The Health and Wellbeing Board met on Thursday 22 January 2026 to discuss key issues affecting the borough's residents. Significant time was dedicated to a deep dive into Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP), where the board noted updates on the current situation, system pressures, and preparations for upcoming inspections. The board also received an update on the development of Neighbourhood Health initiatives, aiming to provide more integrated and preventative care closer to home, and reviewed the Better Care Fund Plan for 2025-26.

Children and Young People: Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP)

The board received a comprehensive update on SEND and Alternative Provision (AP) in Barnet, highlighting the borough's strengths in mainstream inclusion and early identification pathways, which are nationally recognised. However, significant challenges were also discussed, including rising complexity and demand for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), workforce shortages, and a critical shortage of special school places. Kim Miller, Director of SEND and Inclusion for Barnet, presented the report, noting that Barnet leads regionally for the Change Partnership Programme, which aims to drive reforms and share good practice.

A key focus of the discussion was Barnet's preparedness for the upcoming Ofsted and Care Quality Commission (CQC) local area inspection, scheduled between January 2026 and Spring 2027. This new framework is more rigorous and will assess how well education, health, and social care services work together to improve the lives and outcomes of children and young people with SEND. The board was informed that Barnet has a dedicated lead for this inspection and is actively preparing to evidence its collective work.

The report detailed rising complexity and demand, with over 4,000 EHCPs in Barnet and increasing workloads for caseworkers. The shortage of special school places is a significant concern, with planned rebuilds of Oakleigh and Mapledown schools underway. The financial implications of this shortage were highlighted, with out-of-borough or independent placements costing between £80,000 and £110,000 per child.

System pressures include workforce shortages and the complexity of EHCPs, impacting the delivery of therapies. Barnet is developing an in-house therapy service to address this. Wait times for neurodevelopmental diagnoses were also discussed, with a particular focus on the challenges faced by families. The demand for Section 19 education (for children unable to attend school) has increased, and a three-tiered alternative provision model has been implemented.

The board noted the financial position of the High Needs Block (HNB) of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) and associated system pressures. Recommendations included supporting a continued partnership focus on improving access to therapies, strengthening joint commissioning and governance, and noting the progress of the Change Partnership Programme, which includes initiatives like the Early Language Support for Every Child (ELSEC) programme.

Neighbourhood Health in Barnet - Update

Anjali Gibbs from the Barnet GP Federation, Michael Whitworth, and Shan Haydar presented an update on the development of Neighbourhood Health in Barnet. This initiative aims to create a more integrated, preventative, and proactive approach to health and care by working with local networks, including NHS teams, Barnet Council, voluntary organisations, and residents. The goal is to better understand local needs, identify individuals at risk earlier, and provide coordinated support closer to home.

The presentation highlighted that Barnet has strong foundations for this work, including established partnerships and shared data tools. The borough is expanding from three to five neighbourhood localities and has established integrator arrangements with Central London Community Healthcare (CLCH) NHS Trust and the Barnet GP Federation to coordinate delivery. Pooled resources are being used to fund Neighbourhood Manager posts, and Primary Care Network (PCN) Champions are working with partners to develop delivery plans.

A Population Health Working Group has been established to align outcomes with need and risk, and a Barnet Neighbourhood Outcome Framework and Dashboard are being developed. The integrator arrangements are designed to coordinate delivery, align partners, and support the development of integrated neighbourhood health and care models. Key priorities for the integrator include reducing hospital pressures, addressing mental health needs, and managing the demands in primary, community, and social care, particularly those driven by frailty and complex care.

The discussion also touched upon the importance of engaging children and young people in neighbourhood work, despite national guidance not being entirely clear on this. The plan for the coming year includes developing neighbourhood leadership teams, improving data-driven decision-making, and designing new models of care for priority groups. The board noted the update, recognising that Barnet is well-positioned to scale a neighbourhood model that strengthens community resilience and improves health outcomes.

Better Care Fund Plan 2025-2026

Jess Baines-Holmes, Director of Commissioning, presented the Better Care Fund (BCF) Plan for 2025-26. The BCF supports the integration of health and social care to improve person-centred care, sustainability, and outcomes for residents and carers. The plan for 2025-26 builds on the NHS Long Term Plan, with objectives focused on shifting from sickness to prevention and supporting people to live independently at home.

Key priorities include proactive support for those with complex needs, the use of home adaptations and technology, and support for unpaid carers. The plan also aims to prevent avoidable hospital admissions and facilitate timely discharges from hospital, supporting people to recover in their own homes. Barnet's BCF plan has a total pooled budget of £52,560,193 for 2025/26, covering schemes that support place-based care, manage transfers of care, prevention, and system flow. The plan was approved by NHS England on 30 May 2025. The board noted the plan and its approval by NHS England.

Forward Work Programme

The board noted the Forward Work Programme, which includes a deep dive into physical activity and the Fit and Active Barnet Framework for the March meeting. Updates on the Barnet Food Plan and a biannual performance report on the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy were also scheduled. The Director of Operations from CLCH proposed adding an update on the Neighbourhood Plan to the Forward Work Programme for the next meeting, following the publication of new guidance from NHS England.

Any Other Business

Sarah Campbell, Healthwatch Barnet Manager, briefly mentioned an upcoming event on resident and patient involvement in March, for which a link would be circulated.

The Chair also noted that the future function of the Health and Wellbeing Board would be discussed at the next meeting, following feedback from an LGA peer review, with the aim of ensuring the board is fit for purpose and effectively addresses changing priorities. The importance of ensuring the Mental Health Trust is represented at future meetings was also highlighted.

The meeting concluded with the Chair thanking everyone for their contributions.