The report of the Joint Mental Health Commissioner NHS (Document “S”) provides an update on progress to improve mental health support for children and young people. 

Recommended -

That the Panel note the action plan, highlight areas for consideration and attention and  support the System Review currently underway.

                                                            (Sasha Bhat – 01274 737537)

The report of the Joint Mental Health Commissioner NHS (Document “S”) provided an update on progress to improve mental health support for children and young people.

The Head of Commissioning for Mental Wellbeing, Council and NHS was present and introduced the report to the Panel. She outlined that in October 2019 the Mental Health Partnership Board (MWPB) agreed that a sub group to focus on children and young people’s mental health would be formed to enable the system to focus on issues within children and young people’s mental health, a proposal which was supported by the Health and Wellbeing Board.  The Health and Wellbeing Board also commissioned the Centre for Mental Health to conduct a full System Review of Children and Young People’s Mental Health. The sub-group were tasked to maintain oversight of the review and ensure timescales were met to report back to the Health and Wellbeing Board in May.

It was also stated that the Assistant Director in Children’s Service at the Council, the Interim General Manager at Bradford District Care Foundation Trust and herself agreed to lead work with partners to scope the role of the new group and to work though urgent issues that have arisen within the delivery of mental health services for children and young people. The aim of the sub-group was to also to build on the good work done with Future in Mind and broaden out to be the governance for all things related to children’s mental health, reporting into the Mental Wellbeing Partnership Board.

A question and answer session ensued:

·         How were referral procedures initiated?

o   This action was initiated by school nurses or a GP;

·         Were there any other ways of dealing with referrals at the point of commencement?

o   The authority was at present setting up a central point of access, co-ordinated by resources or a single person;

·         The report highlighted that at the beginning of the week, the average wait time from referral to assessment was 259 days. The target set for the team had been to reduce this to 21 days. At the end of the week, the team were able to bring this down to 38 days and some further work is underway to continue to reduce this. What was the reason behind such a significant drop?

o   At the point of receiving a referral, at present there was no real standard operating procedure (SOP) to oversee the wait time. However any further new referrals would be actioned under a SOP;

·         Were all new referrals accepted?

o   According to a strict need basis;

·         What was the purpose behind the pathway diagram proposed by the system? And,

o   This was a one page pathway diagram that was accessible to service users as well as professionals.  Sitting behind this would be a description of services and included the proposal for a newly configured service around assessment and triage;

·         Were children prioritised according to their vulnerable needs?

o   The authority followed the NHS guidance;

The Chair concluded the discussion of the subject matter by stating that it was paramount that for the Chair of the Children of Care Council to attend future meetings of the Corporate Parenting Panel.

Resolved –

(1)       That the action plan from the Mental Health Sub-Group for           Children and Young people be noted and the current System          Review be supported.

(2)       That an update report be provided to the Corporate Parenting    Panel in 3 months that provides-

a.    further data on children in care related to mental health;

b.    further emphasis on the transition from children to adults process in the Mental Health Service; and,

c.    a breakdown of socio-demographic of children in care with mental health.

ACTION:       Joint Mental Health Commissioner