The Health and Wellbeing Board of Southwark Council met on Thursday 17 September 2026 to discuss a range of critical public health issues. Key topics included the findings of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and the State of Urban Health report, the Council's vision, and updates on the Crisis and Resilience Fund and the Better Care Fund. The Board also reviewed the alignment between the Southwark Maternity Commission and national learnings, the Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy, and the Healthwatch Health, Housing and Hope report.

Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) Annual Report 2026

The Board noted the findings of the JSNA Annual Report 2026, which highlighted both achievements and challenges in Southwark's health and wellbeing landscape. Key achievements include decreased smoking rates, a reduction in new HIV cases, and improved Key Stage 4 attainment for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). However, the report also identified significant challenges, including low MMR vaccination uptake, high rates of childhood excess weight and obesity, a high prevalence of long-term conditions, and concerns around adult mental health. Food insecurity remains a significant issue in areas like Peckham, Old Kent Road, and Faraday, with an estimated 30-40% of households affected. Unemployment has also risen, reversing post-pandemic declines. The report also detailed completed JSNA projects, such as assessments on temporary accommodation, carers' needs, and alcohol harms, and outlined recommended projects for the coming year, including needs assessments on mental health and substance use, autism, adults with disabilities, and multiple long-term conditions.

State of Urban Health Research

The Board noted the findings and recommendations of the State of Urban Health report, which provided a comprehensive analysis of urban health inequalities in England. The report highlighted that urban life expectancy is shorter and urban areas experience starker health inequalities, with deprived urban areas doubling the risk of poor health. Child poverty is widespread in urban areas, and health inequalities are structurally driven by racism and discrimination. The report also emphasized the impact of everyday environments and systems on health, such as overcrowding, homelessness, air pollution, and inaccessible healthy food. Crucially, the research underscored that communities are aware of the necessary changes and that urban health inequalities are systemic and preventable. Two key recommendations were made: to embed prevention in neighbourhood health design by setting local targets and metrics, and to involve those most affected by urban health issues in policymaking.

Council Vision

The Board considered the Joint Administration's ambition for Southwark over the next four years, focusing on making the borough more affordable, safe, and green. Seven priority areas were outlined: a borough that residents can afford, serious action on the climate emergency, tackling the housing crisis, creating a safer Southwark, improving the cleanliness and greening of streets, defending Southwark's interests, and ensuring a council that listens to and responds to residents. The vision emphasizes a participative process, with community councils playing a significant role in neighbourhood health delivery and a focus on prevention and early help. Concerns were raised about the need to double down on tackling inequalities between wards and communities, particularly for older people and community safety. The voluntary and community sector (VCS) highlighted the financial pressures they face and the potential impact of council budget cuts. The importance of aligning neighbourhood health and community council work was also stressed to avoid silos.

Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF)

The Board noted the progress made in designing and mobilising CRF-funded Resilience Services in Southwark. The CRF, providing £5.1 million annually for three years, aims to help low- to middle-income households with immediate financial crises and build long-term financial resilience. A hub-and-spoke model is proposed, with a central hub providing financial advice and warm referrals to specialist spokes for complex needs. The proposal includes embedding Strategic Investment Fund (SIF)-funded financial support workers within Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs) in Camberwell & Walworth and Peckham & Nunhead. This integration aims to provide a practical route for addressing financial and social factors affecting residents' health. The Board endorsed this direction of travel, noting that final decisions on scope, governance, and funding allocations are pending market engagement and council approval.

Better Care Fund (BCF) 2026-27

The Board was asked to endorse the 2026/27 Better Care Fund (BCF) plan. The BCF, with a total pooled budget of £58.8 million, aims to support integrated and preventative care, focusing on shifting from sickness to prevention and supporting people to live independently. The plan aligns with the emerging Neighbourhood Health model and the NHS Ten Year Plan. Key changes in the 2026/27 plan include increased funding for discharge support teams and therapy services, and the addition of Flexicare Accommodation as a preventative service. The plan aims to reduce non-elective hospital admissions for those over 65 by 6%, maintain discharge delays at 2025/26 levels, and keep permanent care home admissions at 2025/26 levels. Robust joint governance is in place, overseen by the Joint Commissioning Oversight Group, with performance monitored quarterly.

Alignment between the Southwark Maternity Commission and learnings from the Ockenden Review

The Board noted the report outlining the alignment between the Southwark Maternity Commission (SMC) and learnings from the Ockenden Review and the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation (NMNI). All three reports highlight critical issues such as women not being listened to, persistent inequalities, workforce pressures, and the need for cultural change. The SMC focuses on local improvement and co-production, while Ockenden and NMNI propose national actions and systemic changes. The Board acknowledged the alignment and the opportunity to integrate national learnings into local improvement efforts. A discussion was proposed for the SMC steering group to review opportunities for further work and improvements, with a request for close alignment with this work.

Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy

The Board noted the Southwark Local Action Plan 2026-2028, which supports the Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham, Bexley and Bromley (LSLBB) Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV Strategy (2025–2030). Southwark faces high rates of STIs and HIV, with significant inequalities affecting young people, Black and minoritised ethnic communities, LGBTQ+ residents, and those in deprived areas. The Action Plan outlines local actions to improve sexual and reproductive health outcomes, reduce inequalities, and enhance access to prevention, testing, and treatment. Key actions include developing a communications strategy for healthy relationships, increasing access to LARC and pharmacy contraception services, and delivering targeted prevention and testing approaches for STIs and HIV.

Healthwatch Health, Housing and Hope Report

The Board noted the Healthwatch Southwark report, which examined the health impacts of living in and moving on from Home Office asylum accommodation for newly recognised refugees. The report found that the move-on period is highly stressful, with short notice periods, lack of timely information, and limited affordable housing placing many at risk of homelessness. Poor conditions in asylum accommodation and relocation out of borough disrupt healthcare, education, and social networks, exacerbating mental and physical health issues. The report recommends improving conditions in asylum accommodation, strengthening healthcare access, providing early information on the move-on process, preventing homelessness, improving inter-agency coordination, investing in the VCS, and addressing wider determinants of health. Councillor Rebecca Corn welcomed the report and supported ongoing work, requesting a coordinated response to its 19 recommendations, including clear ownership and reporting timelines.