Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair opened the meeting and welcomed all attendees. The Chair reminded attendees that homelessness updates received from the Prevention of Homelessness Director’s Group would be held every 6 months to better align meaningful reports to the Board.

The All-Age Autism Strategy was not ready in time for this meeting, and it was decided to postpone this to the next Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) meeting in March 2026. 

National timescales around developing a Neighbourhood Health Plan had changed, and therefore contrary to what was originally anticipated, the purpose of the Neighbourhood Health Plan item for this meeting was not to agree a full finalised version of the plan but to NOTE the changing national timescales and to SUPPORT the ongoing work to develop the plan.

It was also suggested that the timings of future HWB public meetings should be from 13:00-16:00 as opposed to 14:00-17:00.

The Board NOTED the Chair’s introduction and update, and AGREED to move the timings of future HWB meetings to 13:00-16:00.

Apologies were received Cllr Kate Gregory, Barbara Shaw, and Cllr Helen Pighills, with Cllr Bethia Thomas substituting for Cllr Pighills.

There were none.

Members of the public who wish to speak on an item on the agenda at this meeting, or present a petition, can attend the meeting in person or ‘virtually’ through an online connection.

Requests to present a petition must be submitted no later than 9am ten working days before the meeting.

Requests to speak must be submitted no later than 9am three working days before the meeting (Monday 01 December 2025).

Requests should be submitted to omid.nouri@oxfordshire.gov.uk AND committeesdemocraticservices@oxfordshire.gov.uk

If you are speaking ‘virtually’, you may submit a written statement of your presentation to ensure that if the technology fails, then your views can still be taken into account. A written copy of your statement can be provided no later than 9am on the day of the meeting. Written submissions should be no longer than 1 A4 sheet.”

There was one application to address the meeting by Cllr Jane Hanna (Chair of the Oxfordshire Joint Health Overview Scrutiny Committee [JHOSC]), on Item 9 on Oxfordshire Neighbourhood Health Plan. Cllr Hanna reiterated the recommendations that the JHOSC agreed to issue to Oxfordshire system partners around the development of the Neighbourhood Health Plan including:

1.    For clear governance arrangements to be developed for the Oxfordshire Neighbourhood Health Plan, including defined roles for the Health and Wellbeing Board, Place-Based Partnership, and Primary and Community Care Board. It is recommended that there is openness and transparency, as well as regular reporting to the JHOSC on the plan’s development and delivery milestones.

2.    To ensure that the Neighbourhood Health Plan aligns with other strategic initiatives (such as the Better Care Fund, the Health & Wellbeing Strategy, and the Oxfordshire Way), and to avoid duplication and fragmentation.

3.    To prioritise investment in digital infrastructure, interoperability, and usability to enable data sharing and Population Health Management at neighbourhood level. It is recommended that system partners report on progress in implementing Population Health Management tools and Health Evaluation Units.

4.    To ensure that the local patient voice and local voluntary sector input is at the heart of the development and delivery of the neighbourhood health plan for Oxfordshire. It is recommended that the role of the local member and Parish/Town Councils is also integral to this.

5.    To ensure the collective gathering of data by all key system partners as part of shaping and delivering the neighbourhood health plan.

The Board NOTED Cllr Hanna’s statement.

To APPROVE the Note of Decisions/Minutes of the meetings held on 8 September 2025 and 25 September 2025 and to receive information arising from them.

The note of decisions/minutes of the meetings held on 08 September 2025 and 25 September 2025 were APPROVED as a correct record.

The Board is asked to receive and NOTE the update on the Marmot Place programme of work.

Kate Holburn (Deputy Director of Public Health) presented the Marmot Place update.

The presentation began with a summary of the partnership with the Institute of Health Equity, which had been ongoing for two years. The focus was on three of the eight Marmot principles: Best Start in Life, Fair Employment, and Healthy Standard of Living. 

For the Best Start in Life, the Institute of Health Equity had led a deep dive into the progress of children and young people up to age 25 in Oxfordshire, identifying inequalities and gaps, particularly for children eligible for free school meals. Further stakeholder engagement was also planned. 

The Fair Employment principle was to be the subject of the next deep dive. In the interim, the Board was informed about the Get Oxfordshire Working plan, which focused on improving access to good quality employment, especially for those facing barriers. Public Health and the Thrive in the Workplace initiative were supporting small and medium enterprises to employ people from disadvantaged backgrounds, providing training and policy support. Work was also underway on social value in contracts, aiming to maximise community benefit. 

For Healthy Standard of Living, the Board heard about the housing health needs assessment and the cost of living and low-income family tracker, which district councils were using to help families access entitled benefits, supporting financial stability and linking to other benefits such as pension credits. 

The Board was also updated on enablers, including a primary care inequalities template being trialed in one GP practice, designed to help GPs refer patients to appropriate local services, including housing and benefits support. This was being evaluated for potential wider rollout and integration with the neighbourhood health agenda. 

The Board was reminded of Oxfordshire’s strengths, particularly the links between academic institutions and anchor organisations. A research strategy had been launched, involving universities in policy work and appointing chief scientific advisors to support Marmot workstreams. The Community Research Network had also been established for over a year. 

Rural inequalities were highlighted as a particular issue for Oxfordshire. The Board was shown how, when looking at indices of multiple deprivation, rural areas appeared less deprived overall, but more granular analysis revealed small pockets of deprivation, sometimes in otherwise affluent areas. A dashboard had been developed to identify these areas, and a contract was in place for an organisation to engage with local communities and parish councils to understand residents’ experiences. 

Looking ahead, the Board was informed of plans to build a social movement around health equity, including developing a community of practice, mapping existing work, and launching a dedicated Health Equity website.

The Board was also informed of upcoming stakeholder engagement events, including a system-wide webinar, a Healthwatch event, and a newsletter to build the Oxfordshire Health Equity network. 

Jonathan Montgomery sought clarification on whether the social value contracting tool was available to organisations beyond the County Council and asked about the primary care inequalities template’s inclusion of community assets. The response confirmed that social value in contracts was a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 161.

The Board is asked to receive and NOTE the Prevention of Homelessness Director's Group Update.

The report submitted for this item sets out countywide progress over the last six months and priorities in tackling homelessness and rough sleeping across Oxfordshire. It highlights the work being driven by the Prevention of Homelessness Directors Group (PHDG) as the strategic leadership forum for housing, health, and social care partners working together to tackle homelessness. PHDG has been focused on five key priorities over the last six months, aligned to the Countywide Strategy:

1. Agreeing the future of the Countywide Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy.

2. Improving collaboration between statutory services.

3. Addressing affordable housing supply challenges.

4. Exploring further joined up commissioning of Mental Health and Adult Homeless Pathways.

5. The transformation of the Oxfordshire Homelessness Alliance.

Caroline Green (Chief Executive, Oxford City Council); Grace Hinde (Oxfordshire Countywide Homelessness Partnership Manager) and Richard Smith (Head of Housing, Cherwell District Council) presented the Prevention of Homelessness Director’s Group (PHDG) update.

Caroline Green described the challenging and complex picture of homelessness and temporary accommodation in Oxfordshire and nationally. While rough sleeping numbers were relatively stable, there were high levels of people presenting with homelessness and increasing demand for temporary accommodation, especially for single people with complex needs. 

The Board was informed that the countywide homelessness and rough sleeping strategy was in its final year. Due to impending local government reorganisation and ongoing challenges, the Board had AGREED to renew and extend the strategy for two years, focusing on key priorities rather than developing a new strategy. This included preparatory work such as developing a countywide homelessness database. 

Progress had been made in working with registered providers, with a new forum established to increase supply and address challenges in accommodating people with complex needs. 

The Board were provided further details on the homelessness picture, noting that rough sleeping was down compared to the previous year, with the city having the highest numbers but also the lowest rates of people returning to rough sleeping. Single households were a particular pressure, with more people presenting as homeless immediately rather than through prevention routes. Temporary accommodation numbers were rising across all areas. 

Cllr Sean Gaul asked whether the focus on local government reorganisation risked distracting from progress on homelessness. It was responded that a dedicated resource was in place to drive work forward, and the partnership was committed to maintaining focus, with preparatory work for reorganisation aligning with existing action plans. 

Cllr Sean Gaul also asked about the duration of funding for Grace’s role, which was confirmed to be secured until the new council arrangements in 2028. He requested to see the action plan, which was confirmed as available. He inquired about the timing and amount of homelessness grant funding, which was still awaited, with notification expected in December. 

City Councillor Chewe Edgar Munkonge asked about support for people and families without recourse to public funds. It was explained that voluntary sector providers played a key role, and for families, support was provided under Section 17 of the Children Act by children’s services. 

The Chair asked whether the group felt supported by politicians and whether more could be done. Caroline Green responded that there was strong political consensus and support, but officers welcomed challenging questions to ensure continued commitment. The Chair emphasised that responsibility for addressing homelessness and housing issues was shared by all partners, not just politicians. 

Caroline Green confirmed that the next update would include progress on the action plan and the results of the strategy renewal work. 

The Board RESOLVED to:

1. NOTE the Prevention of Homelessness Director's Group Update.
2. AGREE to receive a further update on the Group’s work in 6 months time.

The Health and Wellbeing Board is RECOMMENDED to:

1.    NOTE and APPROVE the approach set out in this report for the monitoring and delivery of the Healthy Homes priority of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

2.    Provide the leadership, governance and accountability across all four of the Healthy Homes ambitions.

Kate Eveleigh (Public Health Principal) and Richard Smith (Head of Housing, Cherwell District Council) presented the update on the Healthy Homes priority.  They explained that healthy housing was a fundamental building block of health, with poor conditions linked to a range of health outcomes. The strategy aimed to ensure everyone had access to quality, affordable, and energy-efficient homes. 

The Public Health Principal explained that the Healthy Homes priority had four ambitions: increasing healthy, safe and secure homes; increasing affordable homes; increasing suitable homes for specific groups; and reducing homelessness. While homelessness was already well measured, the focus was on developing better metrics for the first three ambitions. 

A working group had developed practical metrics and methods for tracking progress, but initial metrics were found to be unviable. A housing health needs assessment was commissioned, which informed recommendations for improved governance, data sharing, and policy. Challenges remained with inconsistent and operational data, but new requirements such as reporting on damp and mould hazards were expected to improve data quality.

The Board was presented with proposed metrics for each ambition, including energy efficiency ratings, affordable rent as a percentage of income, disabled facilities grants, and numbers in temporary accommodation. Targets and thresholds were suggested to monitor trends. 

The Public Health Principal recommended a program of deep dives to allow the Board to focus on specific issues, such as the role of home improvement agencies and environmental health in the private rented sector. She also proposed reviewing the working group’s membership to ensure appropriate partners were involved. 

District Councillor Georgina Heritage asked about the significance of the Renters Rights Act for improving healthy homes. The Head of Housing for Cherwell District Council responded that it was a highly anticipated piece of legislation, expected to improve data and regulatory powers, but its impact would be gradual. 

Caroline Green asked about definitions of affordable housing and the purpose of defining this at an Oxfordshire level. It was explained that while planning policy defined affordable housing, there was confusion for residents, and a local definition could help clarify matters. 

The Board RESOLVED to:

1. AGREE to approve the proposed approach for the monitoring and delivery of the Healthy Homes priority of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy; including the metrics, deep dives, and review of the working group’s membership.

2. AGREE that a further update report would be brought in six months, aligned with the aforementioned homelessness update. 

The Board is asked to NOTE and AGREE:

1.    How Oxfordshire is organising itself to progress Neighbourhood Health and Care.

2.    Ongoing work to develop a Neighbourhood Health and Care plan in line with changes around national timescales and associated anticipated future responsibilities of Health and Wellbeing Boards.

Michelle Brennan presented the Oxfordshire Neighbourhood Health and Care Plan update. The planning timeline for implementing Neighbourhood Health and Care Plans had been extended, with a transitional strategic plan required by April 2026 and a five-year plan from April 2027.

Key components included improving access to general practice, fixing the primary-secondary care interface,developing integrated neighbourhood teams for people with complex needs, and creating a universal single point of access. The plan aimed to shift more outpatient care into the community and use population health management data to drive improvements, with digital and data sharing being vital. 

Michelle Brennan clarified that new contracts would be introduced for integrated health organisations, multi-neighbourhood providers, and single neighbourhood providers, with general practice contracts to be aligned with the neighbourhood program. 

District Councillor Georgina Heritage raised concerns about the large planning unit covering South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse, seeking reassurance that smaller neighbourhoods would be considered. Michelle Brennan confirmed that the planning unit was not a neighbourhood and that smaller units such as Didcot and Abingdon would likely be neighbourhoods. 

Ansaf Azhar emphasised the importance of building on existing good practice, such as social prescribing and community health development officers, and suggested mobilising these roles within neighbourhood health centres. He also highlighted the role of pharmacies and the need to integrate social care. 

Grant Macdonald (Chief Executive of Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust) commended the clarity of the presentation and urged the Board to keep questioning the purpose and outcomes of the neighbourhood model, focusing on delivering care close to home. 

Veronica Barry (Executive Director, Healthwatch Oxfordshire) noted that patient groups wanted to understand what neighbourhood meant for them and how they would be involved. Michelle Brennan agreed that engagement would be key as geographies were established. 

The Board RESOLVED to:

1. NOTE how Oxfordshire is organising itself to progress Neighbourhood Health and Care.

2. AGREE and SUPPORT the ongoing work to develop a Neighbourhood Health and Care plan in line with changes around national timescales and associated anticipated future responsibilities of Health and Wellbeing Boards.

The Oxfordshire Health and Wellbeing Board is RECOMMENDED to:

1.    Use the findings and rich insight contained within the Community Insight Profile for Bicester West and their relevance to the Marmot Place programme of work to inform service delivery plans of partner organisations on the Board.

2.    SUPPORT the legacy of the programme including the work of the Community Health Development Officers.

3.    NOTE the culmination of the Public Health led programme of work to develop Community Insight Profiles for priority areas across the county

The report submitted for this item provides the following information:

a)    Introduces the fourteenth Community Insight Profile that has been funded by Oxfordshire County Council Public Health, focusing on Bicester West. It marks the culmination of a programme designed to deepen our understanding of local communities and inform place-based approaches to improving health and wellbeing.

b)    Reflects on key learning from the coordination of the Community Insight Profile programme. It highlights how the programme has evolved over time, strengthened local partnerships, and supported local more targeted and responsive service planning.

c)    Outlines the legacy of the programme, including the establishment of Community Health Development Officers, the allocation of grant funding to support local initiatives, and the early signs of impact these investments are beginning to yield.

Fiona Ruck (Health Improvement Practitioner) and Kelly White (Community Health Development Officer [CHDO] for Bicester West, Cherwell District Council) presented the Community Insight Profile for Bicester West report.

 The Community Insight Profile (CIP) for Bicester West was developed through a steering group and consultation with residents and organisations, combining local intelligence with data to inform practical recommendations on public health patterns within the area. 

Key issues identified in the locality included cost of living pressures, food poverty, housing concerns (overcrowding and poor conditions), and social isolation, particularly among older adults. The report highlighted valued community assets but noted accessibility challenges. 

Recommendations included regular community support sessions, strengthening community connectors, investing in pavements and green spaces, and bolstering mental health and befriending services. The local grant fund had received strong engagement, with 13 applications in three months. 

The CHDO described the importance of strong partnerships and local intelligence, and the Health Improvement Practitioner summarised key learning from the program, including the asset-based approach, cross-sector partnerships, and the need for nuanced, area-specific solutions. The legacy included community health development officers, ongoing grant funding, and a toolkit for other areas. 

District Councillor Rob Pattenden praised the impact of the community profiles, noting their value in providing local insight and supporting targeted interventions.

Ansaf Azhar highlighted the importance of combining data, community insights, and asset mapping, and suggested expanding community profiles to all areas. 

The Board RESOLVED to:

1. AGREE to use the findings and rich insight contained within the Community Insight Profile for Bicester West and their relevance to the Marmot Place programme of work to inform service delivery plans of partner organisations on the Board.

2. SUPPORT the legacy of the program including the work of the Community Health Development Officers.

3. NOTE the culmination of the Public Health led program of work to develop Community Insight Profiles for priority areas across the County.

The Health & Wellbeing Board is RECOMMENDED to NOTE the findings of the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board (OSAB) Annual Report 2024-25.

There are TWO documents attached to this item:

1.    A Cover Report for the OSAB Annual Report.

2.    Annex 1: The full OSAB Annual Report 2024-2025.

Jayne Chidgey-Clark (Chair, Oxfordshire Safeguarding Adults Partnership) presented the 2024-2025 annual report of the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board, which highlighted strong multi-agency collaboration and national recognition for the Board’s approach to homeless mortality reviews. The report focused on achievements, challenges, and future priorities, including rising demand and complexity, workforce shortages, and financial constraints. 

Key priorities included improving frontline awareness, establishing a formal risk register, strengthening partnerships, and focusing on prevention. The Partnership’s Chair also described efforts to embed learning from safeguarding adult reviews and homeless mortality reviews through frontline roadshows. 

The Board expressed appreciation for the work of the Safeguarding Board.

The Board RESOLVED to:

1.  NOTE the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board annual report 2024-2025. 

The Health & Wellbeing Board is RECOMMENDED to NOTE the findings of the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children’s Board (OSCB) Annual Report 2024-25.

There are TWO documents attached to this item:

1.    A Cover Report for the OSCB Annual Report.

2.    Annex 1: The full OSCB Annual Report 2024-2025.

Laura Gadjus (Business Manager, Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children’s Partnership) presented the annual report, explaining that the year had seen a transition from a safeguarding board to a strategic partnership, in line with national guidance. The report covered compliance with Working Together 2023, a comprehensive health check, and three priorities: neglect, exploitation and harm outside the home, and multi-agency arrangements. 

The partnership had held summits and frontline practitioner events to ensure learning from reviews reached practice. Plans were in place to strengthen the voice of young people and families. 

The Board RESOLVED to:

1. NOTE the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children’s Board Annual Report 2024-2025.

To receive and NOTE the Healthwatch Oxfordshire Report on patient views and experiences of Oxfordshire health and care services.

Veronica Barry (Executive Director, Healthwatch Oxfordshire) presented the Healthwatch report, summarising recent work including a substantial report on use of the NHS app, a report on trans and non-binary people’s experiences of GPs, and ongoing community research with seldom heard groups. Healthwatch had launched a survey on end of life care and was working with partners on priorities for the coming year. 

The Executive Director referred to Healthwatch’s role in community engagement and signposting, and described interim visits to hospitals and webinars on cancer and neighbourhood health. 

The Committee Officer (Omid Nouri) suggested the Board delegate a subgroup to explore and discuss what the future of an independent patient voice might look like in Oxfordshire, in line with national changes. Ansaf Azhar supported the idea of mapping what should/could be retained and protected, with the subgroup to report back to the wider Board. 

The Board RESOLVED to:

1. NOTE the Healthwatch Oxfordshire update report.

2. AGREE to establish a subgroup to consider the future of an independent patient voice arrangement.

3. AGREE to review end of life care as a future agenda item. 

To receive and NOTE updates from Partnership Boards.

1.    Oxfordshire Place-Based Partnership (Written Update).

2.    Health Improvement Board (Verbal Update).

3.    Children’s Trust (Verbal Update).

Matthew Tait provided a brief overview of the ongoing changes to the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB) and the journey to a Thames Valley ICB. He also presented the Place-Based Partnership report and offered the Board to provide any clarification on any points raised in the written update from the Partnership.

District Councillor Georgina Heritage provided a verbal update on the Health Improvement Board; summarising recent discussions on active travel, healthy place shaping, cost of living, Healthwatch, and performance indicators. The Board had considered challenges in delivering active travel, the importance of behaviour change, and the need for volunteers. The cost-of-living program was shifting from crisis support to resilience building. The Tobacco Control Alliance strategy aimed to reduce smoking rates further. 

Cllr Sean Gaul provided a verbal update on the Children’s Trust Board; which was focusing on the ambitious target for good level of development among five-year-olds and the need to close the gap for children eligible for free school meals. He suggested identifying a lead person to coordinate action across partners. 

The Board RESOLVED to:

1. NOTE the partnership board reports.

The Board is asked to NOTE the forward work programme.

Kate Holburn (Deputy Director of Public Health) provided a brief update on the Forward Work Programme.

The Board RESOLVED to:

1. AGREE the forward work programme.

2. AGREE that the Board will now have five as opposed to four meetings per year, which would accommodate the increased number of items required as part of its work.