Agenda and minutes

The evacuation procedure was noted.

There were no interests declared.

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 17 February 2026.

Consideration was given to the minutes from the Committee meeting held on 17 February 2026.

AGREED that the minutes of the meeting on 17 February 2026 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Cllr Marc Besford wished it to be recorded for transparency purposes only that he was currently an employee of Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees.

The Committee received a presentation on the Stockton-on-Tees Wellbeing Hub.

Open in July 2024 and based in Wellington Square, the Wellbeing Hub was a one-stop shop for advice, guidance and support relating to any wellbeing issues, and brought together a range of expertise and organisations under one roof, making it easier for people to access local help and support.  Now the Hub had become established, an approach was made to Catalyst (a charity which acted as the overarching body to further the impact, reputation and opportunities of the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector within the Borough, and which led on the Hub project) for an update on its achievements since opening.  Presented by the Wellbeing Hub Project Manager, the following information was provided:

·       Introduction: In 2021, NHS England funding was secured to initiate community mental health transformation for Tees Valley, with a focus on people being able to access provision within their communities rather than just via clinical settings.  Healthwatch led and supported feedback from local communities for the infrastructure of mental health services (2021), with recommendations presented for Stockton’s community mental health transformation.  The Stockton Lived Experience Forum voice (facilitated by local community organisations Red Balloons and Starfish Health and Wellbeing) in designing services had been, and continued to be, critical to the community transformation work.

·       Wellbeing Hub Official Opening – July 2024: Whilst the preference was to have opened sooner, the July 2024 launch ensured the required arrangements were in place from the beginning.  Involving a number of organisations, key partners included Catalyst, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) (a SBC adult mental health worker was present every morning), Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV), Impact on Teesside, and Stockton and District Advice and Information Service (SDAIS), with the Hub enabling walk-in access to information on available mental health and wellbeing services, signposting to further opportunities for help, and pre-booked appointments with a range of support providers.  Nothing was done without a person’s consent (unless there was an identified safeguarding issue), and there was a clear sense that people were leaving the building feeling better / more upbeat about their future options.

·       Measuring Success / Data: Reporting to the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (NENC ICB) on a quarterly basis, the Hub used both qualitative and quantitative methods to ascertain performance – this included footfall data, case studies, impact assessments, and evaluations on the overarching offer (it was noted that this would be further enhanced through the forthcoming work of an intern from Teesside University, a development which may help in securing future resources).  Statistics showed that the Hub had seen 1,660 walk-ins (including referrals in), with the main themes for attending being mental health (557), housing (201), bereavement (85), and drugs and alcohol (77).  Activity attendance was growing monthly, mainly thanks to Public Health small grants  ...  view the full minutes text for item ASCH/4/26

Presented by the relevant Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) Service Manager, consideration was given to a draft Action Plan setting out how the agreed recommendations from the recently concluded review of Stockton-on-Tees Adult Carers Support Service would be implemented, including success measures and target dates for completion.

Approving its content, the Committee emphasised the importance of the work on strengthening the SBC ‘front door’ which would play a vital role in the achievement of the Action Plan.  Members drew further attention to the following:

·       Recommendation 1 (In terms of general Stockton-on-Tees Adult Carers Support Service development, SBC should:

c)     Consider ways to increase the response rate for its annual carers consultation survey): Clarity was sought on when SBC conducted its annual survey (SBC officers confirmed that this was usually undertaken during April / May each year), and a request was made that the latest results were fed back to the Committee.

·       Recommendation 2 (Regarding the partnership with Mobilise (the UKs digital platform for unpaid carers), SBC should:

a)    Develop its own in-house digital support offer for local carers to build on / complement the services available through this external provider): SBC officers were asked if work regarding this recommendation had started yet and informed the Committee that this was included within the ongoing ‘front door’ developments.

It was noted that ‘recommendation 5’ was not one of the Committee’s eight recommendations for this review, but was instead an action associated with wider work in relation to carers assessments.  Recommendation 7 (The new carers awareness e-learning module be rolled out to SBC staff, Members and external partners) should therefore have been listed as recommendation 6, with the Committee adding that a reference to training being delivered to Members (as well as SBC staff and external partners) should also be incorporated within both the ‘proposed actions / progress’ and ‘success measures’ columns.

AGREED that the Action Plan in relation to the recently completed Scrutiny Review of Stockton-on-Tees Adult Carers Support Service be approved.

The Committee received an overview report from the Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) Adults, Health and Wellbeing directorate which provided details of key achievements and challenges in 2025-2026 for the Adult Social Care and Strategy & Transformation departments, as well as any emerging issues within these areas of Council activity.

Prior to the report being presented, some context around this item was outlined.  In 2025, to facilitate the important overview function of scrutiny committees and provide the opportunity to hold SBC Cabinet Members and services to account, a decision was made to resume overview and performance reporting to the Council’s Select Committees (it was noted that the Adult Social Care and Health Select Committee last considered an overview report in July 2023).  It was agreed that this should take place twice-yearly.

Although the reporting of performance measures would not commence until September / October 2026, officers from the SBC Strategic Planning Team were in attendance to briefly outline how future performance information would be presented.  With work ongoing in relation to finalising key performance indicators (KPIs) linked to the Stockton-on-Tees Plan, reporting would involve the relaying of ‘tier 1’ (Council outcomes) measures bi-annually to Cabinet and annually to the Executive Scrutiny Committee and Full Council, with ‘tier 2’ (service outcomes and progress update, including data that supports SBC strategies / plans) measures being submitted bi-annually to the five Select Committees.

Regarding the referenced SBC strategies / plans, the Committee asked if Members could have access to these in paper format (e.g. copies provided within political group offices) – officers agreed to take this up with the SBC Head of Policy, Development and Public Affairs after the meeting.  The Committee also encouraged the retention of a consistent colour scheme for the proposed ‘progress quadrant’ when future performance-related information was provided.

The overview-only report that had been prepared for this meeting (supplemented by presentation slides) was then summarised by the SBC Director of Adults, Health and Wellbeing (supported by the SBC Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care and the SBC Assistant Director – Adult Social Care who were also in attendance).  Headline information included:

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

·       Care Quality Commission (CQC) ‘Good’ rating (awarded in October 2025 for SBC adult social care services)

·       15% increase in people coming to the front door

·       10,840 care assessments completed

·       844 direct payments delivered

·       855 carers assessments completed

·       91% care homes rated as ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’

·       72% of domiciliary care rated as ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’

With regards the stated ambition of achieving ‘Outstanding’ in the next CQC inspection of SBC adult social care services, the Committee sought clarity on comments in relation to the Council ‘waiting on indications from the baseline exercise which is nationally complete to understand what the future programmes look like’ (paragraph 1).  It was explained that, like other Local Authorities, SBC was awaiting the outcome of several CQC reports reflecting on the adult social care inspection process thus far, and that further national guidance was anticipated.  Members looked forward to seeing  ...  view the full minutes text for item ASCH/6/26

Consideration was given to the latest Regional Health Scrutiny Update report which summarised the work of regional health scrutiny committees and highlighted some recent health-related developments impacting on the Tees Valley and / or wider North East and North Cumbria footprint.  Attention was drawn to the following:

·       Tees Valley Joint Health Scrutiny Committee: Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council hosted the Committee in 2025-2026.  Two meetings had taken place since the last published update, the first being held on 11 December 2025 where agenda items included a key clinical services strategy update from the University Hospitals Tees (UHT), another Tees respite care / adult learning disability update, a presentation on the development and implementation of the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (NENC ICB) palliative and end-of-life care strategy, and a health inequalities update.

The most recent meeting took place on 12 March 2026 and included Quality Account presentations from both North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (NEAS) and Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV).  TEWV also provided an urgent care mental health crisis update.

As per previously agreed rotational arrangements, Chair and support responsibilities for this joint committee would move to Middlesbrough Council for 2026-2027.  The first meeting date of the new municipal year was yet to be confirmed.

Reference was once again made to Member attendance at the Tees Valley Joint Health Scrutiny Committee, with ongoing absences from some of the appointed representatives from other Local Authorities highlighted (it was noted that attendance by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) representatives continued to be strong).  Concerns were also raised around the University Hospitals Tees (UHT) developments and the very recent reports of job losses across the two NHS Trusts (North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, and South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust) within the UHT footprint.

·       Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) / Integrated Care System (ICS) Joint Health Scrutiny Committee: No further developments regarding this Joint Committee since the previous update in December 2025.  In related matters, regional developments highlighted included the ongoing promotion of the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (NENC ICB) ‘Here to help you’ webpage, the extension of efforts to help people in the North East and North Cumbria tackle health problems and stay in work, new premises for a learning disability respite service that faced years of uncertainty, and the high rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the North East.  At a more local level, attention was drawn to recent North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust (NTHFT) news items regarding the reaccreditation of its Teesside endoscopy service, a new initiative to help patients who may be deteriorating, and a new fast and easy system for feedback for new mums and mums-to-be.

AGREED that the Regional Health Scrutiny Update report be noted.

CHAIR’S UPDATE

The Chair had no further updates.

WORK PROGRAMME 2026-2027

Consideration was given to the Committee’s current work programme.  The next meeting was due to take place on 19 May 2026 where the annual North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust (NTHFT) Quality Account presentation would be received, along with the latest progress update in relation to the Committee’s previously completed Access to GPs and Primary Medical Care review.  Members were also informed of the recent confirmation of the Committee’s next in-depth review topic (Protection of Property) – a draft scope for this piece of work would be presented at either the May or June 2026 meeting.

AGREED that the Chair’s Update and Adult Social Care and Health Select Committee Work Programme 2026-2027 be noted.