The Children, Adults, Health and Wellbeing Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel met on Monday 17 November 2025 to discuss a range of important issues affecting residents. Key discussions included updates on adult social care residential services, the ongoing efforts to combat modern slavery within the region, and the B&NES, Swindon & Wiltshire Integrated Care Board's (BSW ICB) progress on various health initiatives. Decisions were made regarding the noting of reports and the future workplan of the panel.

Adult Social Care Residential Services Update

The panel received an update on the performance of Bath and North East Somerset Council's adult social care residential services, which include two Community Resource Centres (CRCs) and five Extra Care Housing Schemes. Claire Thorogood, Assistant Director of Adult Regulated Services and Governance, presented the report, highlighting a high occupancy rate of 97% across residential services, which is favourable compared to the regional average. The report detailed improvements in staff retention, with a 17.5% turnover rate compared to the national average of 24%, attributed to improved terms and conditions and staff support. While there are 23 vacancies, the council is actively working to recruit more carers and utilise its internal bank staff to reduce reliance on expensive agency staff. The report also noted that Cleeve Court CRC is rated as 'requires improvement' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), with an action plan in place, while the Extra Care services are rated as 'good'. A future report will be provided once the CQC's final report for Cleeve Court is published.

Modern Slavery

Samantha Jones, Inclusive Communities Manager, presented a report on modern slavery within Bath and North East Somerset. She outlined various sectors where modern slavery has been identified, including care work, beauty and nail bars, hospitality, and car washes. Ms. Jones explained the methods used by perpetrators, such as threats, deception, and financial control, and highlighted the barriers victims face in seeking help, including language, debt bondage, and fear of reprisal. The Salvation Army provides support to victims, including temporary accommodation, medical treatment, and legal advice. The panel discussed the prevalence of modern slavery and the need for increased awareness among councillors and frontline staff. A commitment was made to provide more detailed reports and awareness-raising sessions for councillors.

B&NES, Swindon & Wiltshire Integrated Care Board (BSW ICB) Update

Laura Ambler, Executive Director of Place for Bath and North East Somerset at the BSW ICB, provided an update on several key areas. The panel heard about the commissioning of an all-age neuro-developmental pathway, which will adopt a needs-based approach rather than a diagnostic one, aligning with national recommendations. This pathway aims to improve access and outcomes for individuals with autistic and/or ADHD traits. The ICB is also strengthening its third sector support offer with £120,000 of funding to provide