The Health, Adult Social Care and Community Safety Scrutiny Commission is scheduled to meet on Thursday 23 July 2026. The meeting's agenda includes discussions on local health provision and priorities through Partnership Southwark, an update from Healthwatch Southwark, and a review of the commission's role in crime and disorder scrutiny.

Partnership Southwark Briefing

Darren Summers, Strategic Director for Integrated Health and Care/Southwark Place Executive Lead, is scheduled to present information on local health provision and priorities. This briefing, from Partnership Southwark, aims to provide members with a strategic understanding of how the health and care system in Southwark operates, its key challenges and opportunities, and how the commission can influence its impact. Partnership Southwark is described as the borough's main forum for joint leadership of health, care, and wellbeing, bringing together Southwark Council, NHS South East London Integrated Care Board (ICB), various NHS providers, primary care, and the voluntary and community sector. The briefing document highlights five headline challenges facing health and care in Southwark, including unmet mental health needs, lack of support for those with frailty and complexity, missed prevention opportunities, inequalities in access and outcomes, and workforce shortages and financial pressures.

Healthwatch Southwark Reports

Ruman Kallar, Research and Projects Officer from Healthwatch Southwark, is expected to present two reports. The first is Healthwatch Southwark's Annual Report for 2025-26, which details their work in championing the voices of local people to improve health and care services. The second report, Housing, health and hope: Experiences of living in and moving on from asylum accommodation, examines the health impacts on refugees and asylum seekers during their transition from Home Office accommodation. This report, informed by workshops and interviews, highlights significant challenges such as sudden evictions, lack of timely information, and the high risk of homelessness, particularly for single adults. It also details the existing support structures and identifies gaps, making recommendations for improved information access, homelessness prevention, continuity of healthcare, and investment in community-based support.

Crime and Disorder Scrutiny

The commission is also scheduled to receive a presentation on its remit for community safety, focusing on Crime and Disorder Scrutiny. This will cover the role, requirements, and best practices for scrutinising community safety partnerships. A protocol outlining how scrutiny will work with the Crime and Safety Partnership is also expected. The documentation details the legal framework for crime and disorder scrutiny, established under the Police and Justice Act 2006 and subsequent regulations. Key responsibilities include scrutinising the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) as a collective body, assessing its effectiveness in reducing crime and disorder, and reviewing joint strategies and actions. The commission's powers include requesting information and attendance from responsible authorities, with the expectation that these authorities will pay due regard to the scrutiny committee's recommendations.

Asylum Road Care Home Update and Work Programme

An update on the Asylum Road Care Home delivery is also scheduled, though a specific paper is to follow. Finally, the commission will discuss its Work Programme for the upcoming municipal year. The report for this item recommends that the commission defer agreement of the work programme until its October meeting, allowing time for information gathering and for new councillors to familiarise themselves with their roles and council priorities following the recent administration changes. The report outlines the executive portfolios relevant to the commission's remit, including Neighbourhoods, Strategic Planning, and Wellbeing; Adult Services; and Community Safety and Engagement.