Agenda item

Andy Bell, Deputy Chief Executive for the Centre of Mental Health, will attend to discuss the Independent Review of the Mental Health Act 1983 with the Community Wellbeing Board.

The Chairman welcomed Andy Bell, Deputy Chief Executive of the Centre for Mental Health, and Mark Trewin, Mental Health Adult Social Work Lead and the Department of Health and Social Care, to the meeting of the Community Wellbeing Board. Mark Trewin and Andy Bell introduced the item opening a discussion with Community Wellbeing Board Members on the publication of ‘Modernising the Mental Health act. Increasing choice, reducing compulsion’ - the final report of the Independent Review of the Mental Health Act 1983.

Mark explained the context of the review, explaining it was commissioned by the Prime Minister in 2017 to explore how the legislation in the Mental Health Act 1983 is used and how practice can be improved. He explained the review sought to understand why there had been rising rates of detention, where processes have become outdated and the reasons for the disproportionate number of people from black and minority ethnic groups were being detained under the act. Mark emphasised that local authorities had played an important role in providing evidence to inform the review. Andy explained to members that the review had identified areas of concern and proposed recommendations to amend the Mental Health Act. He highlighted four key areas, in particular a strong proposal for advocacy to be extended and boosted.

Mark also emphasised that they had held discussions with the authors of the NHS Long Term Plan and Adult Social Care Green Paper to ensure they were clear of the key messages from the review. He also emphasised that they had worked closely with ADASS throughout. He also drew Members attention to developments on mental health for local authorities, emphasising that none of these will work without social care. In particular he raising the importance of new forms of integration and the prevention green paper.

In the discussion that followed, the following points were made;

·         Views were expressed that the reviews work was extremely valuable.

·         Concerns were raised as to the lack of available supported housing. In response Mark emphasised the importance of support housing would be reflected in the adult social care green paper.

·         Concerns were raised around the mental health of those going through the criminal justice system. In response Mark emphasised that a group led by Matthew Scott, Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent, were focusing on better bringing together these services on this topic.

·         Andy raised that there continued to be a growing evidence base for the critical role of prevention in mental health.

·         The importance of children’s centres and working to build up a child’s resilience in their first two years of life was raised.

·         Mark reassured Members the views of other communities on the stigmatisation of mental health had been taken into account in the review.

·         Andy informed Members that they had found apprenticeships had been effective in bringing people into the workforce and in responding to where groups are underrepresented in an areas mental health workforce.

Decisions

The Community Wellbeing Board:

1. Noted the update on the final report of the Independent Review and recommendations;

2. Agreed and provided comments upon the draft key messages in response in paragraph 12 to 13; and

3. Agreed that the Community Wellbeing Board Chairman write a response to the recommendations of the review to Professor Sir Simon Wessely, the Review Chair and also to Jackie Doyle-Price MP, the Minister for Mental Health, Inequalities and Suicide Prevention.

Action

·         Officers  to share this report with the LGA Children and Young People’s Board Lead Members, as the Mental Health Act 1983 also applies to Children and Young People.

·         Officers to inform the Community Wellbeing Board Members of the Children and Young People Board views, and reflect their views in any future actions.

·         Officers to discuss with ADASS about their response to the Mental Health Act review and, in particular, any new operational or legal implications that may present new burdens.

·         Alexander Saul, Assistant Member Services Manager, to circulate slides to the Community Wellbeing Board members.