The Joint Health & Wellbeing Board meeting was scheduled to cover progress on accessible and quality health services, an update on the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, and a verbal update on the Better Care Fund. The meeting was due to be held at the Beethoven Centre¹ and hosted by Councillor Josh Rendall, Lead Member for Adult Social Care & Public Health, and Councillor Nafsika Butler-Thalassis.

Ambition 7: Accessible, Quality Services

The board was scheduled to review progress on Ambition 7 of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy:

accessible, quality services that meet the needs of those who require them are crucial to health and wellbeing.

The report pack included an overview of national and regional policy changes, local developments, and programme status, with a focus on the Bi-Borough Neighbourhood Health development.

According to the report pack, having access to the right care at the right time is key for residents, but they may face barriers to accessing essential services due to factors such as language, cultural differences, financial constraints and digital exclusion. The report pack stated that feedback from global majority communities points to the need for greater representation and understanding within service design and delivery, including offering interpretation services, respecting cultural dietary requirements, and acknowledging different health beliefs and practices.

The report pack also stated that the development of Neighbourhood Health (formally described as Integrated Neighbourhood Teams) has been a key Place-based Partnership priority across recent years, and that in August 2025, the Bi-Borough was accepted onto Wave 1 of the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP).

The Integrator function, as set out in the London Target Operating Model, was also scheduled for discussion. It was proposed that Central London Community Healthcare (CLCH) will act as the 'Host' Integrator on behalf of the Bi-Borough, hosting functions including Geography and Estates, Population Health Management, Information Sharing, Governance and Resource Allocation. London Medical Associates (LMA) West London GP Federation will host the Models of Care Function, whilst Healthcare Central London (HCL) - Westminster GP Federation - will host Access & Technology and Metrics. One Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea Social Council will host the Participation function.

The report pack also included information on Family Hubs, stating that both boroughs have established a robust Family Hub offer over more than five years, with five main hubs strategically located in areas of highest need and deprivation. The Best Start in Life Programme, announced by Government in summer 2025, was also mentioned, with the initiative targeting children aged 2½ to 5 years, aiming to improve the proportion of children assessed as having a good level of development (GLD) in their first year at school.

Joint Strategic Needs Assessment Update

The board was scheduled to discuss the latest version (Autumn 2025) of the Borough Stories, a key product of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA). The Borough Stories provide an overview of the health and wellbeing needs of residents and communities in Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea.

Key messages from the Borough Stories include:

• The boroughs are incredibly diverse and vibrant.
• Many residents are in good health, with some of the highest proportion of residents in England reporting their health as Very Good and some of the highest life expectancy in the country.
• There is variation across each of the boroughs, with gaps in life expectancy and health outcomes by area, ethnicity, and income, and health is closely associated with deprivation.
• There is an ageing population, with residents spending around a fifth of their lives in poor health.
• Prevalence of obesity is high in both adults and children.
• Mental health and wellbeing is an important issue across the life course for both boroughs.
• Screening and vaccination rates are among the lowest in the country.

The board was also scheduled to discuss recently completed thematic JSNA reports (from 2024/25) with key messages or recommendations, and those currently in progress, including:

• Global Majority JSNA
• Grenfell JSNA Refresh 2024
• Sexual Health JSNA
• Healthy Weight JSNA
• Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) 2025-2028
• Sex Workers JSNA
• Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
• LGBTQIA+ JSNA
• Health Visiting JSNA

Better Care Fund Q2 Submission

The board was scheduled to receive a verbal update on the Better Care Fund Quarter 2 Submission.

Other items

The agenda also included:

• Approval of the minutes from the previous meeting on 25 September 2025².
• Questions from the audience.
• Confirmation of the date of the next meeting as 26 February 2026, to be hosted by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.