Issue - meetings

Officers will provide an update on the joint all age (cradle to grave) Mental Health strategy, with specific reference to children and young people up to age 25 . This will include an update to the Commission on the Joint Review of Emotional Wellbeing and CAMHS Services. The presentation is enclosed.

The chair invited Genette Laws, Director of Commissioning, Children’s and Adults’ Services, Southwark Council and Ross Graves, Managing Director, NHS Southwark Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to provide an update on Southwark’s joint Mental Health strategy.

Officers went through the presentation and explained that the cabinet had committed extra spending of 2 million to be spent in schools. The ambition to meet the 100% target of children and adolescents with Mental Health needs being addressed by 2020 is being overseen by Cllr Jasmine Ali’s CAMHS Commission. This will in part be achieved through improved open access service.   

The chair invited the Commission members to ask questions:

  i.  Members asked if the additional 2 million pounds is a one off. Officers said it is, however the sum is likely to be spent over longer than one year. Some schools already spend a significant amount of their own budget on supporting mental health; for example East Dulwich Harris Girls spends approximately 100,000 a year. A legacy of this investment could be realised in programmes such as training.

  ii.  Is the Southwark 100% target higher than the NHS target? Officers confirmed it was.

  iii.  How will achieving the 100% target be monitored, and in particular how will officers know if the planned open access service will be reaching young people in need ? Officers said that around 50 children and young people are refused by CAMHS each month – this new service will see this cohort.  Officers said the open access provision will not be the only answer. There will also be work to encourage young people to talk, including a digital offer, which incorporates virtual reality. The other strand is supporting families to support young people’s mental health. The open access centre will also be for the whole family. Members recommended that a good baseline of present access to Mental Health services is established, with timelines and milestones for reaching the 100% target.

  iv.  How will the children and young people who are furthest from schools and services be reached? For example children and young people who are  truanting, or young carers , or young people who do not trust services enough to engage?  Officers reported that have spoken to YouThink peer navigators who have entered the criminal justice system. They are also talking to educational Alternative Provision. The open access service could be attractive young people who are not otherwise engaged. Officers agreed that services do need to ensure that the most disengaged and excluded young people, who are often most in need, are being targeted and reached.

  v.  What about reaching young people in youth settings or where they congregating? Officers said that they are looking as coffee shops, and Wi-Fi spots for pop ups.

  vi.  Is the stigma of mental health still an issue; it appears to be reducing but still present? Officers agreed stigma is present and work is needed to further address this. This aspect links to equalities as the chances and fear of Sectioning is disproportionally higher  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4