The Adult Social Care and Public Health Cabinet Committee met on Wednesday, 8 July 2026, to discuss a range of important issues concerning the provision of adult social care and public health services across Kent. Key discussions included the extension of the Every Day Life Activities contract to ensure continuity of support for over 1,000 residents, and the recommissioning of vital suicide prevention services. The committee also reviewed performance dashboards, public health campaigns, and the ongoing Care Quality Commission (CQC) improvement plan.

Verbal Updates from Cabinet Members and Directors

Councillor Georgia Foster, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, provided an update on her initial weeks in the role, highlighting visits to refurbished facilities like Cliftonville Library with its new changing places facility, Westview Integrated Care Centre in Tenterden, and Milton Hague day services in Gravesham. She also acknowledged Carers Week, Learning Disability Week, and Loneliness Awareness Week, emphasizing the invaluable contributions of unpaid carers and the importance of inclusion for people with learning disabilities.

Councillor Jamie Henderson, Cabinet Member for Environment, Coastal Regeneration and Public Health, focused on public health matters. He offered advice on staying safe during heatwaves, including hydration and sun protection. He also discussed visits to drug and alcohol treatment services, Change, Grow, Live, and the Forward Trust in Thanet, highlighting the hope and gratitude expressed by individuals escaping dependency. Councillor Henderson also mentioned Alcohol Awareness Week and the upcoming Men B meningitis B vaccination programme for eligible students.

Dr Anjan Ghosh, Director of Public Health, reinforced the advice on heatwaves and provided an update on the Health and Wellbeing Board, which was preparing to discuss new terms of reference and the neighbourhood health plan. He mentioned the council's ongoing CQC inspection, expressing optimism for a positive outcome. Specific initiatives highlighted included Ashford, Faversham, and Sevenoaks joining the UK Age Friendly Communities Network, a new postural stability replacement service, and the launch of the Parent and Infant Relationship Service (PAIRS). Dr Ghosh also detailed progress in mental health initiatives, including a new healing-centered systems leaders program, an annual public health report on mental health, and a new suicide and self-harm strategy. Lifestyle services, including the Wanyu service, and work on hospital discharge pathways and hypertension were also discussed.

Helen Woodland, Corporate Director for Adult Social Care and Health, shared her initial impressions after three days in the role. She praised the dedicated workforce and the significant progress made in adult social care, noting the ongoing work on hospital discharge pathways and the review of commissioning and procurement contracts to improve quality and value for money. She acknowledged the rising demand in adult social care as a national trend that requires ongoing focus.

Public Health Performance Dashboard

Victoria Tovey presented the Quarter 4 performance report for Public Health Commissioned Services, covering January to March 2026. She noted that overall performance was generally positive, despite some dips due to ongoing transformation programs and new IT systems. Out of 14 key performance indicators (KPIs), four were rated as green (achieved target), six as amber (met minimum standard), and one as red (below target). Councillor Ricketts raised concerns about the One You Kent service's performance in deprived areas and the transition to SMS invitations for NHS Health Checks. Victoria Tovey explained the rationale behind the KPI changes and the transition to SMS, emphasizing the aim for more relevant data and improved efficiency. The committee noted the performance report.

Update on Public Health Campaigns and Communications

Jo Allen provided an overview of the public health campaigns and communications activity undertaken in 2025-26, aligned with core public health outcomes. She explained that these campaigns aim to build capability, motivation, and opportunity for behaviour change, with the ultimate goal of reducing long-term dependency on services and improving health outcomes. Councillor Hood requested more benchmarking data for website visits and questioned the targeting of communications for the One You Kent service. Jo Allen acknowledged the need for clearer links between campaign activity and priority areas in future reporting. The committee noted the review of public health communications and campaigns.

Suicide Prevention Services

Councillor Henderson introduced the item on suicide prevention services, highlighting that suicide remains a significant and often preventable cause of death in Kent and Medway. He emphasized the importance of coordinated action and the continuity of high-quality suicide prevention and bereavement support services, which are linked to the forthcoming Kent and Medway suicide and self-harm prevention strategy (2026-2030). Jess Mukherjee, Sam Spiller, and Sophie Kemsley presented the report, seeking agreement to recommission these services from 1 April 2027. The proposal covers a specialist suicide bereavement service and suicide prevention training workshops, with contracts for an initial three-year term, extendable for up to 24 months. Councillor Lucas raised concerns about potential service disruption during periods of service change, but assurances were given regarding continuity and robust measurement of KPIs. Trevor Shonk inquired about the suicide rates, and it was confirmed that while rates have seen a steady drop over the years in Kent, national rates are increasing, with males completing suicide at a higher rate than females. The committee was asked to endorse the proposed decision to procure and award new contracts for these vital services.

Care Quality Commission (CQC) Improvement Plan

Councillor Georgia Foster introduced the update on the CQC Improvement Plan. Members were reminded that the authority received an overall rating of Requires Improvement following the CQC assessment in October 2024. The report detailed progress made in addressing the CQC's findings, with efforts now more focused and supported by enhanced performance oversight. Councillor Hood questioned the presentation of the improvement plan, seeking more detail in future reports. Councillor Kitts expressed concern about ensuring long-term embedding of changes beyond just preparing for inspections. Michael Thomas-Sam suggested consolidating various improvement plans into a single transformation plan for future reporting. The committee noted the improvements to date and future improvement activity.

Work Programme

Maya Bundy presented the work programme for 2026-27. Discussions regarding the work programme were scheduled to take place at the agenda setting meeting on 5 August. The committee noted the work programme.

Every Day Life Activities Contract Extension

Councillor Georgia Foster and Georgina Walton introduced the proposal to extend the Every Day Life Activities (EDLA) contract. This contract, which commenced in October 2022, supports over 1,000 working-age adults with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, or mental health needs, helping them develop independence, skills, and community access. The current contract expires on 30 September 2026, and the decision was to use one of the two permissible two-year extensions to maintain service continuity while the council undertakes a comprehensive redesign and recommissioning of the service. Councillor Ricketts praised the John Graham Centre, a provider within his division. Councillor Shonk supported the extension, emphasizing the importance of looking after residents. The committee noted the proposal to extend the contract.