Agenda item

Joint Briefing Note

Councillor Ruane, Cabinet Member for Children and People and Councillor Mal Mutton, Chair of the Education and Children’s Services Scrutiny Board (2) have been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item along with Matt Gilks, Coventry and Rugby CCG

Further to Minute 16/16, the Board considered a joint briefing note providing an update on the Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) Transformation Agenda. Particular reference was made to the key information previously requested by the Board relating to transition pathways, training for professionals and prioritisation for child protection and children in need. An update was also given on the progress and challenges in delivering each of the 7 Transformation Plan priorities and on the milestones for delivery to be completed by November, 2017. Councillor Mal Mutton, Chair of the Education and Children’s Services Scrutiny Board (2) and Councillor Pat Seaman, Deputy Cabinet Member for Children and Young People attended the meeting for the consideration of this item. Matt Gilks, Coventry and Rugby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Simon Gilby, Jed Francique, Heather Moran and Tracey Wrench, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust (CWPT) were also in attendance.

The briefing note reminded of the 4 tiers of CAMHS services accessed by children and young people and set out the background to the five year CAMHS Transformation Plan which commenced in October 2015 and was led by Coventry and Rugby CCG. The Plan was supported by a multi-agency Project Board, recognising the need for a joint partnership response.

The CCG provided £3.7m of CAMHS funding for Coventry and Rugby. NHS England had subsequently provided an additional £878,000 for 2016/17 on a recurring basis to support the transformation plan. The Board were informed that an additional £210,000 had recently been awarded for 2016/17 for the purpose of reducing waiting lists. It was planned to use this to address the waiting lists for ASD assessments.

The Board had previously asked to be updated on the proposals for working with patients during the transition period from childhood to adulthood. Appendix 1 to the note detailed the Transitions Pathway informing how there was a process for engaging young people and family members to confirm whether the young person or adults pathway was the most appropriate to meet needs. The Board had also asked for information on the early prevention work in schools. Appendix 2 to the note set out details of a training programme run by the Primary Mental Health Service which offered generic mental health training workshops for staff. Bespoke training sessions were also being offered for school staff.

The Board noted that in November 2016 NHS England reviewed all local transformation plan updates against the national standards for delivering transformation over the five year period. There were three levels of assurance that could be allocated and the Coventry and Warwickshire Plan was assured as being ‘fully confident’.

The Board were updated with progress with the following 7 priority areas:

·  Reduced Waiting Times

·  Providing a Crises Response Service

·  Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

·  Looked After Children

·  Support to Schools

·  Eating Disorder Service

·  Enhancing Access and Support through the Utilisation of Technology.

In relation to progress with ASD, it had previously been reported that Coventry ranked as the highest local authority for rates of children with autism known to schools in the West Midlands. This had led to significant waiting times for ASD assessments. There was a local plan to address the waiting lists with a new pathway that reduced waiting times for new referrals. A slide showing this pathway was shown to members.

The CAMHS Transformation Board had reviewed progress with the activity required during year 2 of the plan and to prepare for the milestones in year 3. The briefing note included an overview of the year 2 programme which included a challenging set of milestones that would require a significant contribution from the commissioning and delivery partners.

The Board questioned the representatives and officers present on a number of issues and responses were provided, matters raised included:

·  A request for the new pathway slide to be made available to members

·  Concerns about the significant number of children on the waiting list for an ASD assessment and what happened in cases where concerned families kept contacting the service

·  How many children could be assessed using the additional £210,000 of funding

·  How many schools would benefit from the enhanced provision offered by the Primary Mental Health Service to primary and secondary schools in the city

·  The response from schools to the support being offered

·  Clarification about the CAMHS to Adult Mental Health transitions process and the available support

·  A request for more information about the new website/ app being developed to provide information and support to children, young people and their carers and a concern that people would use it to self-diagnose. Some parents want their children to have a statement which could mean more requests for assessments.

·  Further information about the support for LAC, children on Child Protection Plans and vulnerable children.

RESOLVED that:

(1) The progress against the Plan be noted.

(2) The 2016/17 plan milestones for transforming services be noted.

(3) The issues impacting on the delivery of the plan be noted.

(4) An update on progress be submitted to the Board in six months including:

(i) Details of the support for LAC, children on Child Protection Plans and vulnerable children

(ii) Further information on the support needed for the 30% of children who follow the pathway but are not diagnosed with ASD.

(5) At the future Board meeting, Members to be given a viewing of the new website/app being developed to provide information to children, young people and their carers including self-help and online counselling.

(6) A copy of the new pathway slide be circulated to Members.

(7) Information on the support services that are available to patients at the transition stage from Child Services to Adult Services to be circulated to members.