Board decision on the Section 75 arrangements for Adult Social Care

Published: 26 March 2026

Today our Board considered the paper on the future arrangements for Adult Social Care services provided under the Section 75 agreement for Torbay residents. After reviewing the options and the work undertaken with partners over recent months, the Board agreed to serve notice on the current Section 75 agreement with Torbay Council.

There are no immediate changes to anyone’s care. Services will continue as they do now.

As Joe Teape, our Chief Executive, set out in the meeting, this decision is not about stepping back from integrated working or withdrawing NHS support from the people of Torbay. Our commitment to partnership remains unchanged and joint working will continue.

When notice is served on the current agreement, we will work with Torbay Council and Devon ICB to put in place a joint Transition Programme to plan any changes carefully through to April 2027. As part of this, we will explore the opportunity to create a revised service model and a new contractual framework for April 2027. We will keep integrated working where it best serves people and align responsibilities to the appropriate statutory bodies. Throughout, we will maintain continuity of our health input to joint packages of care.

We recognise these arrangements have been in place for close to 20 years. Change brings uncertainty as well as opportunity. We will support our people and engage openly as plans develop, and we’ll update our Equality Impact Assessment as the future model takes shape. We’ll publish a timetable of engagement on our website.

Read the Board paper: Board, governors and annual members meetings

Written answers to the public questions submitted to the Board will be published on this website on Friday 27 March 2026.