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 obtained from nationwide data contained in the Child Health Information System which showed that 1 in 4 children would exhibit some sort of mental health concern and that 3 or 4 children in a class of 30 would experience some sort of life event, such as bereavement or parental separation, which could lead to some mental well-being issues.

50.9    A Member asked whether there were some young people whose problems were not recognised and therefore slipped through the net.  The Director of Public Health advised that this was a key issue but the problem was reducing.

50.10  A Member queried the level of take up of the services. The Locum Consultant in Public Health advised that currently 2/3rds of primary schools and all of secondary schools were using the services. She added that some small primary schools experienced problems in accessing services as they were unable to release staff to attend training and work was being done with these schools to try to overcome this.  She also commented that some schools had their own programmes based on nationally available programmes.   She asked for Councillors to champion the services to schools in their areas.  The Chair suggested that an email be sent to all Councillors raising awareness of the service.  The Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services agreed to look into doing this in conjunction with the Portfolio Holder for Health.

50.11  A Member asked how the scheme was funded.  The Locum Consultant in Public Health advised that the core funding for the scheme came from the Public Health budget and that some of the services were chargeable.  The Director of Children’s Services advised that some funding also came from the “early help” budget through funding allocated to Compass.

50.12  A Member queried the degree of co-operation between schools and GP surgeries as there appeared to be some gap.  The Director of Public Health commented that there were some problems and that these were being addressed with the CCG through GP training.

50.13  A Member questioned how issues from young carers were dealt with. The Director of Public Health stated that the Early Help Team picked up these issues

50.14  A Member asked whether the services were available to the independent schools in the county. The Locum Consultant in Public Health advised that the TaMHS team had done some work within independent schools.  The Director of Children’s Services commented that she had regular meetings with the independent schools when matters around children’s wellbeing were discussed

50.15  The Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services commented that it was important to raise awareness of and remove the stigma from mental wellbeing issues.

50.16  The Locum Consultant in Public Health invited Members to shadow a member of the team to gain a better insight into their work.  The Chair asked Members to let the Committee Officer know if they were interested in attending.

50.17  The Chair asked that a further report be brought to the Committee following completion of the evaluation of the programme.