The Warwickshire Health and Wellbeing Board met on Wednesday 13 May 2026 to approve the Warwickshire Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2026-31, and to endorse the Warwickshire Joint Statement of Intent to Tackle Homelessness. The Board also reviewed and noted updates on the Neighbourhood Health Framework, the Better Care Fund Plan 2026/27, and the Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2021-2026 Delivery Plan.

Warwickshire Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2026-31

The Board reviewed and approved the Warwickshire Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy for 2026-31. This strategy, developed collaboratively with partners across Warwickshire, aims to improve health outcomes, prevent ill health, and reduce inequalities through a life course approach. Key priorities include creating conditions for good mental health and wellbeing, particularly for children and young people; tackling the factors that cause poverty and lead to health inequalities; and supporting people to move more and eat well. The strategy will guide collective action until 2031, with local delivery plans to be developed by Warwickshire's three place partnerships: Warwickshire North, Rugby Place, and South Warwickshire. Concerns were raised regarding the lack of explicit financial implications in the strategy, with assurances given that resourcing would be detailed in the place-based delivery plans.

Neighbourhood Health Framework

The Board received an update on the Neighbourhood Health Framework, published in March 2026, which sets out a national direction for shifting care towards community-based, preventative, and integrated models. The framework emphasises the role of Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs) as the cornerstone for delivery. Warwickshire has established strong foundations for this work, including the adoption of the King's Fund model in 2020 and the development of Care Collaboratives. The Integrated Care Board has commissioned SWFT as the lead provider for the Community Integrator contract, which includes the development of INTs. Eight INTs are planned across three places in Warwickshire, serving approximately 658,001 people. The Board confirmed its commitment to providing strategic leadership in ensuring wider determinants of health are integrated into neighbourhood health planning and delivery. Councillor Jerry Roodhouse suggested redefining end of life care to palliative pathways to better reflect the quality of life for individuals.

Better Care Fund Plan 2026/27

Warwickshire's Better Care Fund (BCF) plan for 2026/27 was presented for consideration and endorsement. This plan outlines how NHS and local authority partners will use pooled funding to support integrated preventative health and care services, aligning with the emerging neighbourhood health approach. The plan is largely a rollover from previous years, continuing to fund core demand pressures on social care and community services, as well as key prevention and early intervention activities. A key change for this year is the requirement to evidence how the BCF supports intermediate care and integrated neighbourhood health services. The plan covers a total budget of £468 million, with £80 million in pooled contributions. The Board endorsed the plan for submission to the Department of Health and Social Care. Discussions included the allocation of the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) across different districts, with queries raised about the disparity in funding for Nuneaton compared to other areas, which was attributed to historical formulas.

Warwickshire Joint Statement of Intent to Tackle Homelessness

The Board endorsed the Warwickshire Joint Statement of Intent to Tackle Homelessness. This statement replaces the previous homelessness strategy and reaffirms the commitment of statutory partners to collaborate on preventing and reducing homelessness, with a renewed focus on prevention, health, and addressing the wider causes of homelessness. The statement highlights the significant health inequalities experienced by homeless individuals, noting that poor health can cause homelessness and vice versa. Key areas of focus include improving health outcomes for those at risk of or experiencing homelessness, enhancing homelessness prevention services, addressing domestic abuse and its link to homelessness, providing better housing and support for offenders, and increasing the supply of affordable housing. Concerns were raised about the impact of changes in landlord legislation and the shrinking private rental sector on homelessness.

Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2021-2026 Delivery Plan

The Board received the final progress update on the Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2021-2026, which is now in its final year of delivery. The strategy's three priorities are: helping children have the best start in life; improving mental health and wellbeing with a focus on prevention and early intervention; and reducing inequalities in health and wider determinants of health. The report detailed progress across various programmes, including Adult Social Care, the Better Care Fund, Children and Young People's Partnership, and specific place-based initiatives. The final update covers the period from September 2024 to May 2026, with prospective updates for the final months of the strategy. The next Health and Wellbeing Board meeting will consider the new strategy for 2026-31.