The Adult Social Care, Health and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee of West Northamptonshire Council was scheduled to discuss the future of St Andrews Hospital, the financial sustainability and workforce capacity of the Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board, and the performance of the Council's Adult Social Care function. The meeting was also set to review the committee's work programme.

St Andrews Hospital Briefing

The committee was scheduled to receive an update from the Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust regarding the future of St Andrews Hospital. This briefing was to cover the implications of any changes to the hospital's services on the delivery of mental health services for West Northamptonshire Council. The report pack indicated that NHS England had decided that all NHS commissioners should identify alternative placements for the 287 patients receiving inpatient services at the St Andrew's Healthcare (STAH) Northampton site due to long-term quality issues. The report pack also noted that the STAH Northampton site provided specialised care, including being the only site in the country offering dedicated medium secure care for individuals who are D/deaf. A proposal from NHS England suggested an NHS provider operating from the buildings, with an expectation of approximately 170 patients. The Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) was undertaking a due diligence process to assess its capability to provide safe care at STAH, with a decision from the NHFT board expected on 30 June 2026. If NHFT were to step in, the commencement of services was anticipated for September or October 2026.

Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board - Thematic Scrutiny

The committee was scheduled to receive information from the Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) concerning its Financial Sustainability and System Risk, and Workforce Capacity. This discussion was part of an agreed programme of thematic scrutiny with the ICB. The report pack highlighted that the ICB operates within a refreshed national operating model, acting as strategic commissioners tasked with improving population health outcomes, reducing health inequalities, setting strategy, and ensuring the effective use of NHS resources. The cluster covering West Northamptonshire, Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, has a £5 billion total budget and serves a population of around 2 million people. The strategic commissioning approach involves understanding local context, developing a long-term population health strategy, delivering the strategy through payer functions and resource allocation, and evaluating impact.

Adult Social Care Performance Monitoring Report

The committee was scheduled to consider the quarterly performance of the Council's Adult Social Care function. This would inform ongoing Performance Management Scrutiny and include updates on performance reporting, budgeting, and demand forecasting. Additionally, the Director of Strategic Commissioning was expected to provide input on Care Quality Assurance. The report pack noted that the full report was to follow.

Review of Committee Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to review and note its work programme for the remainder of 2026. The report pack included a draft work programme outlining topics such as the Northamptonshire Suicide Prevention Strategy, the Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board's priorities, and the Adult Social Care Technology Enabled Care and Digital Strategy, which had been discussed at a previous meeting on 22 June 2026. Future items included scrutiny of the Community Safety Partnership Annual Report, a review of Internal Provider Services, and further updates on the Integrated Care Board.

Urgent Business

The Chair was scheduled to advise whether any items of urgent business had been agreed for admission to the agenda.