The Health and Wellbeing Board met on Thursday 19 March 2026 to discuss a range of critical public health issues, including adult mental health, social care access, and strategies for improving population health and financial security. Key discussions included the findings of an adult mental health joint strategic needs assessment, the development of a new partnership governance structure, and recommendations to improve adult social care access.

Adult Mental Health Joint Strategic Needs Assessment

The Board received a comprehensive three-part Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) detailing the state of adult mental health in Hackney and the City of London. The assessment highlighted rising rates of common mental health conditions and severe mental illness (SMI), with significant inequalities observed across gender, age, ethnicity, and deprivation levels. It also identified challenges in service access, navigation, and inclusivity, particularly for complex needs, LGBTQIA+ communities, and Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups. The report noted that men were underrepresented in many commissioned services, and residents from the most deprived areas appeared underrepresented in some key services like the Wellbeing Network (WBN) and Talking Therapies for Anxiety and Depression (TTAD). Recommendations included improving data collection, establishing a single point of coordination for mental health services, increasing outreach and in-reach options, and developing more culturally appropriate and inclusive interventions.

Next Steps in Partnership Development for City and Hackney

The Board discussed the evolving partnership landscape for City and Hackney, driven by changes in Integrated Care Board (ICB) commissioning and the recognition of places as critical entities for delivery. A partnership development plan was being created to maximise opportunities for improving population health. The proposed governance structure aims to embed partnership working within City and Hackney, giving all partners a meaningful say and potentially delegating responsibilities for Neighbourhood Health Plans to a new Partnership Board. The Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) would retain a strategic role in setting population health priorities, while the Partnership Board would focus more on delivery. Key questions for the Board included how to develop a strong link between the HWB and the partnership, ensure a systematic focus on health inequalities, and meaningfully incorporate the resident voice.

Committing to Collective Action: A Vision and Proposal for Improving Population Health, Prevention and Health Equity in City and Hackney

This report sought partnership agreement on a unified vision for population health, prevention, and health equity in City and Hackney. It proposed the establishment of a cross-partnership 'Institute for Change' to integrate and scale up enabling functions crucial for systemic population health improvement. This institute would build on existing work by the Population Health Hub and address identified skills and resource gaps in areas such as behaviour change science and innovation. The proposal aimed to embed population health, prevention, and equity as core operating principles across all partnership organisations, moving beyond smaller pockets of innovation. The Board was asked to consider this approach, ensure governance structures could deliver the plans, and link other enabling functions to this work.

Experiencing Adult Social Care in Hackney: Initial Findings from a Mystery Shopping Exercise

Healthwatch Hackney presented findings from a mystery shopping exercise designed to understand residents' experiences when seeking help from Adult Social Care. While staff attitudes were consistently praised as warm and professional, the exercise revealed systemic gaps in processes and communication. Issues included difficulties navigating the website for specific information, confusing phone menus, and a rigid redirection to online forms even in urgent cases. The quality of needs assessments varied, and safeguarding concerns were not always identified. Callers often left without a clear understanding of next steps or who was responsible for their case. The report concluded that these issues were systemic rather than individual performance-related and provided a baseline for evaluating future improvements. Recommendations included reviewing urgent case handling, strengthening needs assessments, improving website content, and embedding consistent, inclusive practice.

Hackney Thinking Spaces

The Board received an update on Hackney Thinking Spaces (HTS) Phase 2, a programme commissioned to address the impact of systemic racism on the mental health and wellbeing of Black and Global Majority children, young people, and families. Phase 1 had established a Community Advisory Board (CAB) which developed recommendations grouped under four themes: Commissioning & System Accountability, Access to Community Spaces, Emotional Health & Wellbeing, and Black History & Education. Phase 2 aims to embed these recommendations within mainstream delivery and strengthen partnership accountability. The report highlighted the need for clear cross-Council ownership and governance oversight to progress these actions effectively. The Board was asked to note the progress, consider the implementation approach, and discuss cross-system ownership and governance oversight.

Black Health Legacy

Professor Sarah Finer presented an overview of the Black Health Legacy research programme, highlighting the significant under-representation of Black communities in health research and its contribution to health inequalities. The programme aims to address this by building a trusted research study by, with, and for Black communities in the UK. A key discovery revealed that a common gene change, G6PD deficiency, affects the accuracy of the HbA1c blood test used for diagnosing and monitoring type 2 diabetes, potentially delaying diagnosis and increasing complication risks for Black populations. The report sought endorsement for expanding the Black Health Legacy's work in Hackney, encouraging system partners to contribute, and positioning Hackney as a leader in inclusive health research.

The Board also noted the minutes of the previous meeting and confirmed the dates for future meetings.