The Families, Health and Care Policy and Accountability Committee is scheduled to consider reports on suicide prevention, the impact of a provider's insolvency on community equipment services, and the annual report of the Local Safeguarding Children Partnership. The committee will also discuss work programming for future meetings.

The Listening Place and Suicide Prevention

A report is scheduled to be presented on The Listening Place, a charity that offers free, confidential, and ongoing face-to-face support to adults experiencing suicidal feelings. The council's funding has enabled the service to expand its local provision, strengthen links with statutory and community services, and train volunteers. The report is expected to outline the service's contribution to the Hammersmith & Fulham Suicide Prevention Strategy 2024–2027, with a particular focus on support for men's mental health and wellbeing. The Listening Place provides non-judgemental listening support, not clinical treatment, and operates seven days a week. In 2025/26, the service received 544 referrals from Hammersmith & Fulham residents, exceeding its target, and has established referral pathways with over 50 organisations, including GPs and local mental health services. The service also delivers suicide intervention training to local professionals.

Community Equipment Services After Provider Insolvency

The committee is to receive an update on Community Equipment services, following the insolvency of Nottingham Rehab Services (NRS), the previous provider, on 1 August 2025. NRS was contracted through a London consortium agreement for the provision of equipment services, with Hammersmith & Fulham Council and the NHS being significant users. The insolvency affected 42 authorities nationally. The report will detail the impact of NRS's collapse, the emergency measures put in place by the council and its partners to ensure resident safety, and the process of securing a new supplier. An eight-borough partnership, including Hammersmith & Fulham, was formed, leading to the creation of a new company, Provide Care Solutions Ltd, which signed contracts in September 2025. The report is expected to cover the transition to the new provider, including the implementation of a new IT system and the operational status of the service.

Local Safeguarding Children Partnership Annual Report

The Local Safeguarding Children Partnership (LSCP)'s Annual Report for 2025-26 is scheduled for discussion. This report is expected to detail the partnership's progress in safeguarding children and young people in Hammersmith & Fulham, highlighting strong multi-agency working and a focus on children's voices. Key priorities for the partnership include anti-racist practice and effective information sharing. The report is anticipated to outline improvements in collaboration, escalation, and professional confidence, leading to more timely and coordinated responses to issues such as exploitation, online harm, adolescent mental health, and domestic abuse. The partnership's approach to learning, workforce development, and independent scrutiny is also expected to be covered, with an increasing focus on demonstrating the measurable impact of its work. The report will also look ahead to the next year, addressing national reforms and increasing complexity across services.

Work Programming

The committee will have an opportunity to suggest items for future meetings as part of the Work Programming agenda item. This allows members to shape the committee's future agenda based on emerging issues and priorities.