Report attached.
Contact: Steve Trenchard, STP Programme Director (Mental Health), Shropshire STP

Anne-Marie Speke, the Healthy Child Programme Co-ordinator introduced and amplified the report of the STP Programme Director for Mental Health – copy attached to the signed Minutes – which informed the Board of the progress made in the refreshed Children and Young People’s (CYP) Local Transformation Plan.

The Healthy Child Programme Co-ordinator gave an overview of the plan which had been submitted to NHS England / NHS Improvement in October 2019.  Following feedback from NHS England / NHS Improvement amendments had been made and the most up to date iteration of the plan could be found on the CCG website. She then drew attention to the I-Thrive model which had been used to develop and map services.  Further work was required to ensure Action Plans were updated and to that end a meeting had taken place the previous day to identify the lead officers to take this forward.

The Healthy Child Programme Co-ordinator informed the meeting that recruitment to the new Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) was in progress with some practitioners starting in January and the rest of the team in March.

In response to a query, the Healthy Child Programme Co-ordinator explained that the data had been an issue however MPFT had introduced new systems so she was confident that the data was still reliable but that more up to date data should start coming through.

The Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services urged the Board not to underestimate the challenges faced by Children’s Services, particularly in relation to mental health and he requested that the barriers to support be looked at in more depth by the Board.

The Director of Adult Services felt that the outcomes in the Action Plan were very service orientated rather than focussed on outcomes for children and young people.  In response, the Healthy Child Programme Co-ordinator reassured the Board that this had been looked at and that the Action Plans were being amended to reflect this.

Concern was raised that the majority of referrals came through GPs, however, the Healthy Child Programme Co-ordinator reported that other professionals including schools could refer into the service.  Cathy Riley, MPFT also confirmed that this had shifted and that the majority of referrals were now from schools.

Lynn Cawley, Shropshire Healthwatch informed the meeting that Healthwatch had recently met with a cohort of young people/young adults (late teens/early 20s) who had great insight into mental health issues that were underlying in their own lives and who would welcome the opportunity to help shape these services.

RESOLVED: 

A.     That the contents of the update be noted and that the ongoing system leadership for effective joined up children’s services be supported.

B.     That the refreshed Children and Young People’s Local Transformation Plan be approved, subject to the action plan being refreshed at a workshop on 15 January 2020.