The Scrutiny Health & Social Care Sub-Committee met on Tuesday 03 February 2026 to discuss the Older People Needs Assessment, the Neighbourhood Health and Care Implementation Programme, and the Adults Living Independently Transformation Programme. Key decisions included noting the findings of the Older People Needs Assessment and agreeing to receive further updates on the Neighbourhood Health and Care Programme and the Adults Living Independently Transformation Programme.

Older People Needs Assessment

The committee received the findings of the Older People Needs Assessment, which highlighted a projected 25% increase in Croydon's over-65 population by 2030. The assessment identified significant health inequalities, with life expectancy varying considerably between the most and least deprived areas. Key health challenges include a high dementia diagnosis rate (81.1%), a projected rise in cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and significant levels of depression and social isolation. The report outlined 19 recommendations grouped into four themes: becoming an age-friendly borough, strengthening preventive care, enhancing integrated care for complex needs, and addressing social isolation and mental health. Councillors requested that maps be included in future reports to better illustrate the geographical distribution of older residents and health inequalities.

Neighbourhood Health and Care: National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP)

Croydon was confirmed as one of 43 Wave 1 sites for the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP). This programme aims to improve joined-up, proactive, and preventative multi-disciplinary team working in the community through Integrated Neighbourhood Teams. The initiative builds on Croydon's existing approach to integrated care and is central to the Croydon Health and Care Plan. Early learning from pilot sites indicated a need for co-production with residents, building trust between partners, and focusing on prevention. The programme will measure impact through resident-reported outcomes and experiences, service use, and cost implications. The committee noted the progress and requested that data on the age profile and geographical distribution of the 50,000 adults with long-term conditions be included in future updates.

Adults Living Independently Transformation Programme and savings update for 2025/26 and 2026/27

An update was provided on the Adults Living Independently (ALI) transformation programme, which aims to support residents to live independently for longer, enhancing outcomes and achieving financial savings. The programme is on track to meet its Medium Term Financial Strategy savings targets, with a projected £15 million in savings by 2030. Key performance indicators were reviewed, with particular focus on older people's domiciliary care hours and step-down targets in mental health and disabilities. The committee heard that the programme had successfully reduced the backlog of Occupational Therapy assessments and reviews, and that recruitment and retention in OT had improved. Concerns were raised about the detail provided on the 2026/27 savings proposals, and the committee concluded that this would be raised with the Scrutiny & Overview Committee.

Update from Healthwatch Croydon

Healthwatch Croydon presented updates on their recent reports concerning Type 2 diabetes care among Black African and Caribbean residents, and neurodiversity and healthcare access. For Type 2 diabetes, findings indicated a general satisfaction with services but highlighted barriers around culturally relevant care, lifestyle advice, and mental health support. Recommendations included developing culturally appropriate educational materials, improving service visibility, engaging with churches for outreach, enhancing cultural competency training for healthcare professionals, and establishing lived experience assessor groups. For neurodiversity, the report highlighted challenges in accessing diagnosis and support, with many respondents feeling misunderstood by healthcare professionals. Recommendations included improving access to diagnosis and post-diagnosis support, developing community-led resources, increasing training for healthcare professionals, and promoting wider understanding of neurodiversity. The committee also discussed potential future arrangements for Healthwatch, expressing support for the principles of an independent voice across health and social care.

Scrutiny Work Programme 2025-2026

The Sub-Committee reviewed its draft work programme for the upcoming municipal year. Members suggested adding items such as a virtual ward visit, and deep dives into the sensory impairment team, supported living, property adaptations, and asylum-seeking young people. The committee also recommended the use of an action log to track progress on agreed actions.