Agenda item

MENTAL HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES REVIEW

To receive a report on the Mental Health and Community Services review.

Minutes:

Joanne Murfitt, Programme Director, introduced the report which provided information about the mental health and community services review. It was explained that these were two reviews that were being run concurrently as they provided a number of related services. A key aim of the review was to ensure that there was a core, consistent offer across North Central London.

 

It was noted that resident engagement was at the centre of the review design principles. It was explained that there was a resident reference group with diverse membership and representation from all five boroughs; although there was a lack of younger members, there were parents within the group and efforts were being made to engage with young people. It was reported that there had been approximately 50 responses to the resident survey so far which included positive comments. Joanne Murfitt noted that the review also involved visiting and speaking to the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) and other groups, including statutory groups such as Health and Wellbeing Boards and Healthwatch. It was acknowledged that there had been minimal feedback from harder to reach groups and that work was underway to maximise engagement with these groups.

 

The Chair noted that the aim of the review was welcomed. She explained that the Committee was asked to consider the engagement in particular to ensure that all views were captured within the review. The Chair commented that the review did not plan to consider services offered by the VCS or by councils; she felt that these services should be included in order to capture the wider picture and to avoid the risk of repetition. The Chair added that it would be useful to consider how different service providers, such as the Police, local authorities, and mental health services, could communicate to improve services for patients. Joanne Murfitt explained that the CCG was working hard to include local authorities and the VCS in the review, including in the programme board, and this was positive for joint working. It was noted that the services provided by councils and the VCS were being looked at but that they were not central to the review as the CCG was not able to direct these services. It was added that improved communications between different services was slightly beyond the remit of the review but that it may be possible to consider this.

 

Cllr Tricia Clarke commented that it was good that the review was honest about the areas that required improvement. She stated that the Covid-19 pandemic had and would continue to have a significant impact on mental health and that it would be critical to focus on prevention and early intervention and to access more funding. Joanne Murfitt noted that more funding had been given to mental health services but acknowledged that additional resources were always helpful. It was explained that the review had a strong focus on increased prevention and would consider whether it was possible to provide more direct services which did not require a referral.

 

The Chair noted that the review was seeking to engage with more young people and suggested that talking to schools might be helpful. It was stated that counselling in schools was being reduced and that school representatives would likely be interested in contributing to the review. Joanne Murfitt noted this suggestion and acknowledged that interactions at school level were helpful for long term prevention.

 

In response to a question from Cllr Khaled Moyeed, it was noted that a further report on the reviews would be presented to the Committee in September 2021. Joanne Murfitt stated that the speed of implementation might be dependent on the outcomes of the review but that changes would likely take place in 2022. It was explained that an outcomes framework was included as part of the review and that the Committee would be able to consider the implementation and results of the review in the longer term.

 

RESOLVED

 

To note the update and to note that a further report would be presented to the Committee meeting in September 2021.

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