, required updating due to evolved national guidance and legislation. The revised agreement introduces formal arrangements for dispute resolution, management of breaches, and allows for the incorporation of additional funding streams and future pooled budgets.

Helen Gillivan, Director for Adults and Integrated Commissioning, added that the revised agreement provides a stronger governance framework for managing the BCF pooled budget and clarifies roles and responsibilities between Kent County Council and the Integrated Care Board. A single partnership board, reporting to the Health and Wellbeing Board, will improve transparency, oversight, and decision-making. Councillor Alex Ricketts asked about the role of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee in relation to these arrangements, and the Chair indicated they would seek advice on this. It was confirmed that the proposed decision does not create additional financial commitments or change the value of the Better Care Fund.

The committee was asked to consider and endorse the proposed decision.

Work Programme

The committee noted the work programme for 2026-2027.

The meeting concluded with thanks to all attendees.