Issue - meetings

To consider the findings of the Mental Health Services for Young People Task Group and any recommendations proposed by the group.

(Report attached)

Councillor Nina Wood-Ford, Chair of the Mental Health Services for Young People Task Group, gave a brief presentation on the Task Group’s final report.  She was accompanied by Jess Bayley, Democratic Services Officer and report author.  In addition to the Task Group’s report which appeared in the agenda papers, Members also had before them a Minute Extract and recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny (O&S) Committee’s meeting of 28th March 2017, which had been circulated as Additional Papers 1.  It was noted that at the O&S meeting in March the Task Group had been advised that a different department at Worcestershire County Council organised Youth Mental Health First Aid training.  The words “Public Health Department” had therefore been removed from the wording of Recommendation 3.  

Councillor Wood-Ford explained the background to the report, which had arisen in light of concerns about the prevalence of mental health issues in Redditch.  The Task Group wanted to focus on children and young people for early intervention purposes.  Some of the categories of people who were at higher risk of mental health and wellbeing problems were highlighted, and it was noted that Redditch had:

·       higher levels of deprivation that the county average (one of the higher risk categories);

·       a higher proportion of young people in the local population than the county average;

·       higher than average mental ill health problems than the county average; and

·       a higher suicide rate than the average for the county.

The review had taken place at a time of change to mental health services.  The following public documents which had been relevant to the review were emerging, or being implemented, as the review had taken place:

·       Worcestershire Transformation Plan for Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing;

·       West Midlands Combined Authority’s Mental Health Commission’s Thrive West Midlands Action Plan; and

·       Suicide Prevention Plan for Redditch.

The Task Group’s report had resulted in a total of seven recommendations which were designed to help young people and the people who worked with them.  The Executive Committee was being asked to determine Recommendations 4, 5 and 6 only.  Recommendations 1, 2 and 3 were recommendations to external organisations and for noting only.  Recommendation 7, which related to the reconvening of the Task Group in 12 months’ time to monitor progress in the Borough against actions set out in the documents referred to above, had been resolved by O&S and, again, was for noting only.

Members thanked the Task Group for an extremely helpful report and the hard work that had been put into this very important issue.  The Council had been the only authority in the county to sign up to the West Midlands Mental Health Concordat, and invaluable work was also being carried out on the ‘Time to Talk’ initiative which the Council had pledged support to and which UNISON was leading on within the Council.

Members noted Recommendations 1, 2, 3 and 7.  In relation to Recommendation 4, the Leader stated that he was happy to write  ...  view the full minutes text for item 101