Agenda item

3.1

Public Question Concerning Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Adam Butcher asked what the Health and Wellbeing Board can do to make sure that the National Reports into Child and adolescent Mental Health Services are acted to in Sheffield.

Councillor Jackie Drayton, the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families responded by referring to the “Future in Mind” document launched by NHS England, which concerned children and young people’s mental wellbeing. The Board was also considering, at this meeting, an update on the building mental wellbeing and emotional resilience work programme. It was also examining the response and progress update concerning the Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Engagement Event with Chilypep, Sheffield Futures and Young Healthwatch in November 2014. This report included progress relating to actions made through the CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) scrutiny process.  This included the pathways, emergency support and provision of information.  There were gaps identified in relation to transition. The scrutiny process involved the Council, the Children’s Trust and the CCG and resulted in a number of recommendations.

John Doyle, Director of Business Strategy, Children, Young People and Families, stated that it was useful that national frameworks reflected local issues and the promotion of resilience for young people. The Executive Group had been established, led by the NHS and the City Council, to work on issues which had been raised by children and young people at the Emotional Wellbeing and Engagement Event in November 2014.

Councillor Jackie Drayton added that a successful mental health intervention pilot would be expanded to other schools in Sheffield. Such early intervention and preventative models could help to stop people from needing support from CAMHS or at a higher level.

Maggie Campbell, Healthwatch Sheffield stated that Young Healthwatch was working on the issues relating to child and adolescent mental health services. Ian Atkinson stated that the CCG was working with colleagues in the Council with regard to mental health services for young people.

Councillor Julie Dore explained that, in terms of the Board’s role in relation to national reports, when such reports made recommendations, the Board responded immediately and this was also the case for high profile local reports. National reports were examined to determine how their findings might apply to Sheffield and to replicate best practice and ensure that poor practice was not taking place in the City.  Councillor Dore asked that Mr Butcher inform the Board of future reports which might inform the work of the Board.

3.2

Public Question Concerning Providers of Social and Community Based Care

Mike Simpkin stated that at the March meeting of the CCG Governing Body, he had asked for and was given assurances that within the Better Care Fund, NHS Clinical Services, under a broad definition, would be commissioned under NHS contracts and not made subject to local authority procurement rules. There was some evidence of social care client dissatisfaction concerning the inaccessibility of services commissioned by the Council from out of Sheffield providers, although the extent of this was not known. He also said that there was a series of unexplained impasses between the Council and Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Trust over renewable or new contracts as most recently instanced by the Council’s decision to put dementia services at Hurlfield View out to tender.

Mr Simpkin asked what steps the Health and Wellbeing Board was taking to ensure that there is an active, viable and sustainable network of locally based providers of social and community based care, with particular reference to development of the publicly funded and Voluntary, Community and Faith (VCF) sectors. He stated that this would be of added importance if personal budgets got more traction.

Councillor Mary Lea, the Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Independent Living, stated that consultation on Dementia services had taken place in 2012, which included provision for the future. The consultation results included that day care should be less centralised and building-based. With regard to the contract relating to Hurlfield View, it was proposed that there would be further discussions with people. Services would be developed in accordance with best practice. Emergency and respite services would remain in place.

Joe Fowler, Director of Commissioning, Sheffield City Council, stated that whilst clinical services were mainly provided by the NHS, a high proportion of social care services were provided by the voluntary, charitable and independent sector. Supported Living settings were also often provided by the voluntary and charity sectors. The fact of other sectors providing social care services was a continuation of what was already happening. There was a need to create sustainable services and Hurlfield View was a locally provided facility which included day care provision. The Council had to use the resources available to best effect for the greatest number of people and to this end it had to continue to work with local providers. He stated that he would be pleased to speak further with people about the issues.