The Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee of Waltham Forest Council met on Tuesday, 10 March 2026, to discuss several key areas concerning public health and adult social care services. The meeting's agenda included updates on vaccination and screening programmes, the progress of the Befriending Service, the ongoing Adult Services Transformation Programme, and a review of the committee's scrutiny activities.

Health Protection, Vaccination and Screening Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the performance of vaccination, immunisation, and screening programmes across Waltham Forest. The report indicated that while overall coverage is broadly in line with London averages, it falls below national averages for several key programmes. Progress has been noted in bowel cancer screening and flu vaccination uptake, but concerns remain regarding Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) second dose, pre-school boosters, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination, and Covid-19 vaccination. Significant inequalities in uptake persist, linked to factors such as deprivation, ethnicity, and vulnerability, which heighten the risk of infectious disease outbreaks and exacerbate health inequalities. The report highlighted specific data on vaccination coverage for children under five, school-aged children, seasonal vaccinations (Covid-19 and flu), and bowel cancer screening, noting areas where uptake is below optimal levels and identifying persistent inequalities. The committee was asked to note the performance, inequalities, and risks, and consider if further scrutiny of specific programmes would be beneficial. The report also detailed the schedules for Vaccination, Immunisation and Screening Strategic Oversight Group meetings, routine childhood immunisations, changes to the immunisation schedule, and routine screening programmes.

Update on Waltham Forest's Befriending Service

An update was provided on the adults befriending service, delivered by Lifeline Community Projects, which commenced on 1 April 2025. The service aims to reduce social isolation and strengthen independence and resilience for adults aged 18 and over. Since its mobilisation, Lifeline has reportedly made strong progress in establishing a flexible and responsive service, contributing to Waltham Forest's wider prevention and early intervention efforts. The report detailed the service's performance, including the number of relationships started, hours of contact delivered, and referral sources. It also outlined the demographics of service users and volunteers, highlighting the comprehensive training provided to befrienders and the emphasis on personalised matching. The report noted areas for development, such as clearer communication regarding referral outcomes and the need for more flexible, hybrid support options, with Lifeline responding constructively to feedback. Case studies and quotes from befrienders and befriendees were included to illustrate the positive impact of the service on wellbeing and community connection.

Adult Services Transformation Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the three-year transformation of adult social care services. This programme aims to improve residents' experience in accessing support and enhance the sustainability of the service, while also addressing areas for improvement identified by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The transformation builds on existing savings activities and aligns with the Medium-Term Financial Strategy. The overall ambition for the service includes a greater focus on prevention, a more impactful short-term offer for maximising independence, reinforcing strengths-based practice, commissioning new service options for efficiency and quality, and improving IT systems. The report outlined the principles guiding the new operating model, such as a prevention focus, promoting independence, strengths-based practice, a strong provider sector, effective data and systems, and robust safeguarding. The programme is structured around four workstreams, with oversight from the Adults Transformation Board. The committee was asked to review the information and provide commentary and guidance on the way forward.

The Scrutiny Report

This item provided an update on the committee's forward plan and outstanding actions. The committee was invited to review the Forward Plan for the remainder of the municipal year, consider suggestions for future work programmes, and comment on the Action Tracker and Recommendations Tracker from the previous meeting. The report detailed the process for capturing and tracking actions and recommendations, with completed items being removed from the working trackers. It also outlined the process for identifying and prioritising future scrutiny items using a prioritisation tool. Key decisions falling under the committee's remit that were scheduled for upcoming Cabinet meetings were also listed. The report included the committee's draft forward plan for the 2025-26 cycle, detailing proposed items and their rationale, alongside an action log and recommendations log from previous meetings. Responses to specific actions, including those related to safeguarding for home-schooled children and helpful tools for accessing services, were also provided.