Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held on 17^th September 2025 were agreed and signed as a true record.

There were no matters arising.

Briefing Note of the Director of Care, Health and Housing

The Board considered a report and presentation of the Director of Care, Health and Housing regarding the Local Integrated Teams element of the Improving Lives programme approximately 12 months post implementation and its impact on Adult Social Care (ASC).

The report outlined how the programme launched as a city-wide service in July 2024, integrates urgent response, therapy, adult social care, and community services through the One Coventry Integrated Teams. This person-centred approach prioritises supporting people at home, reducing unnecessary hospital admissions, and promoting independence. Key pathways include care at home, reablement beds, and discharge to assess, all enhanced by therapy-first and digital options. The programme has led to a marked reduction in discharge to assess beds and improved outcomes, with staff reporting more efficient, joined-up support. External recognition, including shortlisting for national awards, highlights the programme’s innovative partnership working.

Officers drew attention to the post-implementation Health Check carried out by Newton Europe in May 2025 which evaluated the programme’s impact on hospital admission avoidance, internal hospital processes, and supported discharges. The review highlighted strong leadership in embedding the Improving Lives model but emphasised the need for sustained focus and effort to achieve and maintain performance targets, noting that behaviour and culture change take time.

Following the Health Check, the team has:

·  Reviewed baseline data and targets, particularly for long-term support, with ongoing monitoring through Adult Social Care meetings and OCIT governance.

·  Streamlined case transfers from Local Integrated Teams to Adult Social Care.

·  Continued monitoring capacity and demand, especially ahead of seasonal pressures.

·  Delivered additional staff training and development.

Additional information on the programme was attached as an appendix to the report.

The Cabinet Member and Deputy Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Councillors L Bigham and D Toulson, introduced the item and highlighted the programme’s nature as the vanguard of ASC with its focus on dignity being a key driving factor in its success.

Members of the Board, having considered the report and presentation, asked questions and received information from officers on the following matters:

·  The quantitative impacts of the programme – less beds being taken up, influence on ASCOF (Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework) figures, and reduced handoffs between departments.

·  The use of operational graphs in the report and their ability to present live data and not management narratives.

·  Linking the planned delivery of the programme to cost saving metrics – achieving targets results in a cost saving of £2 million for ASC.

·  How the merging of 3 line management structures has led to improved feedback, the sharing of skills and improved working conditions.

·  The use of demographics in the data to track health inequalities and protect the most vulnerable groups.

·  An explanation of each of the three pathways and their delivery mechanisms – from home support (pathway 1), residential care (pathway 2), and nursing care (pathway 3).

·  The involvement of the Virtual Beds initiative.

·  Feedback from partner organisations and service users and ensuring its inclusion for the next annual report.

·  The options available for further improvement.

·  How further staff  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Briefing Note of the Director of Public Health and Wellbeing

The Board considered a report and presentation of the Director of Public Health in which this year’s annual report focused on the city’s cultural diversity and the health inequalities facing the vibrant migrant populations.

The report outlined the importance of the Director’s annual report to enable change to happen and provide a platform for improving outcomes in population health and healthcare by reducing health inequalities, prioritising prevention and wider determinants, and making services more effective through greater collaboration and integration.

Coventry is a city that has long been influenced by migration, with residents hailing from a rich tapestry of backgrounds and cultures. The report examined the migrant health and wellbeing including the impact of social determinants of health (e.g. accessibility of healthcare, discrimination, and stigma) and the new and longstanding protective and risk factors that influence migrants’ ability to rebuild their lives, integrate and thrive. The narrative recognises that changes to the legal frameworks have had an impact on migrant health, with positive and negative effects. It highlights that Coventry’s experience of supporting migrants contains a range of successful policy and practice that supports integrations. It also notes that continued collaboration across ICS partners (including the voluntary sector), and involving the views of new migrants, is vital for future proofing support and integration pathways.

The report set out 15 recommendations for action grouped by level of priority attached as an appendix to the report.

The Deputy Cabinet Member for Public Health, Sport, and Wellbeing, Councillor G Hayre, recognised Coventry’s history of welcoming migrants to enrich the city’s culture. The Cabinet and Deputy Cabinet Member of Adult Services reiterated these comments, thanked officers for the report and presentation and recognised the importance of engagement for different communities.

Members of the Scrutiny Board, having considered the report and presentation, asked questions and received information from officers on the following matters:

·  The use of virtual reality (VR) as an educational tool with benefits for those with neurodiversity.

·  The support process for minority migrant groups, mapping out faith communities in the city, and the use of grants in the facilitation of this support.

·  Directions to UHCW (University Hospital Coventry and Warwick) on public transport being communicated through VR.

·  The support process for the Positive Youth Foundation which provides tailored intervention for migrant children throughout the school year including booster programs and mental health work.

·  The procedure for finding community champions – a longstanding program following the implementation of HARP (Health Access Refugee Programme) where community connectors reached out to communities during covid. Community champions built on that framework to tackle mistrust.

·  The importance of language in migrant integration.

RESOLVED that the Health and Social Care Scrutiny Board (5):

1)  Notes the findings and recommendations of the Annual Report Public Health 2024 for Coventry.

2)  Endorses the recommendations contained in the report.

Report of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator

RESOLVED that the Health and Social Care Scrutiny Board (5):

1)  Notes the Work Programme with the following amendments:

·  The meeting due to take place on the 17^th December 2025 will now take place at UHCW.

·  The meeting due to take place on the 25^th February 2026 will invite Age UK as part of the item on the physical activity update.

Any other items of public business which the Chair decides to take as matters of urgency because of the special circumstances involved

The Chair of the Board noted how she was invited to the UHCW Oscars recognising the amazing work done at all levels of health and social care.