The Health and Care Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, 24 September 2025, to discuss several key reports and briefings. These include the North Powys Wellbeing Programme, the Regional Safeguarding Board Annual Report, and an update on Adult Social Care Transformation. The committee will also review the scrutiny forward work programme.

North Powys Wellbeing Programme Briefing

The committee is scheduled to note a briefing on the North Powys Wellbeing Programme¹, a strategic priority for Powys County Council and Powys Teaching Health Board. The programme aims to create a multi-agency wellbeing campus in Newtown, with the goal of improving population health through collaboration with education, housing, leisure, culture, and the third sector, while also addressing emotional and mental health needs. The report pack states that Newtown was identified as a key location because:

The North Area has high deprivation – Newtown East ranks 31st (out of 1,909 areas) most deprived area in Wales (Welsh Gov, 2019).

The first phase of the campus development is planned to deliver an integrated Health, Care and Wellbeing Hub, designed to improve access to early help and support, promote prevention, and co-locate services to enhance collaboration and efficiency. This phase also includes a Health and Social Care Academy to support workforce sustainability and development, aligning with the Regional Partnership Board's Strategic Capital Plan. The overall anticipated value of Phase 1 of the project is £30 million.

The committee will be asked to focus on:

• Strategic Alignment, ensuring the programme aligns with Powys County Council and Regional Partnership Board priorities, and national policy direction.
• Service Model and Integration, reviewing the proposed integrated service model, including co-location of services and the shift towards prevention and early intervention.
• Capital Planning and Phasing, understanding the phased approach required by Welsh Government.
• Estates and Infrastructure, considering the impact on existing estates and alignment with broader infrastructure developments, including the new school, Ysgol Calon y Dderwen.
• Financial and Risk Management, reviewing financial implications and assessing risks related to delivery, affordability, and stakeholder engagement.

Regional Safeguarding Board Annual Report

The committee is scheduled to note the Regional Safeguarding Board Annual Report. The Mid and West Wales Safeguarding Boards serve the communities of Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Powys, working collaboratively and in partnership within a multi-agency setting. The report provides an overview of the objectives and achievements of the Mid and West Wales Safeguarding Children & Adults Boards. The committee will be asked to focus on the role of Powys County Council and partnership working within the region and contribution to the Regional Safeguarding Board during the previous year.

Adult Social Care Diagnostic Briefing

The committee is scheduled to note the Adult Social Care Diagnostic Briefing. Powys County Council appointed Newton Europe, an independent specialist consultancy partner, to work alongside the service to carry out an in-depth diagnostic of the current position. In January 2025, a 12-week analysis of the service began, with Newton colleagues working closely with staff and partners at all levels to understand where there is good practice, what are the barriers and costs to achieving ideal outcomes for residents, and to identify the vision for the future, including opportunities to achieve that vision at reduced cost for the council. The presentation outlines the opportunities identified through this work.

Work Programme

The committee is scheduled to note the scrutiny forward work programme. The work programme lists the following items for future meetings:

• Q2 Risk Report
• Budget Benchmarking Data
• Eliminating Profit and the Not-for-Profit Agenda
• Budget Update Report
• Day Opportunities Update
• Participation Report
• Front Door Business Case
• Powys Owned Care Homes Update
• Q2 Finance Papers
• North Powys Wellbeing Programme