The Health and Wellbeing Board of North Northamptonshire Council met on Tuesday 22 September 2026. The Board noted the contents of the Director of Public Health's annual report for 2025-2026, which focused on the delivery of the North Northamptonshire Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2024-2029. The report detailed progress in three key areas: Mental Health and Wellbeing, Children and Young People, and Financial Resilience. It also included updates on Smoking and Vaping, and Keeping Active.

Key achievements highlighted included a co-produced male suicide prevention campaign, the development of a smoking cessation support project for individuals with severe mental illness, and the expansion of the Early Years supervised toothbrushing programme. The report also noted the introduction of Children and Young People's social prescribing as a preventative approach to supporting emotional wellbeing.

Director of Public Health Annual Report

The Board noted the contents of the Director of Public Health's Annual Report for 2025-2026, which focused on the delivery of the North Northamptonshire Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2024-2029. The report detailed progress in three key areas: Mental Health and Wellbeing, Children and Young People, and Financial Resilience. It also included updates on Smoking and Vaping, and Keeping Active.

Key achievements highlighted included a co-produced male suicide prevention campaign, the development of a smoking cessation support project for individuals with severe mental illness, and the expansion of the Early Years supervised toothbrushing programme. The report also noted the introduction of Children and Young People's social prescribing as a preventative approach to supporting emotional wellbeing.

SEND Joint Commissioning Strategy Review

The Board noted the progress made during the first six months of delivery of the SEND Joint Commissioning Strategy 2025-2028, acknowledged the strengthened partnership arrangements supporting joint commissioning, and endorsed the next phase of delivery priorities. The strategy, developed in response to an Ofsted inspection in 2024, aims to provide a shared framework for commissioning services across education, health, and social care. Achievements in the first six months of delivery included the publication of the SEND Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, the establishment of a Joint Commissioning Forum, and the launch of new commissioning frameworks for educational support services and outreach and inclusion. The Board agreed to receive regular updates on the strategy's implementation and impact.

Suicide Prevention Strategy and Action Plan

The Board endorsed the Northamptonshire Suicide Prevention Strategy 2026-2031 and its accompanying Action Plan. This strategy provides a coordinated, evidence-based, and partnership-led framework for reducing suicide, addressing risk factors, and supporting those affected by suicide across the county. Developed through extensive engagement with over 50 stakeholders, including NHS partners, local authorities, voluntary organisations, and people with lived experience, the strategy aligns with national priorities and local needs. Key actions include improving data and intelligence, providing targeted support to high-risk groups, promoting online safety, enhancing crisis and bereavement support, and making suicide prevention everybody's business. The Board also noted the proposed governance arrangements through the Northamptonshire Suicide Prevention Steering Group and supported continued collaborative action.

Better Care Fund Update

A verbal update was provided on the Better Care Fund, noting a shift in reporting requirements from NHS England towards regional accountability. The Board noted the update.

Exercise Pegasus Overview

The Board noted the contents of the report on Exercise Pegasus, the UK's largest national pandemic preparedness exercise, and the key role all stakeholders played in the exercise scenario. The Board also noted the importance of implementing lessons learned in future pandemic planning.

Joint Strategic Needs Assessment Overview and Update

The Board recognised the progress that has been made across the system, acknowledged the challenges identified and remediation plans, and noted and endorsed the forward plan for the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) and the proposal for a new JSNA Working Group.

Urgent Items of Business

The Corporate Director of Public Health provided an update on the Council's successful application to participate in a programme focused on healthy neighbourhoods, supported by a community of practice. This initiative aims to enhance the Board's effectiveness in driving forward the Healthy Neighbourhoods programme.

The meeting concluded with the Chair thanking all participants and officially closing the meeting.