Agenda and minutes

To elect a Member to act as Chair of the meeting.

Cllr Doughty proposed Cllr Daubeney, as Chair of the Children, Education and Communities Policy and Scrutiny Committee, act as Chair for the meeting. He also proposed himself as Vice Chair.  This was seconded by Cllr Webb and unanimously approved by Members.

Cllr Daubeney was therefore elected Chair for the meeting.

At this point Members are asked to declare:

·         any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests

·         any prejudicial interests or

·         any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

At this point in the meeting, Members were asked to declare any personal interests, not included on the Register of Interests, or any prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests they may have in respect of business on the agenda.

Cllr Doughty declared a personal interest in the remit of the committee in that his partner was a former Chief Executive of York Mind.

Cllr Webb also declared a personal interest in the remit of the committee as he was a teacher at a York school.

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Cllr Peter Kilbane, Ward Member for Micklegate and Leader of the Labour Group spoke on matters within the general remit of the Joint Committee.   He raised concerns that during the Covid lock downs, the number of children with serious mental health problems rose by 77%.  He highlighted in a recent survey, by the Children’s Commissioner, of 1000 children living in York it was revealed that 23% of the respondents were unhappy with their own mental health.  He noted that referrals to the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) were expected to increase. 

He recognised the progress and hard work of dedicated staff within the Service but raised concerns regarding the need for better funding and the reduction of waiting times particularly for ADHD and Autism referrals. He raised concerns regarding service rationing and lack of available data.  He questioned whether CAMHS were dealing well with the numbers and types of referrals.  He asked if children were receiving adequate support when they first asked for help and he also asked about the support available for children with eating disorders.

The following reports outline the current factors that influence the emotional and mental well-being of children and young people (to age approximately 19) in the City, and how the local system can jointly support a high level of emotional and mental well being in the younger population.

The Director of Prevention, Commissioning and Education and Skills and the Director of Mental Health and Complex Care for NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) Children’s Services presented a report to Members on the subject of Emotional and Mental Well-Being of Children and Young People.

They explained how early prevention could remove the need for CAMHS intervention and how workforce planning was in place to support its delivery.  It was highlighted that the School Wellbeing Service has been part funded by Future in Mind and the Council.  It was noted that the digital offer of the NHS long-term plan (LTP) enabled access 24 hours a day to telephone information and advice for parents.

The local service structure was explained and increase in demand for services was highlighted.  Areas causing concern at the system level were identified in Annex 1.  The future plans were explained and it was acknowledged that better integration with improved use of the skills and abilities from the voluntary sector was needed.  Issues that needed major support were; eating disorders, autism and high levels of anxiety.

Officers were asked questions about the reorganisation of NHS commissioning in 2022, performance targets, the summit of system leaders, commissioning in the third sector, early intervention, identifying need and improving the data.

They noted the following:

·        The Humber Coast and Vale Integrated Care Board and the Humber Coast and Vale Integrated Partnership was the replacement for the CCG.  North Yorkshire and York would operate as a sub system of Humber Coast and Vale, in which the City of York would be a Place.  The Integrated Care Board (ICB) was not yet appointed.  Certain functions and the budget for York would be delegated to the Health and Social Care Alliance which works between the council and the CCG.  Children’s mental health was a priority area for the alliance.

·        Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) had been operating in excess of targets since they had been set in 2016.  Third sector commissioning such as CAMHS and York Mind are a contributing factor in achieving targets.

·        There had been no decision to reduce or ‘ration’ Mental Health provision through CCG commissioning or within the council.  Service vacancies were not coexistent with a planned reduction in staffing numbers.  There was no limit on mental health services and funding would prioritise children’s services.    

·        The full action plan, about the future of children’s mental health services in the city, from discussions between the summit of system leaders would be shared in due course.  The action plan would cover short term targets, such as addressing high levels of non-school attendance and longer term commissioning plans including the joint working approach.

·        There were a number of socio economic factors such as poverty/low income, poor housing, unemployment, family background and poor caring that can indicate a pre-disposal to mental health issues.  A number of different service providers and council departments, such as Housing and the Community Resilience Board, were working together to identify children at  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.