Minutes:
1. The verbal update was presented by Miss Diane Morton (Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health), Mr Richard Smith (Corporate Director for Adult Social care) and Dr Ellen Schwartz (Deputy Director of Public Health)
2. Miss Morton provided the following update:
a) Following World Suicide Prevention Day, the Cabinet Member took the opportunity to reflect on the work which had been carried out in Kent. The new Suicide Prevention grants had been awarded to several charities and social enterprises across the county.
b) Kent was hosting the Baton of Hope on 22 September, which was the biggest anti-stigma campaign that the Kent Suicide Prevention Team had been involved in to date. The campaign involved a tour of the UK, and Kent had been chosen as one of the areas the baton would visit. Medway, Maidstone, Canterbury and Margate would all be involved.
c) Community equipment supplier NRS ceased to operate at the end of July 2025. MedEquip took over the contract by 1 September 2025 and recruited staff, secured a facility, mobilised 57 vehicles, secured stock, handled 617 calls and completed 308 deliveries. Mr Simon Mitchell, the Commissioning Staff and Occupational Therapy Team were acknowledged and thanks given to their efforts during the transition period.
3. In answer to some Member questions and comments, the following was said:
a) Several interventions were available for mental health, wellbeing and suicide, the Live Well Kent Service being one, as well as other commissioned specialist services. Other actions included the provision of work force training to identify signs that people may need support. Many of the services were reviewed on an annual basis to establish whether they could refresh delivery and operation.
b) The Batton of Hope was welcomed as an important event in local schools and universities; several students would be attending the celebration and taking part to raise further awareness.
c) NRS suffered a major cyberattack in 2024 however approximately 4-6 weeks prior to the organisation’s collapse further issues with the company became apparent and a support package was sought. There were no other warning signs prior to this. The support package sought by NRS prior to closure was not granted as Kent County Council felt the assurance provided by the supplier was insufficient.
e) It was confirmed by the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health that she was working with colleagues in other areas across the country to shared ideas regarding the lack of funding available for Adult Social Care.
4. The Corporate Director for Adult Social Care, Mr Smith, provided the
following update:
a) The most recent Association Director of Social Services (ADAS) survey returned results which confirmed the state of the market and finances were serious. The Casey Commission was scheduled to produced interim recommendations over the coming years however the directorate was still facing demand which outstripped resources available from central Government. Current demand for older people and younger adults was approximately 10-12%, however the funding formula was approximately 4%.
b) Ms Helen Gillivan was welcomed into the post of Interim Director of Integrated Commissioning. Thanks and best wishes were expressed for Richard Ellis who left Kent County Council.
c) High temperatures of the summer had caused an increase on stress on resources for the Adult Social Care Directorate and thanks was expressed to staff who worked hard to keep the services going.
d) Artificial Intelligence tool Magic Notes had successfully been piloted and would be rolled out over the next few months to wider parts of the team. This product would help with the assessment process and productivity.
5. The Deputy Director of Public Health, Dr Ellen Schwartz provided the following update:
a) An increased focus had been placed on infection prevention control, working in particular with community settings and care homes to increase the standard of infection prevention control.
b) A series of pandemic planning exercises had been conducted in preparation for the next pandemic.
c) Work concerning the Building Blocks of Health had been carried out across the Council to support health and environment work; this included many initiatives such as working with the Kent Housing Group and the Coastal Region Programme.
d) The statutory pharmaceutical needs assessment was due for publication in late September 2025.
e) An expansion and development of a supervised tooth brushing programme for 3–5-year olds in deprived areas was due for launch in late 2025. A SEND (Special Education Needs) Health Needs Assessment was due for completion for this project.
f) The Kent Public Health Observatory had developed some key data resources to inform Planning and Commissioning directorates of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and Specific Health Needs Assessments.
g) The development of a centre of excellent in research and innovation was currently underway, with Kent County Council being viewed as an attractive training location, with 27 trainees in the Public Health department, this calendar year.
h) Improvements arounds the pathways for substance misuse treatment were underway, in addition to work on improving service users’ experienced for replacement treatment, by working to identify an alternative to methadone.
i) Gambling was a new area to Public Health and work was going to be conducted with national investment from the end of 2025 to progress this.
j) Significant work had been carried out in conjunction with KMPT (Kent and Medway Partnership Trust) as well as other mental health providers in order to improve services across the board.
k) A needs assessment was conducted last year in relation to sexual health services and work was being conducted to improve the support available. This included the development of a new sexual health clinic in Dover.
l) On integrated commissioning, the Public Health Service Transformation programme continued to improve services. A new therapeutic support service for children and young people aged 4 to 19 year who required mild to medium emotional support had been procured. A new infant feed service had also been procured, as well as the development of the Cyber Sanctuary Initiative to protect survivors of domestic abuse from digital stalking and cybercrime.
6. In answer to Member questions and comments, the following was said:
a) It was confirmed that Public Health worked primarily with the UK Health Security Agency who were responsible for monitoring emerging diseases. Dr Schwartz confirmed that imported diseased were highly unlikely to cause a pandemic; this would more likely arise due to a novel agent meeting a population who was not immune.
b) Kent and Medway were a low Tuberculosis endemicity areas, although nationally there was a recognised increase. Close work continued with partner agencies to ensure pathways were robust and that systems from prevention to treatment worked effectively together. In relation to measles, it was confirmed that once infection levels were at the expected level of 95%, transmission could not happen and therefore even if people were not vaccinated, they would not become ill. However, vaccination rates were decreasing both globally and locally. It was confirmed that Chickenpox could lead to prolonged illness and therefore a vaccination scheme rollout against Chickenpox was being supported.
7. RESOLVED Members noted the verbal updates.