The Health and Social Care Select Committee of Hillingdon Council was scheduled to discuss the annual performance report for 2024/25, review adult social care early intervention and prevention strategies, and monitor the Cabinet's forward plan. The meeting was also set to consider the committee's work programme and receive updates on various health and social care matters.

Review of Adult Social Care Early Intervention and Prevention

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the fourth witness session for the committee's review of adult social care early intervention and prevention. This session was scheduled to hear from external witnesses representing the Carers Trust Hillingdon & Ealing, Alzheimer's Society, Give Space, Harlington Hospice, and Hillingdon Mind. The committee was expected to question these witnesses on their presentations and officers on commissioning and contracting issues related to the Carer Support Service. The report highlighted that in 2021, there were 22,465 unpaid carers in Hillingdon, with the Carer Support Service contract awarded to Carers Trust Hillingdon and Ealing for a five-year period starting May 2025. The service dimensions include information, advice and support, development of a carer register, provision of home-based short breaks, access to recreational activities, counselling, emotional support, a young carers' programme, undertaking carer assessments, empowering the carer voice, and securing external investment.

Annual Performance Report 2024/25

The committee was scheduled to review the Annual Performance Report for 2024/25. This report outlines the council's performance cycle and corporate performance across health and social care. It integrates indicators from the proposed Local Government Outcomes Framework (LGOF), which defines priority outcomes and measures for regional and national comparison. The report noted that Adult Social Care and Health (ASC&H) continues to operate in a challenging environment with increasing demand and complex care needs, particularly for individuals with autism-only diagnoses and co-occurring mental health issues. Despite these pressures, ASC&H has maintained strong performance in service user satisfaction, quality of life, and early intervention. The report also detailed performance data for various aspects of adult social care, including demand, client numbers, home care services, residential and nursing placements, assessments, and survey responses from service users and carers. It also highlighted public health data on childhood obesity, physical activity in children and adults, and staff turnover rates within Adult Social Care.

Cabinet Forward Plan Monthly Monitoring

The committee was set to monitor the Cabinet's latest Forward Plan, which details key decisions and other decisions to be taken by the Cabinet over the coming year. The report outlined the actions available to the committee, including providing comments on future executive reports and requesting further information. Items on the plan relevant to the committee's remit included reports on the Rural Activities Garden Centre, The Hillingdon Care Company Ltd. (THCC) reporting, the Older People's Plan update, and the award of contracts for Deprivation of Liberties and Advocacy Services.

Work Programme

Consideration was to be given to the committee's Work Programme for the 2025/2026 municipal year. The programme included scheduled meetings, regular service and performance monitoring, and a major review into adult social care early intervention and prevention. Other topics for potential review included pharmacies, GP coverage, and updates on various health and social care services and initiatives.

Other Scheduled Discussions

The meeting was also scheduled to include the confirmation of minutes from the previous meeting held on 16 September 2025, and an item regarding the exclusion of press and public.