The Health and Care Scrutiny Committee met to discuss the Care Quality Commission's (CQC) improvement plan for adult social care, an update on mental health services provided by North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT), and the committee's work plan. Key decisions included noting the CQC update and the mental health report, and approving the work plan with an amendment to include Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) services.

Care Quality Commission Improvement Plan Update

Simon Froud, Executive Director for Adult Social Care and Health, presented an update on the Adult Social Care Improvement Plan, which was initiated following a CQC assessment in August 2025 that highlighted shortfalls in safeguarding and governance. The CQC report, published in December 2025, resulted in a requires improvement rating and a Section 50 notice from the Secretary of State, requiring focus on safeguarding and governance.

An Improvement Board has been established, chaired by an independent figure, to oversee the plan, which focuses on two key areas: practice and safeguarding at the front door, and data, commissioning, and governance. Specific attention is being given to the assessment of carers and the provision of information and advice. The review of Section 75 arrangements with NELFT, which has been in place since 2016, is ongoing to ensure governance aligns with current operational models.

A significant concern raised was the identification of systemic organisational abuse, particularly at Goodmayes Hospital, leading to a multi-agency safeguarding enquiry. This enquiry involves partners from Barking and Dagenham, Waltham Forest, and Havering, as some residents from these boroughs are also placed in the service. The enquiry aims to address underlying organisational risks and safeguarding failures.

Councillors expressed concerns about the lack of detail in the presented plan, with many items marked as To Be Confirmed. Simon Froud acknowledged this, explaining that the slides provided an outline and that more detailed information could be shared. There was also discussion about the involvement of elected members on the Improvement Board, with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health noting that national frameworks dictate the board's structure but assuring that updates would be provided to this committee.

The committee also discussed the Better Care Fund, a joint agreement between health and social care pooling approximately £44 million to integrate services, primarily focusing on hospital discharge and admission avoidance.

North East London Foundation Trust - Mental Health Update

Pauline Goffin, Integrated Care Director for NELFT, and Sue Tetch, Assistant Director for Mental Health and Learning Disabilities at NELFT, provided an update on mental health services in Redbridge. They highlighted the increasing demand for mental health services, exacerbated by the pandemic, and the persistent stigma surrounding mental ill health.

The presentation outlined the pathway for accessing mental health support, starting with primary care and talking therapies for mild to moderate conditions, and progressing to the Mental Health and Wellness Teams for individuals with serious mental illness. These multidisciplinary teams include social workers, psychiatrists, nurses, and importantly, individuals with lived experience.

Several new initiatives and future plans were discussed, including:

• Wellhouse: A seven-bed crisis house in Goodmayes offering stays of up to three weeks, developed with service user input and proving successful in preventing hospital admissions.
• Crisis Cafe: A drop-in service operating out of hours, providing immediate support for adults experiencing mental health crises.
• Mental Health Crisis Hub: Located at Goodmayes Hospital, this 24/7 service aims to divert individuals from A&E departments.
• Integrated Neighbourhood Teams: Future plans include establishing five locations across the borough where physical and mental health services will be co-located to enable closer working.
• 24/7 Community Mental Health Hubs: A national rollout is planned, with a potential central location in Redbridge being explored.
• Specialist Services: Updates were provided on older adults' community mental health teams, memory assessment services, learning disability services, and the adult ADHD service, which has been remodelled to reduce waiting times.

Challenges identified included rising demand and capacity issues, particularly for specialised services like dementia and ADHD, and the impact of social issues such as housing insecurity on mental health. Successes highlighted included streamlined occupational therapy pathways, improved physical health checks for individuals with serious mental illness, and the introduction of seven-day working across community mental health teams.

The committee engaged in a detailed discussion about the accessibility of services for diverse communities, including the provision of literature in multiple languages and the need for culturally competent therapists. NELFT confirmed their commitment to improving workforce representation and providing cultural competency training.

Health and Care Scrutiny Committee Work Plan 2026-27

The committee reviewed its draft work plan for 2026-27. Following discussion, it was agreed that SEND services would be added as a topic. There was also a call for greater detail and a sharper focus on specific asks for witnesses presenting to the committee, to ensure that discussions lead to actionable improvements rather than just information sharing. The need for investment in infrastructure to support increasing demand was also highlighted. The committee agreed to note the work plan, with the inclusion of SEND services.

Maternity Update

The item on the Integrated Care Board's Maternity Update was deferred to a later meeting due to the absence of a formal report. It was agreed that the committee would receive further reports and potentially hear from both commissioners and providers.

The next meeting of the Health and Care Scrutiny Committee was scheduled for 24 November 2026.