The Wokingham Borough Health and Wellbeing Board met on Thursday 28 May 2026 to discuss the establishment of the Thames Valley Integrated Care Board (ICB), the Wokingham Better Care Fund Plan for 2026-27, and progress on the Area SEND Reform Plan. Key decisions included noting the ICB update, retrospectively receiving the Better Care Fund Plan, and noting the progress on the SEND Reform Plan.

ICB Update

Helen Clark from the Thames Valley ICB provided an update on its formal establishment, bringing together strategic commissioning responsibilities across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire. The ICB, with a budget of £5.6 billion, will focus on three strategic priorities: commissioning for best value by shifting from activity to outcomes, commissioning for integrated neighbourhood health by joining up services, and commissioning to strengthen the focus on prevention of ill health. Patients will continue to access services as before.

Councillor Susan Parsonage expressed support for the neighbourhood approach and prevention, but sought assurance that the commissioning process would recognise Wokingham's hidden inequalities beyond standard deprivation data. Helen Clark confirmed that local authorities have a vital role in neighbourhood working and prevention, and that the ICB would work with them. She also highlighted that the allocation of the Thames Valley Innovation Fund would consider Wokingham's specific needs. Councillor Stephen Conway raised concerns about the potential impact of the ICB's larger footprint on resource allocation and questioned the relationship between the ICB's footprint and emerging Strategic Authorities. Helen Clark acknowledged that the ICB was mindful of local government reform.

Wokingham Better Care Fund Plan 2026-27

Charlene Thompson, Head of Health and Social Care Integration, presented the Wokingham Better Care Fund (BCF) Plan for 2026-27. The plan, a continuation of the previous year's, has a total investment of £15 million allocated to core services and schemes. This year is considered a planning year to prepare for integrated neighbourhood health. The BCF will continue to focus on reducing hospital discharge delays, avoiding non-elective admissions, supporting independence after hospital discharge, and preventing long-term care admissions for residents aged 65 and over.

Matt Pope, Executive Director for Children, Adults and Health, noted that while performance in Wokingham is generally good, the borough's expansion and ageing population are testing services. He expressed disappointment that the Department of Health and Social Care's updated adult social care funding formula had not been applied to the BCF, potentially creating a shortfall and causing anxiety about future funding. Councillor Stephen Conway echoed these concerns about the inconsistent application of the funding formula and the potential impact on future allocations. Charlene Thompson highlighted the strong relationship with the voluntary sector, which plays a crucial role in delivering BCF-funded services. Councillor Conway stressed the importance of partnership working to maximise resources, especially during times of austerity.

The Board resolved to receive the 2026/27 Wokingham Better Care Fund Numerical Template and Narrative Plan retrospectively for information, following its submission on 19 May 2026.

Update on Progress Against the Area SEND Reform Plan

Emma Cockerell and Jamie Conran provided an update on the development of the local area SEND Reform Plan, which aligns with national reforms and incorporates findings from the Area SEND inspection in January 2026. The plan aims to create a more inclusive system that identifies needs earlier and provides high-quality, consistent support.

Jamie Conran explained that the plan is a collaborative effort, with partners acting as co-owners, and that the Local Authority's role is to convene and coordinate. The timescale for developing the plan is compressed, with a draft submitted by 15 May and the final version due by 19 June to secure investment funding. Workshops have been held to define a collective ambition for inclusion and to design the Expert at Hand service, which will provide additional multidisciplinary support.

Councillor Stephen Conway praised the achievement of submitting the draft plan within the tight deadline and emphasised the importance of partnership working. He raised concerns about the availability of resources for the Expert at Hand service, noting that workforce capacity is a challenge across the country. Jamie Conran acknowledged this challenge and outlined potential solutions, including developing local talent and partnering with universities. Councillor Conway mentioned the Council's strategic partnership with the University of Reading as a potential avenue for support. He also noted that the SEND reforms and their challenges had been discussed at a South East Leaders meeting, and a letter to the Secretary of State was being prepared to outline both support for the reforms and concerns about constraints.

Susan Parsonage inquired about informal feedback received from the Department for Education (DfE) and asked how the Board could assist in addressing inconsistencies across the partnership. Jamie Conran indicated that positive informal feedback had been received on the Expert at Hand model and the overall narrative, though sharper data was needed. He suggested that specific asks of the Board would become clearer as proposed ways forward were outlined. Regarding confidence in having Expert at Hand arrangements in place by September, Jamie Conran expressed confidence in the approach but acknowledged that readiness across all partnerships by that date might be a challenge.

The Board resolved to note the presentation on progress made against the Area SEND Reform Plan.

Forward Programme

The Board considered its forward programme for the remainder of the municipal year. Items for future meetings include updates from the Royal Berkshire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the Neighbourhood Health Plan, the Berkshire & Wokingham Suicide Prevention initiative, and the ICB. The Chair requested that any further items be submitted to himself and the Clerk. The Board resolved to note the forward programme.