The Health and Wellbeing Board met on Thursday 30 July 2026 to discuss the implementation of the NHS Neighbourhood Health Framework, review the performance of the Better Care Fund, and consider the findings of an independent review into the Brent Health Matters initiative. Key decisions included noting the progress on neighbourhood working and agreeing to review the proposed neighbourhood geographies in September, as well as approving the Better Care Fund year-end report and proposed plans for the upcoming year.

Neighbourhood Health and Working in Neighbourhoods

The Board received an update on Brent's approach to Working in Neighbourhoods (WIN), which aligns with the national NHS Neighbourhood Health Framework. This framework aims to shift healthcare from hospital-based treatment towards community-based prevention, and from analogue to digital services. The initiative has been piloted in Harlesden, focusing on integrated multidisciplinary teams that ask residents what matters most to them rather than solely focusing on medical issues. The Board was informed that the current neighbourhood geographies are being reviewed, with a decision on the final configuration expected in September. The Board noted the progress made in establishing neighbourhood leadership, developing action plans, and improving digital infrastructure, such as enabling Adult Social Care staff to access Universal Care Plans.

LGA Independent Review of Brent Health Matters

An independent review of the Brent Health Matters (BHM) initiative, conducted by the Local Government Association (LGA), was presented to the Board. The review highlighted BHM's success in building trust and reaching communities that statutory services had previously struggled to engage with, noting its near-unique reach in London. However, the review also identified areas for improvement, including better integration of BHM within the wider system, more robust capture of its impact beyond clinical metrics, a stronger focus on upstream prevention addressing wider determinants of health like housing and employment, and greater utilisation of the voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector. The Board endorsed the headline action plan in response to these recommendations, which includes aligning BHM staff and resources into neighbourhoods, developing relational working as a core skill-set, ensuring stronger connections with other community-based roles, and reviewing the strategic focus of BHM's clinical investment.

Better Care Fund

The Board reviewed the Better Care Fund (BCF) year-end position for 2025-26 and the proposed plans for 2026-27. Eleanor Maxwell, the Better Care Fund Lead for Brent, explained that the BCF is a national programme pooling NHS and local authority funding to support joined-up health and social care, aiming to help people stay independent longer, prevent hospital admissions, and ensure safe and timely returns home. The 2025-26 report showed that Brent successfully met all national conditions, with expenditure largely in line with the plan, except for an overspend on community equipment due to the liquidation of the previous supplier, NRS. This overspend was reimbursed by the West and North London Integrated Care Board (W&NL ICB). The 2026-27 plan maintains existing investment while realigning funding to reflect changing demand and local priorities, with a focus on integrated neighbourhood working and prevention. The Board formally approved the BCF year-end report and the proposed plans for 2026-27.

Forward Planning

The Board discussed future agenda items. Suggestions included a joint paper from the Integrated Care Partnership and the housing department on the impact of housing on health outcomes, with a specific focus on temporary accommodation. Councillor Jake Rubin proposed a focus on children's health, particularly the first thousand days of life, child poverty, and interventions related to the Best Start in Life initiative. Councillor Sapna Chadha suggested a review of a Brent youth strategy around health for the 16-25 age group. Other suggestions included looking at hospital admission and A&E times, mental health services, and the voice of residents in neighbourhood working. A proposal to include a paper on the carer's experience in Brent was also put forward.

The meeting concluded with thanks to all members and colleagues, with the next meeting scheduled for 17 September 2026.