Agenda item

The Chair welcomed Abigail Gallop, Senior Advisor to the Board.

Abigail introduced the report that set out:

·         Proposals for the children and young people’s mental health work programme for the LGA

·         A proposals for gathering evidence and commissioning a piece of work to identify issues and areas of good practice

·         Proposal for a joint steering group made up of members across the Children and Young People Board, The Community Wellbeing Board and the Safer and Stronger Communities Board

The Board was asked for comments and feedback on:

·         Whether there should be anything added or removed from the proposed aims and objectives, and to agree them.

·         Comments on the funding picture within councils on children and young people’s mental health to inform the development of this piece of research.

·         Comments on the identification of issues and good practice, and is asked if there are any other key lines of enquiry or questions

Members provided the following feedback:

·         Members confirmed their support for establishing a joint steering group on CAMHS to take the work forwards.

·         Local authorities need to ensure that there is a focus on children and that government departments need to engage with each other on this to make progress.

·         On behalf of the Board, the LGA should enquire into the factors that are resulting in children’s mental health not being prioritised or getting the support they need.

·         On behalf of this Board, the LGA should investigate data to see if there is a correlation between cuts in early help offers as a result of funding constraints and an increase in children accessing CAMHS and other Adult Social Care services.

·         One member raised that in their authority, mental health funding goes through the CCG which is a challenge to get that money directed to more holistic and preventative services.

·         It was acknowledged that there was little support for children who were in the interim period of CAMHS on long waiting lists with no access to services while in this period.

·         The impacts of delays in mental health treatment is having a detrimental effect on children’s education, and this is not being addressed. This often results in long-term impacts on individual’s schooling.

·         It was acknowledged that CAMHS is a last resort service, and that there should be more emphasis on earlier interventions.

·         In reference to point 21 which refers to the approach to identify issues and good practice, the report needs to consider the delivery and accessibility in CAMHS, in particular the services offered to those who do not meet NHS thresholds for treatment.

·         Concerns over the quality of CAMHS was raised and what structures are in place to monitor and scrutinise these services.

·         Members raised the point that councils have to take responsibility for supporting children and young people in the whole, but have no influence or authority about how CAMHS funding is invested. 

·         The programme needs to reflect clear asks from this board, with key points including county lines, increase in street crime and domestic violence.

·         The cross-cutting issues around support for children with autistic spectrum disorder, SEND and unaccompanied asylum seekers was also noted.

Decisions:

Officers will modify the proposals to reflect direction from the Board.

Officers will confirm the commissioning of the research based on comments from the Board.

Officers will contact the nominated or volunteered members of the Board to set up the children and young people’s mental health steering group.