Agenda and minutes

None

Cllr Peter Kemp declared a non-pecuniary interest as a member of the Board of CNWL

Cllr Mary O’Connor declared a non-pecuniary interest as the Chairman of Hillingdon MIND

The minutes of 11 September 2012 meeting were agreed as a correct record.

All items were considered in Part 1.

Alan Coe, Mental Health Consultant introduced the report and explained that the second witness session aimed to address the following lines of enquiry:

·        Local strategies – translating policy into practice

·        Partnership working

·        Enhancing joint working

The witnesses in attendance were:

• Sandra Brookes - Borough Director CNWL
• Fiona Davies – NHS Hillingdon
• Alan Coe - Mental Health Consultant, working for the Social Care, Health and Housing Department
• Angela Manners – Rethink
• Diego Duarte – Rethink
• Jill Patel – Hillingdon MIND
• Khalid Rashid (Customer Management Team – Manager)
• Herbie Mann (Housing Options – Team Leader)
• Sinead Mooney (Older People, Housing Services – Housing Manger)

Both voluntary sector organisations provided presentations. This was followed by presentations from CNWL and the Housing Options Team. At the end of each topic a question and answer session was held. The following points were noted:

Rethink

Rethink North West London Carer Support Service is an organisation which works to support families and friends of adults experiencing mental illness in the London Boroughs of Hillingdon and Ealing. Aiding thesupport and recovery of families and friends affected by mental illness is a key aim. Rethink works with carers in a variety of ways to enable them to cope better with their difficult situations.

The objectives of Rethink are:

Objective 1: – To support recovery and social inclusion

1.      To provide information, advice and support to carers of adults experiencing mental illness

2.      To organise and facilitate carer support groups- Carer support groups help to reduce isolation and stress amongst Carers, improve social networks and provide access to information and support.

3.      To organise and facilitate respite opportunities. –In the last 6 months Rethink have organised a number of respite outings for carers including:

·        a guided tour of the Palace of Westminster

·        pantomime visits

·        an organised tour of RAF Northolt

4.      To develop participation and involvement of people using our service in the planning and delivery of activities.

5.      To facilitate Carers Education and Training Programmes (CETP).

6.      To ensure that our service is open to all and recognises diversity

7.      To continue to work in partnership with other organisations and on new initiatives.

Objective 2: To combat the stigma and discrimination experienced by people affected by severe mental illness

1. To promote the service. -Rethink produce a regular newsletter, which contains useful information about mental health issues, caring and events taking place.
2. To signpost carers to other relevant organisations. A key role of Rethink is its regular work with Carers and Carers who are often referred to other services such as Hillingdon Carers, Citizens Advice Bureau and for a Carers Assessment. They also regularly invite other services to attend Rethink groups to provide information to Carers about their services.
3.  To promote Rethink membership and campaigns. This takes place on an on-going basis and has been promoted recently in the newsletter, as has the Time to Change anti-stigma campaign. New referrals to the service and anyone leaving the service, are also encouraged to become members so that they can  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

The Safeguarding Manager introduced the report which provided an overview of the safeguarding work which had been conducted in 2011-12. It was noted that there had been a number of key local developments and service changes which were:

• The change to the SAPB structure and the collaborative model of working with the LSCB
• Implementing the London multi-agency safeguarding adult policy and procedures, strengthening cross boundary work and ensuring a common understanding of responding to allegations of abuse.
• Improve collaboration and partnership across agencies.
• In consultation with stakeholders, re-aligning the Board’s priorities to reflect the changes in adult health and social care.   
• Focussing more on successful outcomes for people rather than just on compliance

Moving forward into the future, the Committee noted that the Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board would be concentrating on:

·        Improving its response to the growing problem of financial abuse

·        Increasing its quality control mechanisms

·        Testing its local practice against national concerns like the Winterbourne Events

·        Continuing to ensure that the Board was well placed to comply with the likely statutory requirements of the Care and Support Bill.

During the course of discussions, the Committee made the following comments to Cabinet:

The Committee notes the protection of adults at risk is a critical activity of the Council and a key partnership area of work with health services and the voluntary sector.

The Committee notes Hillingdon’s Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board has an independent chair, who also chairs the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board and while each Board is independent, this collaborative approach is to be commended.

The Committee notes the Authority has a highly skilled specialist service in place and the Committee expressed confidence in the safeguarding adult arrangements in Hillingdon. The Board is well placed to comply with the statutory requirements set out in the Care and Support Bill and is currently working on priorities that include demonstrating the positive outcomes of safeguarding intervention.

The Committee notes the enhanced quality control measures which are being adopted and the changes in both the scope and definition of safeguarding adult work that is being developed. The Committee welcomes the continued work which is being done to raise the awareness of adult safeguarding.

Resolved –

1. To note the contents of the Annual Report
2. To provide the comments listed above to Cabinet

Reference was made to the work programme and timetable of meetings.

Resolved –

That the report be noted.

No items were identified.

Resolved –

That the report be noted