Minutes:
The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Communities, which presented the mental health promotion scrutiny review report and recommendations.
The Board was advised that the report outlined the key findings of the review and made a number of recommendations for consideration set out in Appendix 1 to the report.
The Board was further advised that
the scrutiny
topic had been commissioned by the Health PPB topic group, with representatives
from the Children, Young People and Families PPB, with a view to developing a
joint intergenerational prevention and promotion campaign to tackle mental
health stigma locally.
It
was reported that the group had looked at how mental health was being promoted
and a range of services and interventions that were in place to prevent further
escalation of a mental health problems. The Topic Group had sought input from a
number of Council and external providers through presentations, including the
CCG, Public Health and Whiston Hospital, and site
visits to Ashley House and Thorn Road CAMHS.
The
recommendations of the Joint Topic Group were as follows:-
·
A review of waiting times from time of assessment to
accessing
1-2-1 Therapies,
including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.
Review staffing levels against demand and current waiting times and make
proposals of how, where waiting times were unacceptably long, this could be
overcome by reconfiguration of current staff or service planning;
·
Mental Health Promotion,
Anti Stigma and Awareness across the life course.
Consideration should be given to consistent key messages of optimism and
connecting with others to help build resilience in any future public campaigns,
as reflected in the Like Minds Campaign. This was in line with the 5 Ways to
Mental Wellbeing. There should be greater emphasis on mental health awareness
and promotion within schools. Monitor the MHAPS Pilot in Warrington and consider
implementing in Halton schools, using the Like Minds
resources and resources developed by CAMHS 5 Star Forum. Awareness raising
activities to be coordinated through the Mental Health Promotion Sub Group of
the CAMHS Board and the Mental Health Board;
·
Consider
Elected Member involvement in the Local Authority Mental Health Challenge.
Further information from Public Health to be provided to the Health PPB for
consideration regarding potential ‘sign up’ to The Local Authority
Mental Health Challenge. The challenge set out ten actions that would enable
Councils to promote mental health across all of their business, led by elected
Member champion/s;
·
Assess
the impact of welfare reform on mental health locally. Public Health to report on
work undertaken to establish any correlation of reform on impact on increased
demand on mental health services locally. This would provide an evidence base
and insight into the changing mental health needs of the population and would
assist future commissioning and service development;
·
Educational
and Child Psychology Service to offer its support to a multi-agency ADHD
pathway, in line with NICE guidelines;
·
Mental Health Liaison Teams within Whiston and Warrington Hospitals - This service should be
continued beyond the pilot period to improve the experience of people with
mental health conditions in a hospital environment, and increasing access to
services; and
·
Circulation of the Scrutiny Review report.
The report, with its recommendations, should be presented to the Executive
Board, Halton Clinical Commissioning Group,
Bridgewater Community NHS Trust and 5 Boroughs Partnership.
In
conclusion, it was reported that the report would also be considered by the
Children and Young People and Families PPB. Halton
CCG and the 5Boroughs Partnership would also receive the report for
information. In addition, it was reported that each recommendation would be
formulated into action plans during the next 12 months.
At the end of the
debate, the Chairman reported that a Mental Health Champion was required. She indicated that Members of the Board
should register their interest via the Lead Officer, Sue Wallace-Bonner.
RESOLVED: That
(1)
the report and the recommendations set out in
Appendix 1 to the report be endorsed;
(2)
the comments raised be noted; and
(3)
the recommendations be presented to the Executive
Board for noting.
Supporting documents: