To receive apologies for absence.

No apologies for absence were received.

To receive details of any councillor nominated to attend the meeting in place of a member of the committee.

There were no named substitutes.

To receive declarations of interest in respect of items on the agenda.

No declarations of interest were made.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on Monday 24 November 2025.

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 November 2025 were confirmed as a correct record.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 24 November 2025 be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive any written questions from members of the public.

No questions were received from members of the public.

To receive any written questions from members of the council.

No questions were received from councillors.

This report and its appendices provide information to support the Health, Care, and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee’s scrutiny of the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust Strategy.

The committee received an overview of the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust Strategy from Sue Harris, Director of Strategy, People and Culture, and David Thomas, Associate Director, Primary Care and Community Mental Health Services.

The principal points of the discussion are summarized below:

1. The trust has made progress embedding cultural improvements including strengthened leadership, clearer governance, and revised approaches to staff support.

2. The reporting of the strategy will start in April 2026 which will embed it as part of the trust’s decision making so people will be able to track progress.

3. Talking therapy services are undergoing expansion, with local increases in capacity and workforce underway, though some lag exists due to training.

4. Individual placement services (IPS) are subcontracted with Landau. The trust’s key consideration is that there is a set of expectations and deliverables that Landau has agreed to meet. Overall, Landau consistently delivers against these requirements and maintains a strong overall performance record.

5. In response to a question around workforce, it was noted that staff turnover has declined over time. It was added that staff turnover in relation to IPS in Herefordshire is not so much a direct operational workforce question but rather a contracting question. It was noted that Landau has a good record in this area.

6. There has been a considerable focus on inappropriate out-of-area placements over the last year or so and has been very successful with a baseline of zero inappropriate out-of-area placements.

7. It was confirmed that inappropriate out-of-area placement patients may be sent either to another NHS trust offering commercial capacity or to a private provider, depending on available capacity at the time.

8. In response to a question about whether Herefordshire and Worcestershire provide services to other counties, it was confirmed that they do not.

9. Length of stay reduction for working-age adults and older adults is also a key objective, supported by a seven-day mental health bed-management function.

10. The older adult targets slightly trail the working age adult targets because there are some additional complexities related to caring for older adults in mental health settings.

11. Challenges around discharge were noted, particularly where social care or housing issues delay patient movement from inpatient settings.

12. In response to a question about partnerships, the trust noted ongoing collaboration with Talk Community, public health, education settings, and wider NHS partners to support proactive, community?based mental?health approaches.

13. In response to a question about where Talk Community sits within the trust’s strategy, it was noted that Talk Community forms part of the neighbourhood health agenda. It was also acknowledged that there are potential tensions in partnership working due to challenges around IT systems, data sharing, and governance, which need to be addressed to realise this ambition.

14. In relation to mental health support teams in schools, the target is to have two new teams stood up by the end of 2026/27 and then further expansion over the two successive years. New funding is confirmed for 2026/27 in support of this with commitments to continue that funding  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To consider the draft work programme for Herefordshire Council’s scrutiny committees for the remainder of the 2025/6 and the first eight months of the 2026/7 municipal year.

The Statutory Scrutiny Officer presented the draft work programme for the Health, Care and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee for the remainder of the municipal year 2025/26 and the first eight months of the 2026/27 municipal year.

An overview of the adult social care demand task and finish group’s work to date was also provided by the chair of the task and finish group, with reference to the upcoming review meeting.

Resolved

That:

a)    The committee agree the draft work programme for Health, Care and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee contained in the work programme report attached as appendix 1, which will be subject to monthly review, as the basis of their primary focus for the remainder of the municipal year.

b)    The committee note the work programme for the other scrutiny committees and identify any opportunities for collaboration or alignment of work.

Date of the next scheduled meeting: Monday 27 April 2026, 2.00 pm.

The date of the next meeting is Monday 27 April 2026, 2.00 pm.