Agenda item

The Board received a report from the Strategic Director Children and Enterprise, which gave a summary of the current position in relation to the support currently available and plans for the future support for children with emotional wellbeing and mental health issues in Halton. 

It also described how the children’s agenda fitted with the wider mental health agenda for adults and older people and the governance process in place.

It was reported that Halton had an all age Mental Health Strategy 2014-2019, which was developed and signed off by a variety of committees and bodies last year.  To support delivery of the objectives identified within the Strategy an Action Plan had also been developed.  It was commented that as the Action Plan was comprehensive, a variety of groups and individuals would be required to work together to deliver all aspects of the plan.  To ensure delivery of the plan a revised governance process had been established, a structure chart of this was attached to the report at Appendix 1.

It was also reported that the Mental Health Oversight Group (Chaired by Councillor Mark Dennett) would meet quarterly and would hold all the groups tasked with delivery of elements of the plan to account via regular updates on progress.  It was noted that the Young People’s Emotional Health and Wellbeing Partnership Board (YPEHWPB) was tasked with delivering the children and young people’s elements of the plan.  The ‘Mental Health Delivery Plan (CYP)’ was attached at appendix 2.

The report went on to provide Members with an update on the current developments in the following areas:

·       Emotional wellbeing for children’s service (Tiers Guide referred to in appendix 3);

·       Emotional wellbeing service for children in care;

·       Self-Harm;

·       Child in need project;

·       Tier 3 CAMHS;

·       Services at A & E; and

·       Hidden harm service.

Members raised the following queries following consideration of the report:

Considering the austerity measures currently in place, was the Council in a position to provide these services?   The mental health budget in Halton was £23m across both the health and social care economies for children, young people and adults and was allocated through careful targeting and identification of need, to ensure the most effective use of money.

What was the Council doing for the birth to 5 years old age group?  The Board heard that Health Visitors were available to support families and could offer a host of assessments, referrals and targeted support to parents.  Post Natal Depression (PND) and attachment issues were also discussed, as were the role of Children’s Centres and the Early Years Curriculum, and a wide variety of early intervention and support services.  It was noted that the commissioning responsibility for the Health Visiting Service was due to transfer to the Council in October 2015, which would then provide an opportunity to review local provision. 

How far was this information disseminated in schools as we often see students being excluded for behavioural issues as schools do not know how to deal with them?   A review of the approach to addressing behaviour within Halton was currently being undertaken, the review would involve schools and settings.  A revised Behaviour Strategy would then be cascaded to all schools.

Incidents in gaps in after care from health visitors following birth had been common, could this be improved?  The Healthy Child Programme was in place to provide a series of structured interventions throughout the life of the child although more work needed to be done to ensure that checks at 2 ½ years were made locally.  There was also a new Family Nurse Partnership service in Halton which would work with new teenage parents.  The Council was looking at a commission a parent volunteer service, which would provide support and practical assistance to families under stress through home visiting over extended periods of time.

What support was being provided to pre-schools and nurseries to alleviate ‘attachment issues’ in children?  This was addressed in the Early Years Curriculum which was followed by them.  A team of Early Years Consultant Teachers provided training and support for settings, including child development, around the specific needs of 2 year olds.

          The Chairman wished to reiterate that mental health support for children, young people and adults was a Halton issue and needed to be dealt with by all agencies working together so that individuals and families of all ages were supported.

RESOLVED:  That the Board supports the report.