To receive apologies for absence from Members of the Committee

Apologies had been received from Councillor Peggy Mullock (subsituted by Councillor Chris Schofield) and Councillor Kevin Turley.

Members are reminded that they must declare their disclosable pecuniary interests and other registrable or non-registrable interests in any matter being considered at the meeting as set out in Appendix B of the Members’ Code of Conduct and consider if they should leave the room prior to the item being considered. Further advice can be sought from the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

Members noted that as corporate parents all members had a vested interest in the matters being discussed.

The minutes of the last meeting, held on Monday 23^rd May 2022, are attached for confirmation.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 23^rd May 2022 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any public questions or petitions from the public, notice of which has been given in accordance with Procedure Rule 14.  The deadline for this meeting is no later than 5pm on Thursday 23^rd June 2022.

There were no public questions.

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

Deadline for notification: No later than 5pm on Thursday 23^rd June 2022.

There were no member questions.

To review progress in delivering the work of the children and young people's mental health partnership.

Claire Parker, Director of Partnerships and Millar Bowness, Head of Transformation and Strategic Commissioning, from Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group will provide a presentation to Members.

Report attached.

Members received a presentation from Millar Bowness and Claire Parker, Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin CCG, and Cathy Riley and Anna Deacon, Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT) on developing a whole system approach to children and young adults’ mental health. Members noted that there had been an avalanche of referrals in the last six months.

Members were advised of the iThrive model for delivering mental health services which focuses on people thriving. BeeU teams had been aligned around the model to deliver support including crisis resolution, community eating disorders service and ASD assessment team.

Members raised concerns regarding the lack of information about outcomes, the time it takes to receive support, the time it takes from triage to receiving care and the children who may have been left behind. Members were advised that this had previously been a poorly invested service but the work being carried out was encouraging. Further reports with data would be brought to future scrutiny meetings.

Members requested that a review of the support for looked after children in Shropshire is carried out and to investigate a different offer for them through the MPFT.

It was questioned whether support was available through school holidays. Members were advised that packages of care and interventions are available. There is a forward thinking team in place to ensure that provision for children and young adults continues. Clinics are also provided in some schools and further information regarding these would be sent to Members after the meeting.

It was agreed that a letter of support would be sent to the regional team echoing concerns as to the level of funding available to support placed looked after children to escalate through the NHS. Members noted that it was a challenge to hold the NHS to account and that the team would welcome members’ support.

Members queried the support available through BEAM and whether this was available for those in rural areas, where referrals were from and how many people were accessing the service. It was agreed that this would be brought back to a future meeting. Councillor Kevin Pardy would forward details of one case to that he had been made aware of where support was refused due to the amount of people accessing the service. Anna Deacon confirmed she would like into this.

Members were advised that there would be a focus on early intervention following an investment of £10million. It was queried whether a waiting list validation exercise could be carried out to reduce the current waiting times; waiting times which raised significant concerns.

Members queried the target for the 2022/23 NHSE Mental Health Long Term Plan of 7,516 Children and Young People to have at least one contact with commissioned Mental Health Services this year and the achievement rate of 70%. They queried whether the outstanding 30% was due to funding shortfalls and requested the percentage figure for those whose requests for support are declined. It was confirmed that a written response would be sent.

Members expressed their  ...  view the full minutes text for item 57.

To scrutinise the findings of the recent Ofsted Inspection of children's services and any actions resulting from Ofsted's findings.

Report attached.

Sonya Miller, Associate Director Childrens Social Care & Safeguarding presented the findings of the recent Ofsted Inspection of children's services.

Members were advised that the report focussed on the successes as well as areas for development, all of which were part of the team’s self-evaluation. A summary plan would be circulated once completed to communicate with all staff.

Officers were congratulated on the report and felt that it spoke volumes about the team.

Members noted that the Performance Management Scrutiny Committee would be looking at how to use data to inform service delivery.

RESOLVED:

That a vote of thanks be passed to all staff.

To consider the future work programme of the Committee. (Report to Follow).

Contact:  Danial Webb (Tel: 01743 258509).

Members noted that a work programming meeting would be scheduled via Teams when the Chairman had returned from leave.

It was noted that the work programme presented was a holding work programme.

Areas for discussion for the upcoming year would include criminal exploitation.

To note that the next meeting of the People Overview Committee will be held at 1.30pm on Wednesday 28^th September 2022.

Members noted that the next meeting of the People Overview Committee would take place at 1.30pm on Wednesday 28^th September 2022.