The Adults & Health Scrutiny Panel of Haringey Council was scheduled to discuss safeguarding concerns, the council's financial position, and quality assurance activities. The meeting's agenda also included a review of the Haringey Safeguarding Adults Board's annual report and learning from a community equipment provider failure.

Safeguarding: Group-Based Child Sexual Abuse Data

The panel was scheduled to receive an analysis report from the Metropolitan Police (North Area BCU) concerning group-based child sexual abuse (CSA) offending in Haringey Borough. This discussion was intended to scrutinise crime data and understand the nature of this offending. The topic followed previous safeguarding discussions at the Children & Young People's Scrutiny Panel and the Adults & Health Scrutiny Panel, focusing on the Haringey Safeguarding Children Partnership (HSCP) Annual Report 2024-25 and the Haringey Safeguarding Adults Board (HSAB) Annual Report 2024-25 respectively. Queries relevant to the panel's remit, including safeguarding vulnerable adults, transitions for young people aged 14-25, and Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWG), were anticipated. A report for this item was expected to follow.

Finance Update - Q2 2025/26

A report detailing the council's financial position at the end of Quarter 2 of the 2025/26 financial year was scheduled for consideration. This report, originally published for the Cabinet meeting on 9th December 2025, required members to scrutinise areas within the panel's remit, specifically Adult Social Care and Public Health. The report indicated a forecast overspend on the General Fund of £23.4m, though this represented an improvement since Quarter 1. Significant pressures were noted in demand-led services such as Adult Social Care and Temporary Accommodation. The report also detailed the financial position of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), with an overspend of £3.1m, primarily in the High Needs Block, and the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), which was projecting an underspend of £514,000. The capital programme was also reviewed, with a forecast spend of £160.9m for the General Fund and £281.9m for the HRA. The report highlighted the council's reliance on Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) and outlined the ongoing Finance Response and Recovery Plans aimed at restoring financial resilience.

Quality Assurance/CQC Overview

The panel was set to receive details of recent quality assurance activities undertaken in Haringey. A report for this item was expected to follow.

Community Equipment - Learning from Provider Failure

This item was scheduled to discuss the learning derived from a significant provider failure within the community equipment service. A report indicated that a direct award of contract had been made to Provide Care Solutions Ltd, and an eight-borough partnership, the North London Equipment Partnership, had been formed. Key learning points highlighted included the need for earlier financial insight into providers and the aim for longer-term efficiencies through partnership arrangements.

Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman - Upheld Complaints

This item was to be heard in two parts. Part A focused on a public report by the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) following an investigation into an Adult Social Care complaint. The council had acknowledged the seriousness of the LGSCO's findings, accepted responsibility for errors, and apologised. An Adult Social Care Improvement Plan was in place, and an external review was commissioned to verify improvements in practice. Part B provided an overview of Adult Social Care complaints, noting the service's journey of improvement in managing and learning from complaints, and the introduction of a new Complaints Manager role.

Safeguarding: Group-Based Child Sexual Abuse (CSA Data)

The panel was scheduled to receive an analysis report from the Metropolitan Police (North Area BCU) to scrutinise crime data and understand group-based child sexual abuse offending in Haringey Borough. This discussion was intended to follow up on previous safeguarding discussions at other scrutiny panels.

Dates of Future Meetings

The panel was to be informed of the dates for future meetings in 2026/27, with the next meeting scheduled for 9th February 2026.