To receive apologies for absence from Members of the Committee

45.1    Apologies for absence were received from Mr Austin Atkinson, Mr Mark Hignett, Cllr. Vince Hunt, Cllr. Robert Tindall and Mr Dominic Wilson.

45.2    Cllr Tina Woodward substituted for Cllr Tindall and Cllr Paul Wynn substituted for Cllr Hunt.

Members are reminded they must not participate in the discussion or vote on any matter in which they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest and should leave the room prior to the commencement of the debate.

46.1    None were made.

The minutes of the last meeting, held on 22 October 2014, are attached for confirmation.

47.1    Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Young People’s Scrutiny Committee held on the 22 October 2014 be approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any questions, statements or petitions of which members of the public have given notice.

Deadline for notification is: 5.00pm on Monday 18 November 2014

48.1    There were no questions from members of the public.

To receive any questions of which Members of the Council have given notice.

Deadline for notification: 5.00pm on Monday 18 November 2014

49.1    There were no questions from Members

This report gives an update on the commissioning and delivery of high quality mental health and wellbeing services for young people in Shropshire.

50.1    Members received the report of the Associate Director – Public Health which gave an update on the commissioning and delivery of high quality mental health and wellbeing services for young people in Shropshire.

50.2    The Associate Director Public Health reminded the meeting that the Children and Young People Team within Public Health was responsible for the management of the Healthy Child programme which covered young people from the ages of 0 to 19 and was split into two areas covering young people from 0 to 5 years and from 5 to 19 years.

50.3    The Locum Consultant in Public Health advised the meeting that the services and programmes were categorised around four tiers of provision: -

            Tier 1 – which provided universal services and was commissioned by the local authority and currently served 68,500 young people.

            Tier 2 – which provided targeted services for children in need aimed at addressing problems to prevent the problem becoming more serious, this service being commissioned by the CCG and the local authority.

            Tier 3 – commissioned by the CCG which dealt with young people with moderate to serious mental health difficulties.

            Tier 4 - commissioned by the NHS Commissioning Board which dealt with a very small number of young people with very severe mental health difficulties.

50.4    The Locum Consultant in Public Health advised   members that the Tier 1 services were delivered through the Targeting Mental Health Support (TaMHS) “Think Good Feel Good” programme which was delivered through primary and secondary schools, the aim of which was to develop a whole school approach on emotional health and well-being through the delivery of an evidence based training programme.  She added that the programme was currently being expanded to include the further education sector and to children under school age through the Children’s Centre teams and Health Visitors.

50.5    The Locum Consultant in Public Health advised that, following concerns raised by secondary schools, a self-harm pathway, guidance and risk assessment had been produced. In addition, a self-harm, peer support, targeted intervention 10 week programme ‘Signature Strengths’ had been developed. Professionals and school staff had been trained to deliver the programme at Tier 2 level, to prevent needs escalating and requiring support from Tier 3 specialist services and this was currently being trialled at Meole Brace, Belvidere and Mary Webb Schools.

50.6    The Locum Consultant in Public Health advised the meeting that the TaMHS team was currently working with Health Champions to provide a focus on emotional and mental health as part of its work.

50.7    A Member asked whether there was any parental involvement within the scheme.  The Locum Consultant in Public Health advised that there was some limited involvement and that it was planned to extend this in the next phase of the programme

50.8    A Member commented that the figures showed that the number of young people with mental wellbeing issues was increasing and asked how the figures were collated.  The Locum Consultant in Public Health advised that the figures were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.

Members will consider the progress in delivering the Council’s Financial Strategy and help inform the refresh and any refocus for 2015/16 onwards.

The following documents are included:

a)    Performance report and dashboards relevant to the Young People’s Scrutiny Committee’s specific remit

b)    Quarter 1 performance report and dashboards [from 15 October 2014 Cabinet meeting]

c)    Financial Strategy [from 30 July 2014 Cabinet]

d)    Quarter 2 Revenue Monitoring Report [from 15 October 2014 Cabinet meeting]

Members may also find it helpful to access the Business Plan and Financial Strategy 2014/15 to 2016/17 document [from 27 February Council meeting] available from the Members’ Library or by using the following link:     

 http://shropshire.gov.uk/committee-services/CeListDocuments.aspx?CommitteeId=125&MeetingId=2605&DF=27%2f02%2f2014&Ver=2

51.1    Members had before them the following documents which had been circulated.

a)    Performance report and dashboards relevant to the Young People’s Scrutiny Committee’s specific remit

b)    Quarter 1 performance report and dashboards from 15 October 2014 Cabinet meeting

c)    Financial Strategy report from 30 July 2014 Cabinet meeting

d)    Quarter 2 Revenue Monitoring Report from 15 October 2014 Cabinet meeting

The Director of Children’s Service’s tabled an update on the Children’s Services Business and Financial Strategy.

51.2    The Performance Manager presented the performance data and drew attention to the following: -

·         The number of Looked After Children (LAC) had increased year on year

·         The number of children per 1000 with Child Protection Plans (CPP) had risen and was higher than statistical neighbours

·         The number of adoptions of Looked After Children had decreased and was below the target number

51.3    The Director of Children’s Services informed the meeting that with regard to Safeguarding and Social care the key areas of service development centred around early help and ensuring support was available at the earliest opportunity, thus preventing escalation to specialist services.  She added that the changes were set against the challenge of increasing demand and the need to manage that increase. In the light of a forthcoming unannounced Ofsted inspection it was important that the changes were paced in order that it could be evidenced that changes were achieved within the context of the Council meeting its corporate parenting responsibilities and its statutory responsibilities to keep children safe from harm, and to promote children’s wellbeing.

51.4    The Director of Children’s Services advised that of the savings target of £3,971,000 for the 2014-15 financial year, it was predicted that savings of £3,581,000 would be achieved some of which were covered by one off savings.  She then took the meeting through the redesign work that had been undertaken to achieve the savings.

51.5    In response to a query from the Chair, the Director of Children’s Services provided an update on the proposed savings.  She advised that at the end of quarter 2, there was anticipated pressure of around £1million in the savings and some savings would need to be carried forward to the 2015 – 16 financial year. She added that key areas of pressure were the cost of the LAC population and the cost of school transport, both of which were statutory functions, but that redesign work was being undertaken to address the pressures.  She commented that it was important that different solutions to the cost of LAC were considered such as, increasing fostering and the use of special guardianship orders.

51.6    A Member commented that the continuing trend in the reduction in the number of children with second and subsequent Child Protection Plans (CPP) was positive but the overall increase in the number of referrals to Children’s Social Care was less so and asked whether there were any lessons to be learned from other authorities.  The Director of Children’s Services advised that it was difficult to compare the performance with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.

The current Scrutiny Work Programme and Cabinet Forward Plan are attached

52.1    The meeting received copies of the Committee’s current Work Programme and the Cabinet Forward Plan.

52.2    The Chairman asked Members to let her know of any other topics they would like added to the Committee’s Work Programme.

Members are reminded that the next scheduled meeting will take place on Wednesday 17 December 2014 at 10.00am at The Shirehall

53.1    Members were reminded that the next meeting of the Young People’s Scrutiny Committee would be held on Wednesday 17 December 2014 at 10.00am.