The Health and Adults Care Scrutiny Panel of Hounslow Council was scheduled to discuss feedback from a site visit to Multi-Disciplinary Teams at the Heart of Hounslow PCN, and to consider developing effective recommendations for the council's adult social care provision. The meeting also included a workshop to develop findings and recommendations, and a survey for members to suggest topics for the upcoming work programme.

Feedback from Site Visit to Multi-Disciplinary Teams at the Heart of Hounslow PCN

The panel was scheduled to receive feedback from a site visit to the Multi-Disciplinary Teams (MDTs) at the Heart of Hounslow PCN¹. This visit aimed to gather insights into the operational aspects and effectiveness of these teams in delivering integrated health and social care services within the borough.

Developing Effective Recommendations

A presentation was scheduled to focus on the process of developing effective recommendations. This would likely cover how the panel can formulate actionable suggestions for the council based on their scrutiny work. The report pack indicates that this session would draw on feedback from the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny regarding Hounslow's scrutiny function, and would outline a suggested process for developing recommendations, including the importance of engaging with the executive and council partners. Examples of both effective and ineffective scrutiny recommendations were also to be presented, along with guiding principles for their creation.

Workshop to Develop Findings and Recommendations

Following the presentation on developing recommendations, a workshop was planned to translate the panel's findings into concrete proposals. This session would build upon the evidence collected during the panel's deep dive into the council's approach to commissioning and contract management for adult social care services for individuals aged 18 and over. The report pack details that this would include an executive summary of the relevant report, a calendar of the year's meetings and engagements, and an overview of the current council approach to commissioning, including an annual spend of £82.1 million on commissioned adult social care services. The challenges facing adult social care, such as an ageing population, funding shortfalls, increasing complex care needs, and the cost-of-living crisis, were also to be discussed. Benchmarking data was to be presented, highlighting Hounslow's adult social care spend per person and unit costs in comparison to other London boroughs. Demand projections for adult social care placements, with an anticipated 29% increase by 2040, were also on the agenda. The importance of preventative services was to be emphasised, with a note that Hounslow has protected more non-statutory preventative services than some other boroughs, although expenditure on floating support and supported housing is relatively low. The panel was to consider draft recommendations, including stronger reporting mechanisms for contract issues, continued investment in care facilities, deeper engagement with community and voluntary groups, and continued investment in early intervention and preventative care.

Members Survey and Suggested Topics for the Work Programme in 2026/27

The panel was scheduled to discuss the members' survey and suggested topics for the work programme for the upcoming year, 2026/27. This agenda item provides an opportunity for panel members and co-opted members to propose areas of focus for future scrutiny activities, ensuring the panel's work remains relevant and responsive to emerging issues within health and adult social care in Hounslow.