The Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee of North Northamptonshire Council met on Tuesday 29 September 2026 to review the Director of Public Health's Annual Report and the Northamptonshire Safeguarding Adults Board's Annual Report. The committee noted the Director of Public Health's Annual Report and requested an update on progress against its recommendations by September 2027. They also noted the Northamptonshire Safeguarding Adults Board's Annual Report and requested a similar update on its strategic plan by September 2027.

Director of Public Health Annual Report 2025-26

The committee received the Director of Public Health's Annual Report for 2025-26, which focused on the Health and Wellbeing Strategy's priorities of Mental Health and Wellbeing, Children and Young People, and Financial Resilience, with updates on Smoking and Vaping, and Keeping Active. Councillors raised questions regarding the financial details of the report, seeking clarity on how public health grant funding was allocated across the different priority areas. Officers explained that the report's financial overview on page 58 provided broad categories of spending, and that national reporting requirements influenced how expenditure was presented. They acknowledged the difficulty in quantifying the long-term financial impact of public health interventions and committed to providing more detailed financial information to the committee.

The report highlighted significant work in mental health, including a co-produced male suicide prevention campaign and the development of smoking cessation support for individuals with severe mental illness. For children and young people, the focus was on a compassionate, weight-inclusive approach to addressing childhood obesity, alongside improvements in oral health initiatives. Financial resilience efforts centred on developing a Theory of Change model and mapping the support ecosystem to identify gaps and barriers. The committee discussed the importance of measuring outcomes and the challenges in demonstrating the return on investment for certain public health initiatives. They also noted the need for a more balanced report that acknowledges both successes and areas for improvement.

The committee resolved to note the Director of Public Health's Annual Report and requested an update on progress against its recommendations by September 2027, including measurable evidence of changes in health and wellbeing outcomes and progress in reducing health inequalities.

Northamptonshire Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2025-26

The committee reviewed the Northamptonshire Safeguarding Adults Board (NSAB) Annual Report for 2025-26. David Watts, Executive Director of Adults and Health Partnerships, presented the report, highlighting the board's focus on prevention, making safeguarding personal, and quality. He noted the increasing complexity of safeguarding cases, often involving multiple interrelated factors, and the ongoing challenge of measuring outcomes effectively. The report detailed achievements in strengthening governance, developing a new strategic plan, and improving workforce development, with a particular emphasis on self-neglect.

Councillors raised questions about the timing of the report, given that the strategic plan for 2026-2029 had already been developed. Mr Watts explained that the report covers the financial year and that the board's plans are agile and can be adapted. Concerns were also raised about the limited reference to the voluntary sector's role in safeguarding adults, to which Mr Watts clarified that while the voluntary sector plays a crucial role in community support, the NSAB's statutory duty is to assure itself that statutory partners are fulfilling their safeguarding roles.

The committee discussed the process for safeguarding adults reviews, the challenges of intervening when individuals have the mental capacity to refuse support, and the concept of rebalancing the system. The report also detailed work on self-neglect, including a summit and practitioner forums, and the challenges of distinguishing between self-neglect and personal choice. The appointment of an independent co-chair was highlighted as a positive step in strengthening challenge and accountability.

The committee resolved to note the contents of the NSAB Annual Report and Impact Report, and requested an update on the delivery of the NSAB Strategic Plan 2026-2029 by September 2027, including performance against the multi-agency safeguarding dashboard and evidence of improvements from learning reviews.

Health Scrutiny Work Programme 2026-27

The committee noted the Health Scrutiny Work Programme for 2026-27, which outlines the topics to be discussed at future meetings. The next meeting is scheduled for 17 November 2026.