The report of the Chief Executive of Bradford District’s Care Trust (Document “B”) to follow.

(Therese Pattern)

Resolved –

That the Board receives a future item outlining the details of the proposed neuro-diversity friendly district. This should include details on increasing workforce capacity, working alongside education/training providers to ease pressure.

Action: The Chief Executive of Bradford District’s Care Trust

The report of the Chief Executive of Bradford District’s Care Trust (Document “B”) was submitted to the Board to inform Members in relation to Children’s Health and Wellbeing in terms of early intervention, improvement of the experience for families and recognition of the need for a champion to ensure that response is coordinated, targeted and effective.

The presentation gave an overview of the remit for a Children’s Champion with accountability retained by all organisational leaders for the performance of the BD&C partnership.  The report hi-lighted areas to be prioritised in light of increasing demand and details of improvements in the capacity and effectiveness of CAMHS and Neuro-diversity services.  Improvements for the future focussed on improving the assessment process for autism and ADHD, to help teachers identify and support neuro-diverse children and help in the 3 most deprived areas to become ‘neurodiversity’ friendly places.

Officers advised Members on the specific areas of need as detailed above and stated that investment was increasing but more work was needed with a comparative spend analysis that was due to be carried out.  Financial data had not been supplied as, due to Covid, it would not have been an appropriate comparison.

Mental Health services from CAMHS faced 3 main issues, those being previous, historic fixed budgets, the impact from Covid which led to a rise in demand and wrap around services for young people with complex needs.  Work had already been started to tackle and improve waiting times for Autism assessment with support provided whilst clients were waiting.   The service was carrying out an analysis of resources needed and was committed to effective delivery and transformation simultaneously. Funding was available to put Support Workers in schools, but the standard of their work would need to be monitored.  The focus of their work would be to teach children to cope, not to label them.  An update on how many support workers were involved, who they were seeing and who was monitoring their work would be needed.  In addition, parents’ views would make up an important element of feedback when assessing the impact of the work being carried out.

A number of additional comments were made relating to the need to streamline processes to duplication alleviating the need for clients having to provide and relay the same information to more than one organisation or health care professional.

Resolved –

That the Board receives a future item outlining the details of the proposed neuro-diversity friendly district. This should include details on increasing workforce capacity, working alongside education/training providers to ease pressure.

Action: The Chief Executive of Bradford District’s Care Trust