The Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to consider a range of important reports at its upcoming meeting. Key discussions are expected to focus on the annual reports from the Camden Safeguarding Adults Board and Healthwatch Camden, as well as the council's response to extreme heat events over the summer.

Camden Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2025-26

The committee is scheduled to review the Camden Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report for 2025-26. This report is a statutory requirement and details the board's activities, achievements, and challenges in safeguarding adults with care and support needs in the borough. The report outlines the board's aims and objectives, progress made, and the challenges faced, including an increase in safeguarding concerns and enquiries. It also details the findings of Safeguarding Adults Reviews (SARs) and the implementation of learning from these reviews. The report highlights the importance of multi-agency collaboration, with contributions from statutory partners such as Adult Social Care, the Metropolitan Police, and the NHS North Central London Integrated Care Board (NHS NCL ICB). The board's work is underpinned by legislation including the Care Act 2014, the Human Rights Act 1998, and the Equality Act 2010. The report also details the funding for the board and its learning and development activities.

Response to Extreme Heat

A report summarising heatwave preparedness and response activity across Camden's health and care system is scheduled for discussion. This follows an unprecedented period of extreme heat and heatwaves during the summer of 2026. The report details the council's Severe Weather Corporate Response Plan, coordination efforts, and workshops held to prepare services, including Adult Social Care and care homes. It also covers training provided to council staff and frontline workers from the NHS and voluntary sector. The report outlines how Camden residents are being supported through a dedicated webpage, Cool Spaces ¹, and a pilot Cool Kits ² programme. Specific support for vulnerable groups, including rough sleepers and those in adult social care, is also detailed, alongside the response from healthcare providers such as the Royal Free Hospital Trust and University College London Hospitals (UCLH) Trust.

Healthwatch Camden Annual Report

The committee is also scheduled to consider the Healthwatch Camden Annual Report for 2025-2026. This report provides an overview of Healthwatch Camden's campaigns, statistics, activities, and impact during the year ending March 2026. It marks the conclusion of their 2022-2026 strategic plan and introduces priorities for 2027. The report acknowledges that 2026-2027 may be Healthwatch Camden's final year of operation if government legislation progresses as intended, making it a priority to ensure this final year is impactful and to plan for a well-executed winding up. The report highlights achievements such as public health campaigns reaching over 598,000 people, in-depth research into the experiences of specific community groups, and the significant social value delivered by the organisation.

Update of the Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care

An update on the portfolio of the Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care is scheduled. This will provide the committee with an overview of key pieces of work, successes, challenges, and opportunities. The report indicates that demand remains high across a number of Adult Social Care services, particularly in neighbourhood teams, occupational therapy, and safeguarding. It also details ongoing efforts to strengthen support for unpaid carers through the Carers Action Plan³ and highlights the work of the Breathe stop smoking service and the Active for Life physical activity campaign aimed at older adults.

Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee Work Programme and Action Tracker

The committee will review its work programme for 2026-27 and track actions from previous meetings. This includes considering items such as the Camden Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report, the response to extreme heat, and the Healthwatch Camden Annual Report. The work programme is a flexible document designed to reflect the council's corporate priorities and areas identified by the committee.