The Integrated Meeting of the Waltham Forest Health & Wellbeing and Health & Care Partnership Boards was scheduled to discuss updates on health and care system governance, priorities for the upcoming year, and progress on wellbeing initiatives. The meeting was also set to cover population health management strategies and the development of integrated neighbourhood working across the borough.

Updated Health and Care System Partnership Governance, Ways of Working, and Priorities for 2025/26

This joint item for both boards was intended to present a refreshed and simplified governance structure for the Waltham Forest Health and Care System Partnership. The aim was to outline how the Health and Wellbeing Board (HWBB) and the Health and Care Partnership Board (HCPB) would work together to deliver partnership initiatives. The report proposed priorities for the partnership's work programme for 2025/26, which included areas such as addressing health inequalities, the mental health and wellbeing of Black boys and young Black men, childhood obesity, and the early onset of complexity and frailty. Other priorities included the delivery of the SEND improvement plan, the Babies, Children and Young People (BCYP) programme, community service transformation, and the MH/LDA (Mental Health/Learning Disabilities and Autism) programme. The report recommended that the boards agree to the refreshed governance structure and shape the proposed priority areas for the coming year.

Promoting Wellbeing Workstream Update

This report provided an update on the progress of the Promoting Wellbeing workstream, which aims to advance a preventative approach and reduce health inequalities. The workstream has brought together partners from the local authority, the NHS, and the voluntary and community sector (VCS). The paper included status reports on five priority areas, detailing progress, risks, and mitigations. It also presented a draft indicator set for a proposed dashboard and an update on the Healthy Weight Strategy. The boards were asked to review the updates, assess the workstream's transition into the delivery phase, and endorse the proposed dashboard indicators and the Healthy Weight Strategy update. Key priority areas within this workstream included strengthening partnerships with the VCS and faith groups, mental health promotion, developing locality hubs and primary care spaces, maximising employment support for residents with long-term health conditions, and addressing housing and health.

Population Health Management in Waltham Forest

This item was scheduled to present the developing approach to population segmentation and population health management across North East London (NEL). The report highlighted that almost 30% of Waltham Forest's population has a diagnosed health condition. It detailed how the population is segmented to understand healthcare needs and costs, with analysis showing variations in health outcomes across different ethnic groups and deprivation quintiles. The presentation aimed to illustrate how population health management tools, such as the Optum Pathfinder platform, can be used to identify cohorts of need, plan interventions, and evaluate their impact. The report suggested further analysis and discussion on how this information could inform service design and resource allocation, particularly in relation to primary care networks (PCNs) and neighbourhood working.

Integrated Neighbourhood Working in Waltham Forest

This report provided an overview of the national and North East London context for integrated neighbourhood working, and outlined a proposed vision and implementation plan for Waltham Forest. It aimed to define neighbourhood boundaries, establish a neighbourhood delivery programme, and consider the necessary resource and enabling structures. The report referenced national direction calling for more preventative care closer to people's homes and highlighted the North East London Integrated Care Board's vision for neighbourhoods that actively contribute to residents' physical and mental health and wellbeing. The proposals included a commitment to the neighbourhood vision, strategy, and goals, and the identification of key enablers such as organisational development and population health management. The boards were asked to discuss and agree on the geographic neighbourhoods for Waltham Forest and consider how population health data could inform the definition of these localities.

Adult ADHD Assessment and Treatment Service in Waltham Forest

This report addressed the significant rise in demand for adult ADHD assessment and treatment in Waltham Forest, which has led to extensive waiting lists and delays. The report indicated that the current operating model had become unsustainable, with efforts to bolster the service struggling to keep pace with referrals. It proposed prioritising existing resources for three groups: adults already initiated on treatment requiring ongoing review, children and young people transitioning from CAMHS who have been diagnosed and initiated on treatment, and adults with complex needs comorbid with other mental health conditions already under secondary care. Consequently, the report proposed closing the waiting list to new referrals and anticipated further delays for those already on the list but not falling into the priority groups. The Waltham Forest Health and Care Partnership Board was asked to comment on the report and endorse the proposed next steps, including considering options for the future to mitigate the risk of increased referrals to private sector providers.

Integrated Care Board Changes

This item was listed as a verbal update, indicating that information on changes within the Integrated Care Board would be provided orally during the meeting.