The Health and Care Policy Development Committee met on Wednesday 18 February 2026 to discuss mental health services in Redbridge, focusing on the services provided by NELFT. The committee received an update on the current provision, discussed challenges and opportunities for improvement, and reviewed the committee's work plan.

Mental Health Services and NELFT Update

The meeting featured a detailed discussion on mental health services, with a particular focus on the work of NELFT (North East London Foundation Trust), the council's mental health provider. Simon Froud, the Executive Director for Adults Social Care and Health, provided an overview of the services, highlighting a recent visit to Melmead House.

Key themes emerging from the visit and discussions included the significant link between housing issues, such as homelessness, and mental illness, with 98% of homeless individuals reportedly suffering from mental health conditions. Disengagement from services, particularly across different cultural groups, was also identified as a significant challenge. To address this, a proposal was made to develop hyper-localised awareness campaigns targeting specific communities within Redbridge to improve engagement.

Councillor Jyotsna Rahman Islam noted the positive impact of co-production, where individuals with lived experience are integrated into service delivery teams. She shared an anecdote about a gentleman who had experienced a psychotic break and found the service invaluable, stating it was perfect so far. The committee also discussed the potential benefit of visiting the newly established Crisis Café, a service for people experiencing mental health crises.

Discussions also delved into the complexities of data collection for mental health services. Simon Froud explained that data is gathered from both social care and health perspectives, including information on assessments, safeguarding concerns, reviews, and outcomes. He noted that NELFT collects extensive data on various conditions, demographics, culture, and ethnicity. The challenge lies in consolidating this data to effectively measure Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and forecast future demand. The Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework (ASCOF) was mentioned as a national mechanism for data collection and comparison.

The review of the Section 75 agreement, which governs the integration of health and social care services, was also a significant topic. Recent CQC (Care Quality Commission) inspections had highlighted areas for improvement, particularly concerning safeguarding processes and inter-agency information sharing. The review aims to enhance integration, co-location, funding, and staffing arrangements for joint teams.

Several challenges were identified, including funding pressures and a shortage of skilled professionals. The committee also discussed the importance of place-based services and community hubs, aligning with the NHS's 10-year plan. The need for clearer pathways for informal carers seeking support, particularly following hospital discharges, was raised.

The committee was informed that the review of the Section 75 agreement is ongoing, with a timeline of a few months for initial feedback. The process will involve collaborative conversations with staff, service users, and people with lived experience.

Health and Care PDC Work Plan

The committee reviewed the Health and Care PDC Work Plan for 2025-2026. The plan outlines upcoming topics and witness engagements, including future discussions on Adult Social Care and Health with Councillor Mark Santos, Executive Director Simon Froud, Interim Director Lisa Redfern, and Integrated Team Manager Wesley Scarry. The plan also includes a session on agreeing the final outcome report for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The next meeting of the Health and Care Policy Development Committee was scheduled for 25 March 2026.