The Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on Wednesday 23 September 2026 to review the Quarter 1 Integrated Performance Report, discuss the Coventry and Warwickshire Health Protection Strategy, and consider the Adult Social Care and Public Health Annual Feedback Report. Key discussions included performance against council delivery plans, progress on health protection priorities such as STIs and immunisations, and analysis of feedback received on social care services. The committee also reviewed its work programme and future meeting dates.

Quarter 1 Integrated Performance Report

Becky Hale, Executive Director for Social Care and Health, presented the Quarter 1 Integrated Performance Report, highlighting that 83% of council delivery plan commitments and 77% of key performance measures within the committee's remit were on track. The adult social care market was described as broadly stable with no provider failures during the quarter. The number of individuals awaiting allocation for an assessment had reduced to 455. However, performance on unpaid carer assessments and reviews remained below target, and challenges persisted with place-based health and wellbeing arrangements, partly due to ongoing NHS reforms and local government reorganisation. The report also indicated a forecasted overspend of £3.7 million for services within the committee's remit, primarily due to increased demand and care costs in social care.

Councillor Kate Rolfe raised concerns about the performance regarding older people remaining in the community, which had drifted further from the target. Becky Hale explained this was likely due to increasing needs requiring residential placements, but the council aimed to develop alternatives like extra care housing. Councillor Tracey Drew sought further clarification on the 455 individuals awaiting allocation, and Becky Hale explained that the majority were already receiving support, with interim measures in place for those not yet allocated.

Discussions also touched upon the complexities of place-based partnerships and integrated neighbourhood teams, with acknowledgement of the need to ensure these models worked cohesively. The eligibility criteria for adult social care support were confirmed to remain unchanged, adhering to the Care Act threshold.

Coventry and Warwickshire Health Protection Strategy

Jamie-Rae Tanner presented the Coventry and Warwickshire Health Protection Strategy 2025-2030. The strategy aims to protect communities from infectious diseases and environmental hazards, with a vision for all people to be protected. Key priority themes include sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and blood-borne viruses, population immunisations, reducing health harms from environmental hazards, and tuberculosis. Two cross-cutting themes of health equity and antimicrobial resistance were highlighted.

Achievements noted included the launch of a new integrated sexual health service, a syphilis campaign, and the micro-elimination of Hepatitis C in Warwickshire. Progress was also reported on VaxChat training for frontline practitioners to improve vaccine conversations, and work on air quality monitoring and winter preparedness. For tuberculosis, achievements included supporting the 'TB Getting It Right First Time' initiative.

Councillor Kate Rolfe and others raised significant concerns about the availability of NHS dentists, with reports of dental deserts in areas like Stratford. Jamie-Rae Tanner clarified that NHS dental commissioning was an NHS responsibility and not directly within the scope of the health protection strategy, though she acknowledged the broader health implications of poor oral health. A suggestion was made to request a briefing from the Integrated Care Board (ICB) on NHS dentistry.

Discussions also covered the challenges of adverse weather, with a need to consider extreme heat as the new normal. The importance of active travel for good health was also recognised. Concerns were raised about declining flu vaccination rates, particularly among children and healthcare staff, and the complexities of supply issues and vaccine evolution. The committee also discussed a cluster of tuberculosis cases in Coventry, with clarification that these were not genetically linked.

Adult Social Care and Public Health Annual Feedback Report

Pete Sidgwick presented the Adult Social Care and Public Health Annual Feedback Report for 2025/26. The report indicated an increase in overall feedback cases, with a notable rise in complaints and comments, while compliments decreased. For Adult Social Care specifically, complaints increased by 25%, with the primary themes being protection of users, financial issues, and communication.

Councillor Max Langer inquired about the rise in complaints related to the protection of users, and it was explained that this could be due to differing perspectives on safeguarding and improved training in identifying and recording such concerns. The process for scrutinising complaints related to commissioned services was also clarified, assuring members that these did not slip through the cracks. Councillor Tracey Drew expressed a desire for more person-centred language in the lessons learned section of the report.

The report highlighted that while the overall complaint rate remained relatively low compared to similar authorities, the timeliness of complaint resolution had decreased, partly due to increasing case complexity and the need for responses from external providers. Lessons learned from complaints included the importance of plain English communication, clearer explanations of decisions and processes, and realistic expectation setting.

Work Programme and Future Meeting Dates

The committee reviewed its work programme, noting a backlog of items and the need for additional meetings. Suggestions were made to increase questioning to the NHS to ensure attendance and to schedule more frequent meetings to address the volume of work. Several new items were proposed for the work programme, including updates on hospices, mental health crises in A&E, damp and mould in housing, and the health implications of SEND reforms.

Specific dates were discussed for upcoming meetings, with a focus on ensuring key topics like CAMHS and updates from acute hospital trusts were scheduled appropriately. The committee agreed to request a briefing from the ICB on NHS dentistry and to consider a joint session with the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee on CAMHS. The need to address winter pressures and the impact of potential local government reorganisation on strategic planning was also acknowledged.

The committee also discussed the importance of addressing issues such as infant mortality rates in Rugby and the potential abolition of Healthwatch. The need for updates from acute hospital trusts, particularly regarding winter pressures, was emphasised, with a proposal to invite them to the November meeting. The ongoing work on hospices was also noted, with a suggestion for a written update from the NHS perspective.

The committee agreed to a revised schedule of meetings and acknowledged the need to potentially add further meetings to accommodate the extensive work programme.