The Health and Wellbeing Board was scheduled to meet to discuss a range of topics, including mental health services, dementia strategy, neighbourhood models of care, and pandemic planning. The board was also expected to review the Better Care Fund and the Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy Review

The board was scheduled to consider the final version of the Joint Local Health & Wellbeing Strategy 2022-2032 (JLHWS), which had been reviewed and revised in 2025. The JLHWS sets out the vision, priorities and actions to improve health, care and wellbeing, and reduce health inequalities in Leicestershire.

The JLHWS includes strategic priorities across the life course:

• Best start for life
• Staying healthy, safe and well
• Living and supported well
• Dying well

It also identifies cross-cutting priorities including improved mental health, reducing health inequalities, and health protection and emergency preparedness.

The report pack stated that the majority of the strategy remained relevant and fit for purpose, but refinement was required to enhance clarity, coherence and effectiveness.

LLR SEND and Inclusion Alliance

The Health and Wellbeing Board was scheduled to receive an update on Phase 2 of the work of the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) and Inclusion Alliance (SIA), known as the SEND and Alternative Provision Change Programme Partnership (SEND & AP CPP). The report pack also included the approach to Phase 3 and beyond.

The LLR SIA is the East Midlands representative for the national SEND & AP CPP. The CPP programme is in its final phase and will conclude in March 2026. The LLR SIA vision and strategic priorities beyond the deliverables of the CPP have been co-produced with the LLR Parent Carer Forums and underpinned by Young Researchers Young Voices research (2022-25).

The report pack stated that during 2025 and 2026, the Alliance's primary role would be to co-ordinate:

• the delivery of the national SEND and Alternative Provision Change Programme Partnership;
• the delivery of the LLR SEND Joint Commissioning Strategy;
• the roll-out of the LLR community inclusion programme to deliver the Local Inclusion Support Offer;
• integrated partnership working to improve quality of outcomes and lived experience for children and young people with SEND.

Pandemic Planning

The Health and Wellbeing Board was scheduled to receive an update on pandemic preparedness across LLR. The report pack summarised current planning activity, key learning from recent national and local exercises, and proposed next steps to strengthen multi-agency resilience ahead of future pandemic threats.

The report pack stated that LLR partners have participated in major exercises (Tangra, Solaris, Pegasus) to test and improve pandemic response. These have led to better coordination, refined protocols, and stronger relationships. Plans are regularly reviewed and updated, with roles and responsibilities embedded in Local Resilience Forum structures.

The report pack also stated that a number of risks persist with pandemic planning, including:

• Funding mechanisms for personal protective equipment (PPE), isolation support, accommodation support for homeless people, additional staffing and equipment.
• Sustaining readiness during inter-pandemic periods to avoid capability erosion.
• Workforce fatigue and retention in health and care sectors.
• Building and sustaining public trust, particularly around vaccination
• Addressing health inequalities and protecting vulnerable groups.
• Food, medication and PPE supplies.
• Legal requirements to support some interventions.

Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Joint Living Well Dementia Strategy

The board was scheduled to receive an update on the delivery of the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Joint Living Well Dementia Strategy 2024–2028. The strategy reflects a system-wide commitment to improving outcomes for people affected by dementia. Delivery is co-ordinated through local plans for Leicester City, Leicestershire County, and Rutland, overseen by the LLR Dementia Programme Board.

The report pack stated that the strategy is built around seven pillars:

Preventing Well, Diagnosing Well, Supporting Well, Living Well, Dying Well, Leading Well, and Monitoring Well

The report pack also stated that dementia diagnosis rates in Leicestershire have averaged 64% over the last 12 months, against a national target of 66.7%.

Neighbourhood Models of Care

The board was scheduled to receive an update on the neighbourhood actions taking place across Leicestershire, Northampton and Rutland (LNR) and to share the Leicestershire respiratory Story, and the work of the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP).

The report pack stated that in 2025 NHS England published Neighbourhood Health Guidelines regarding the need to move to a neighbourhood health service that will deliver more care at home or closer to home, improve people's access, experience and outcomes, and ensure the sustainability of health and social care delivery.

The report pack also stated that West Leicestershire was one of 43 places chosen to take part in the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP). The West Leicestershire footprint includes Hinckley, Bosworth, North West Leicestershire and Charnwood.

Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner

The board was scheduled to receive an overview of health-related activities commissioned, grant-funded or provided as part of the responsibilities of the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland (LLR).

The report pack stated that the OPCC makes a contribution of £111,856.00 per annum to the county's substance use treatment service (provided by Turning Point). The OPCC additionally funds a Drug Test on Arrest (DToA) facility based in custody suites, whereby offenders presenting with trigger offences (typically acquisitive crimes) are tested by custody officers for use of Class A drugs, and those with a positive result are offered a treatment intervention by Turning Point through the Required Assessment Process.

The report pack also stated that the OPCC contributes £77,934.00 to Leicestershire & Rutland Children & Young Peoples Justice Service (CYPJS).

Better Care Fund

The board was scheduled to receive the quarter 2, 2025/26 template report of the Better Care Fund (BCF). The report sets out performance against BCF metric targets, spend and activity and statements as to whether the national conditions continue to be met.

The report pack stated that the BCF plan for 2025/26 for Leicestershire was officially approved by NHS England in June 2025.

The report pack also stated that the template consists of tabs that update progress against the following:

• Whether the four national conditions detailed in the Better Care Fund planning requirements for 2025-26 continue to be met through the delivery of the plan.
• A confidence assessment on achieving the metric targets for each of the BCF metrics which includes a brief commentary outlining any goals met or challenges faced in achieving the target along with any support needs and successes that have been achieved. It also provides an opportunity to revise any targets published in the 2025/26 plan.
• An update against income and expenditure.