Agenda item

6.1

The Chair of Healthwatch Sheffield submitted a report presenting an update on the views of those who attended the Health and Wellbeing Board’s Engagement Event in July 2014.

6.2

In presenting the report the Chair, Maggie Campbell, highlighted that the report outlined mixed results, some areas were seen as improving and others weren’t. There were a number of questions where there was a real spread in the response which showed that a lot depended on an individual’s perception of the service they received. The importance of support for carers was highlighted.

6.3

Members of the Board made comments and asked questions, as summarised below:

The low response rate was disappointing and this inevitably had an impact on any conclusions which could be drawn. Collecting the data over the summer months had been a challenge and the response highlighted the problems associated with one off consultations and supported the need for an ongoing dialogue.

The Board should give consideration of the best way of obtaining feedback on services provided.

A new Carers Strategy was being developed to ensure ongoing support for carers.

A new strategy for mental health in the City had been agreed six months ago and provider organisations had been asked to respond. It may be useful to take this report to the Mental Health Partnership Board and ask how things should be taken forward and how we could engage with a larger amount of people and the response of the Partnership Board be reported to a future meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

Research had shown that if the family could be educated and advised they could play a role in supporting those affected. Sheffield had previously been at the forefront of this research. 50% of mental health issues could be identified by the time a person was 14 years of age and 75% by 18. The City needed to move towards providing a platinum service in relation to mental health.

A lot of good work was being undertaken with very limited resources and this needs to be joined-up.

A number of secondary issues were important for carers such as people not communicating with them and not being kept informed and this needed to be addressed.

Resolved:  That the Board:-

1.

Notes the progress made and the areas where it is felt improvement has not yet been seen;

2.

Requests that the Mental Health Partnership Board discusses these findings in the context of the original report and gives thought to how the four outstanding areas could be tackled;

3.

Requests that Healthwatch Sheffield give consideration to revisiting this exercise again in 12 months’ time and use a focus group or other face to face method to boost response rates.