The Adult Social Care and Health Select Committee was scheduled to consider a range of important topics, including the results of Care Quality Commission (CQC) and Provider Assessment and Market Management Solutions (PAMMS) inspections, an update on winter planning, and a scrutiny review into the protection of property. The committee was also scheduled to receive an overview and performance report on public health services.

CQC / PAMMS Inspection Results – Quarterly Summary (Q1 2026-2027)

The committee was scheduled to review the first quarterly summary of inspection results from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and Provider Assessment and Market Management Solutions (PAMMS) for the period April to June 2026. The CQC is the national inspectorate for health and adult care services, assessing and rating providers. PAMMS is an online assessment tool used by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) to evaluate the quality of care delivered by providers.

The report was scheduled to detail the outcomes of inspections for adult services, primary medical care services, and hospital and other health care services. For adult services, seven providers were rated 'Good', and one hospital/other health care service was also rated 'Good'. The PAMMS assessments covered key areas such as involvement and information, personalised care and support, safeguarding and safety, suitability of staffing, and quality of management. Of the six PAMMS reports published, one was rated 'Excellent' and five were rated 'Good'. Specific providers such as Victoria House Nursing Home, Park House Rest Home, Aspen Gardens, Edwardian Residential Care Homes Limited, Cleveland Villa, Bluebird Care (Stockton and Hartlepool), CEL Homecare Teesside, Ayresome Court, Millbeck, Roseworth Lodge Care Home, Highfield (Stockton), and Primrose Court Nursing Home were scheduled to be discussed, with their CQC and PAMMS ratings and summaries of findings detailed.

Scrutiny Review of Protection of Property

The committee was scheduled to consider further information as part of its ongoing scrutiny review into the protection of property. This session was scheduled to include evidence from SBC Adult Social Care, SBC Housing Services, and Thirteen Housing Group.

The SBC Adult Social Care department was scheduled to present information on the costs associated with this duty, including what has been claimed back from third-party suppliers and contractors. The report indicated that in the financial year 2025-2026, £1,134.00 was invoiced, a significant increase from previous years, attributed to new systems and procedures for cost recovery. The report also detailed the policies and procedures in place, including inventory of property, secure storage, and weekly inspections. Future developments were planned to include exploration of data recording systems and integration with the Adults Liquid Logic System.

Information was also scheduled to be presented from neighbouring authorities, Middlesbrough Council and Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, highlighting common themes such as not charging for officer time and seeking recovery of direct expenditure.

SBC Housing Services and Thirteen Housing Group were asked to provide their awareness and experience of the legal duty under Section 47 of the Care Act 2014, how eligible individuals are identified, and their communication with SBC Adult Social Care. SBC Housing Services noted limited awareness across the service but specific awareness within the Private Sector Housing Team, particularly the Empty Homes Officer. Thirteen Housing Group stated they work closely with Stockton Adult Social Care to support individuals protected under Section 47, ensuring security of tenure and property protection, but this relies on Thirteen Group being informed of the circumstances.

Overview & Performance Report: SBC Adults, Health and Wellbeing (Public Health)

An overview and performance report from the SBC Adults, Health and Wellbeing directorate was scheduled to be presented, focusing on the Public Health department. This report was intended to provide details of key achievements and challenges in 2025-2026, as well as emerging issues.

Key achievements highlighted were the refreshed Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) with updated thematic assessments, an increase in completion rates for the domestic abuse perpetrator programme, and the establishment of a multi-disciplinary outreach team for adults with severe multiple disadvantage. The re-commissioning of an integrated sexual health service and the transformation of 5-19 services were also noted. The report was also scheduled to cover the securing of £1.2m in Sport England funding for the 'Active Stockton' initiative and efforts to strengthen the Health and Wellbeing Board's ways of working.

Challenges identified included school readiness and development targets, system changes within the NHS and Integrated Care Board (ICB), and ongoing financial challenges. Emerging issues included the development of a Neighbourhood Health Plan, concerns regarding children and young people vaping, and the development of the new Local Plan. The report also included an update on progress against the Stockton-on-Tees Plan 2024-2028, detailing key indicators, activity to date, and planned activity across various priority areas.

Care and Health Winter Planning 2026-2027

The committee was scheduled to consider and provide views on the Health and Wellbeing Board's Care and Health Winter Planning Update report for 2026-2027. This report supports the Board's duty to seek assurance on health protection.

The update was scheduled to detail the measures in place across Adult Social Care (ASC) to respond to winter pressures and increased service demands. It was noted that planning had commenced in late Summer, with oversight from the Tees Valley Local A&E Delivery Board. The report was to cover the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board's (NENC ICB) Winter Commissioning Plan, focusing on preventing avoidable deterioration, strengthening care closer to home, and improving hospital flow and discharge. Key measures included vaccination programmes, enhanced primary care access, urgent community response, and virtual wards.

The report was also scheduled to address local resilience planning, including the Council's Major Incident Plan and business continuity planning. Communications regarding adverse weather events and advice for communities were to be discussed, alongside efforts to increase uptake of maternal vaccines. Health protection work with key settings, including care homes and schools, was to be outlined, along with infectious disease surveillance data for Influenza, RSV, and COVID-19. The report was to detail the delivery of flu and COVID-19 vaccination programmes, including efforts to improve uptake among at-risk groups and in communities with lower coverage. Specific initiatives such as the School Aged Immunisation Service's new digital consent portal and community pharmacy offerings were to be mentioned.

The report was also scheduled to cover Adult Social Care's demand and capacity management, efforts to ensure sufficient staffing and access to care capacity, and the promotion of a home first approach through Virtual Frailty Wards and assistive technology. Monitoring of the impact of winter on local people and the social care workforce, including the use of holding list procedures and the Adult Safeguarding Team's established processes, was to be discussed. Homelessness services, including the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP), and support for communities through initiatives like the Winter Health Conference, Anti-Poverty Strategy, Community Spaces, and the Multibank were also to be covered. Information and advice provision, food support, community transport, and crisis resilience funding were also on the agenda.

Chair's Update and Select Committee Work Programme 2026-2027

The committee was scheduled to receive an update from the Chair, Cllr Marc Besford, and review the committee's work programme for 2026-2027. This included a reminder of the forthcoming University Hospitals Tees (UHT) Annual General Meeting and details of documentation circulated regarding UHT's waiting lists and cancer performance, as well as Care Quality Commission (CQC) results for North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust (NTHFT). The work programme outlined scheduled topics for future meetings, including overview and performance reports, CQC/PAMMS updates, and the ongoing scrutiny review of the protection of property.