The Oxfordshire Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to discuss updates on learning disability reviews and the development of an all-age autism strategy. The meeting also included a review of adult and older adult mental health services, health visitor services, and an update from Healthwatch Oxfordshire.

Chair's Update

Councillor Jane Hanna OBE, Chair of the Oxfordshire Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee, was scheduled to provide a verbal update on relevant issues since the last meeting. A key focus of this update was a request for information submitted to the Integrated Care Board regarding the timeliness and oversight of Learning from Lives and Deaths (LeDeR) reviews for people with a learning disability and autistic people. The committee was to receive an update on current performance against NHS England LeDeR Key Performance Indicators, governance and accountability structures for LeDeR reviews, the capacity and resilience of the LeDeR function, and any recovery actions and milestones.

Additionally, the Chair's update was expected to cover the proposal to formally dissolve the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire West Joint Health Overview Scrutiny Committee (BOB JHOSC) and establish a new Thames Valley JHOSC, following the establishment of a new Thames Valley Integrated Care Board. A letter had also been sent to the Chief Executive and Chair of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust concerning maternity services, requesting clarification on errors in submitted data. Recommendations on maternity services had also been submitted to Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. The committee was also to be informed about the recruitment process for a vacant cooptee post.

Update on the Development of the All-Age Autism Strategy

Karen Fuller, Director of Adult Social Care at Oxfordshire County Council, was invited to present a report on the ongoing development of an All-Age Autism Strategy for Oxfordshire. The committee was to consider the report, raise questions, and agree any recommendations. The draft strategy, developed through extensive public consultation and co-production with autistic individuals, families, professionals, and experts by experience, aims to address key issues such as long waits for diagnosis, fragmented services, limited awareness, and barriers to education, employment, and community life. Commitments include reducing diagnostic waits, expanding employment pathways, strengthening education practices, ensuring reasonable adjustments, preventing unnecessary hospital admissions, and improving housing and transitions. The strategy is a partnership between Oxfordshire County Council, the NHS, education providers, voluntary groups, and organisations representing autistic people and families.

Adult and Older Adult Mental Health Services in Oxfordshire

Dan Leveson, Director of Places and Communities at the Thames Valley Integrated Care Board, and Rob Bale, Chief Operating Officer for Mental Health and Learning Disability at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, were invited to present a report providing an update on Adult and Older Adult Mental Health Services in Oxfordshire. The committee was to consider this report, ask questions, and agree any recommendations. The report was expected to cover community-based prevention and early intervention, access to community mental health and crisis alternatives, efforts to reduce escalation to acute services, crisis response pathways, response times, demand trends, performance, work with partners on the Right Care, Right Person initiative, current demand for acute and older adult mental health beds, use of out-of-area placements, length of stay, discharge pathways, workforce and operational pressures, and the Warneford Park redevelopment. Additional insights were to be provided on transitions from children's to adult mental health services, medication management, system-level KPIs, the community dimension of out-of-area placements, and support for people with complex needs and comorbidities.

Health Visitor Services in Oxfordshire

Ansaf Azhar, Director of Public Health at Oxfordshire County Council, and Emma Leaver, Chief Operating Officer for Community Health Services, Dentistry & Primary Care at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, were invited to present a report on Health Visitor Services in Oxfordshire. The committee was to consider this report, ask questions, and agree any recommendations. The report was expected to provide an update on the Health Visiting and Family Nurse Partnership elements of the Healthy Child Public Health Service, commissioned by Public Health in Oxfordshire County Council and delivered by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. It was to cover mandated reviews, digital systems, safeguarding, feedback from parents, quality assurance, workforce, and system collaboration.

Healthwatch Oxfordshire Update

Veronica Barry, Executive Director of Healthwatch Oxfordshire, was invited to present the Healthwatch Oxfordshire Update report. The committee was to consider this update and note any questions arising. The update was expected to cover Healthwatch Oxfordshire's recent activities, including reports on Cora Health, community research on cancer and access to healthcare, snapshot reports on men in Faringdon and mental health services, and Enter and View visits to Katharine House Hospice and Ashurst Ward. It was also to include information on upcoming reports concerning end-of-life care, rural insights, and GP services.

Oxfordshire Learning Disability Plan

Karen Fuller, Director of Adult Social Care at Oxfordshire County Council, Bhavna Taank, Head of Joint Commissioning - Live Well, Clair Taylor, My Life My Choice Project Co-ordinator, Kumudu Perera, My Life My Choice Expert by Experience, Alex Wheeler, Senior Joint Commissioning Officer, and Matthew Tait, BOB ICB Chief Delivery Officer, were invited to present a report on the Oxfordshire Learning Disability Plan. The committee was to consider this report, ask questions, and agree any recommendations. The plan, a ten-year dynamic strategy, had been co-produced with people with learning disabilities, their families, carers, and professionals. It focuses on four central themes: having a good life, health and wellbeing, a place to live, and homes not hospitals, supported by cross-cutting elements including transitions, workforce, technology, and inclusion. The committee was to consider recommendations regarding an anniversary event to share progress and good practice, the development of outcome measures for the strategy, a statement from partners on their roles and contributions, and further engagement with people with learning disabilities, autism, and epilepsy.

Forward Work Plan

The committee was recommended to agree the proposed work programme for its upcoming meetings.

Actions and Recommendations Tracker

The committee was recommended to note the progress made against agreed actions and recommendations, having raised any questions.