Minutes:
1. Diane Morton, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, provided a verbal update on the following:
a) Miss Morton thanked Directorate staff for their continued hard work over the past year, recognising their effective management of budget pressures, adaptability to new ways of working, and resilience in responding to ongoing market challenges. She also congratulated the new Cabinet Member for Public Health on his role and wished him success moving forward.
b) The Adult Social Care budget had been set for the coming year, with a continued focus on delivery within financial constraints and the importance of prevention. Miss Morton stated that despite the challenges faced, the Directorate had performed well and current reports indicated a positive overall position.
c) Miss Morton reported on the rollout of Technology Enabled Lives (TEL) sessions in libraries across Kent, confirming that approximately 30 sessions had been delivered and would continue alongside targeted communications. She advised that the initiative supported early intervention and community engagement and would be linked with Carers Week to raise awareness and support carers.
d) Miss Morton outlined a programme of visits to local services, including a crisis recovery house, safe haven, Tenterden social hub, autism day service and extra care housing scheme, highlighting their role in delivering high-quality, person-centred support and strengthening prevention and neighbourhood health provision across Kent.
e) Miss Morton highlighted upcoming activity for Dementia Awareness Week, including her attendance at the Dementia Friendly Awards. She also welcomed the newly appointed Deputy Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care who would be hosting a planned carers’ event to support and recognise carers.
f) Finally, Miss Morton advised that preparations for the refreshed Health and Wellbeing Board were complete, thanking officers for their support in its development.
2. Jamie Henderson, Cabinet Member for Environment, Coastal Regeneration and Public Health, provided a verbal update on the following:
a) Mr Henderson began by highlighting the importance of his role in addressing health inequalities, particularly in coastal areas, and supporting improved outcomes through the application of Marmot principles and collaborative working.
b) Mr Henderson updated the Committee on the response to a meningitis B incident in Canterbury, commending the coordinated actions of partners which successfully contained the situation and protected residents, demonstrating effective multi-agency working.
c) Updates were also provided on Mental Health Awareness Week activity, promotion of local support services, and the Better Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Fund offering grants to local community organisations.
d) Mr Henderson highlighted National Walking Month, encouraging increased physical activity as a simple, accessible way to improve physical health, mental wellbeing and reduce anxiety across communities.
e) Finally, Mr Henderson welcomed the refresh of the Health and Wellbeing Board, emphasising prevention, early intervention, and partnership working.
3. Dr Anjan Ghosh, Director of Public Health, provided a verbal update on the following:
a) Dr Ghosh provided detail to the Committee on the meningitis outbreak, advising that there were 21 confirmed cases and 2 deaths, primarily affecting Canterbury and the University of Kent. He confirmed that an internal debrief had been completed and that a multi-agency review would follow, with opportunities for Member involvement to support learning from the incident.
b) Dr Ghosh reported on two significant visits, including from Midwest Ireland colleagues and engagement with Canterbury Christ Church University. These visits had helped strengthen links in research, innovation and development of a Public Health Centre of Excellence for Public Health in Kent.
c) Dr Ghosh outlined that the Best Start in Life programme had commenced as a successor to the Start for Life programme, with new guidance issued and a delivery plan currently being finalised. The programme focused on increased outreach and support in infant feeding, parent-infant relationships, and perinatal mental health. A conference was planned for 14 July 2026, and the new parent-infant mental health service was in mobilisation, with referrals expected to begin in June or July.
d) Dr Ghosh reported that the new school health service contract had commenced on 1 April, with work underway to support schools to become asthma-friendly and meet government expectations on allergies.
e) Dr Ghosh informed Members that the Public Health transformation programme (2023–2025) had now concluded with all milestones met, and nine key decisions driving service improvements. Newly transformed services went live in April 2026, and work was ongoing to embed new delivery models and approaches.
f) Dr Ghosh outlined mental health and prevention initiatives, highlighting the work of the Suicide Prevention and Better Mental Health Network, which brought together over 100 partners. He outlined innovative projects such as green social prescribing and awareness-raising initiatives in public spaces and confirmed that additional funding had been secured to support delivery of a Kent Preventing Gambling Harm Strategy. Dr Ghosh also reported that a new sexual health service commenced on 1 April, delivered through a major public health contract with organisations such as the Community Health Services.
g) Finally, updates were given on the Joint Strategic Needs Assessments (JSNA), Kent Public Health Observatory website, and data tools. These included new dashboard indicators on population health, prevention and service use, such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP) uptake and winter mortality. Work was also nearing completion on a set of Marmot coastal indicators to support ongoing Marmot-related activity.
4. Sarah Hammond, Interim Corporate Director of Adult Social Care and Health, provided a verbal update on the following:
a) Ms Hammond reported a period of stability within the Directorate and a positive overall response to winter pressures, with further scrutiny planned on hospital discharge performance.
b) Ms Hammond outlined that final year-end financial figures were not yet confirmed, however the previously increasing deficit had been stabilised and reduced to a more manageable position.
c) Ms Hammond explained that work was underway with NHS England and system partners to address high levels of safeguarding referrals, acknowledging that around 70% did not meet the statutory threshold. Early indications showed a slight reduction in inappropriate referrals, representing positive progress.
d) Ms Hammond highlighted that positive and productive relationships continued to develop with statutory partners, including the Integrated Care Board (ICB), health organisations, and care providers, supported by improvement partners through the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to further strengthen collaboration, particularly in commissioning.
5. In response to questions and comments from Members, discussion covered the following:
a) Miss Morton advised that the final budget deficit figure was not yet available and would be shared once confirmed publicly. However, early indications suggested that the budget position had been managed well.
b) Mr Henderson reported that officers would consider what lessons could be learned from the Meningitis incident, including the review process, and that Member’s requests to be involved in the review would be taken into consideration.
c) Mr Henderson welcomed Member’s interest in the Marmot Coastal Region Project and confirmed that Councillor involvement was encouraged, offering to work closely together and supporting engagement in future discussions. Dr Ghosh further highlighted that the focus included access to good quality jobs, with the Health and Wellbeing Board providing a key route for Member involvement, alongside additional opportunities being explored.
d) Helen Gillivan, Interim Director of Adults and Integrated Commissioning, outlined that work was ongoing with providers to ensure value for money for residents and that a significant proportion of care was arranged by self- funders. She also highlighted close working with health partners to support timely hospital discharge and prioritise enabling individuals to return to their own homes wherever possible. It was also emphasised that prevention was key in reducing demand for residential care, with a focus on working with NHS partners to prevent conditions that could lead to increased care needs.
6. RESOLVED that the Adult Social Care and Public Health Cabinet Committee note the verbal updates.