To receive apologies for absence, including notifications of any changes to the membership of the Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Spacagna and Tranter, Pat Harris and Amanda Moss.

It was reported that, in accordance with the wishes of the Conservative Group, the membership of the Sub-Board had been amended to include Councillor Tolchard in place of Councillor Bryant.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board held on 9 October 2025.

The minutes of the meeting of the Sub-Board held on 9 October 2025 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider a report that provides an overview of the work of the public health team and partners in suicide prevention and specifically reports on the success of the Baton of Hope Torbay.

Public Health Specialist – Rachel Brett, presented the submitted Suicide Prevention and Baton of Hope Torbay report and responded to Members’ questions.

The Suicide Prevention Action Plan focused on three priority areas.  The first priority was making mental health and emotional support accessible to all which includes better promotion of the services that are already available and providing more sustainable mental wellbeing support through the Torbay Community Helpline.  The second priority was to acknowledge and work with Torbay’s risk factors with a particular focus on relationships and creating resources aimed at reducing suicide risks before they occur.  The third priority was to harness passion, commit to collaborate and pool resources to reduce suicides.  The Baton of Hope Tour, which is the UK’s largest suicide prevention campaign gave a structure to do this creatively and well.

The sub-board were shown a video highlighting the Baton of Hope Torbay event, which covered a 14-mile route within Torbay, raising over £5,000 in sponsorship and over £9,000 in ticket sales and donations. 

Work was underway on the One Devon Suicide Prevention Action Plan in collaboration with other authorities, with the aim of the Plan being presented to the Health and Wellbeing Board meeting in March 2026.

Devon-wide activities include, bespoke suicide prevention training for GPs, media engagement, creation of self-harm support training resources, updating the “It’s Okay to Talk About Suicide” Z-Card, and development of a Safety Plan Z-Card.

The Board raised the following questions:

·         was work being undertaken to address the issue of the backlog of data provided by the Coroner’s Office;

·         was support provided to families of an individual who may be experiencing suicidal thoughts;

·         how accessible was the community support helpline for residents and did it operate 24 hours per day similarly to the Samaritans helpline;

·         within the data provided by the Coroner’s Office of deaths by residents from Torbay, was information provided whether the individual was a new or long term resident;

·         was mental health training provided to local taxi drivers in Torbay who may pick up a customer and ask to be driven to a known suicide hot spot; and

·         was the Public Health Team liaising with Talkworks for individuals to be referred to for support.

The following responses were provided:

·         conversations had been held with the Coroner’s Office and there were more staff now in place to assist with reducing the back log to assist with more timely data being provided;

·         the Public Health Team have a training package which was used by local employers within Torbay for their awareness of suicide prevention.  There was hope that through the Baton of Hope event and the new communication channels created that this would provide more awareness and learning opportunities for families and the general public in Torbay;

·         the mental health support operates the same working hours as the community support helpline which was 9 am – 6 pm weekdays with some provision for support on a Saturday.  The helpline was not available 24 hours per day.  Should a member  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

To consider a report that provides an overview of the work of the Public Health Team and partners in the following areas:

·           maintaining year round resilience and readiness in relation to adverse weather and health;

·           preventing and managing outbreaks through good infection control, and tackling anti-microbial resistance; and

·           promoting health through uptake of the Winter vaccine programmes.

The Consultant in Public Health – Julia Chisnell, Public Health Specialist – Mandy Guy and Public Health Practitioner – Lu Wills presented the submitted Public Health Update on Winter Readiness and Year-Round Resilience to Adverse Weather and Infections report and responded to Members’ questions.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) produces an Adverse Weather and Health Planning Framework, which was used by the Council to help prevent mortality, reduce morbidity, and reduce pressure on healthcare services. 

Should severe weather alerts be received, various Council Teams would be involved including Public Health, Emergency Planning, Adult Social Care, Children’s Services, Events, Rough Sleeping Team, Highways, Harbours, Parking, Health and Safety and Communications.  A range of actions would be put in train, including infection prevention and control in schools and care settings support to rough sleepers during severe weather, and ensuring staff protection..

Vaccination awareness remains a key priority for Torbay.  Winter vaccines (flu and Covid) were provided locally by GPs, pharmacies and the schools immunisation service.  The Outreach Team provided pop-up clinics within the town centre, workplaces such as at SWISCo, and hostels. 

Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) remains a critical challenge worldwide, with infections lasting longer and becoming harder to treat, and over 35,200 deaths annually in the UK.  Torbay Public Health team had a programme of work to tackle AMR, focusing on schools, early years and care homes.  The team were finalists in the UKHSA international AMR awards in 2024. 

The Board raised the following questions:

·         were plans in place for all alert types received;

·         when notifiable diseases were reported, was Torbay Council notified;

·         do school children receive vaccines annually within schools or through their own GP surgeries;

·         was there a list of warm spaces within Torbay communicated to local residents;

·         would the warm spaces provision start earlier in 2025, or not until January 2026 as per the start of the spaces for 2025;

·         when a cold alert was received, which voluntary groups would go out and check on elderly or vulnerable residents; and

·         do Torbay Council publish communications to remind residents to check in on their neighbours when the weather turns very cold.

The following responses were received:

·         there are plans in place for all alert types.  Should a red alert be received, emergency response systems would be activated, and Government advice would be followed;

·         notifiable diseases are reported to UKHSA by clinicians and through laboratory notifications.  Torbay Council receive notifications from the UKHSA of each disease outbreak notified.  Individual cases are notified for certain conditions (e.g. meningococcal, E-Coli, iGAS);

·         children aged 2 and 3 years old receive their flu vaccinations through their GP practice or at local pharmacies.  Children up until the age of 16 receive the nasal spray vaccine in school.  Children up to the age of 18 may receive the vaccine if they have certain health conditions.  Parents can choose to attend community clinics within their areas should they require.

·         Torbay Council have invited submissions for the warm spaces grant funding.  All submissions received will be reviewed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

To receive an update on the implementation of the actions of the Sub-Board and consider any further actions required (as set out in the submitted action tracker).

The Sub-Board noted the submitted action tracker.