Agenda item

Although children and young people’s (CYP’s) mental health had not previously been focussed on as much as it should have been, real progress had been made in the last two years.  The report included case studies illustrating young people’s experiences of the services and asked that authority to approve the refresh of the Local Transformation Plan be delegated outside of the Board’s meetings. 

Training programmes were currently being run in schools and the Kooth online counselling and support service for 11-19 year olds had gone live on 9 July 2018.  It was noted that the THRIVE programme was also being used more in schools. 

The percentage of CYP seen within Community Mental Health services needed to increase from 25% in 2015/16 to 35% in 2020/21.  Although Hillingdon had over performed against its 28% target in 2016/17, it had failed to meet its 30% target in 2017/18, achieving just 23%. 

Whilst encouraged by Kooth, concern was expressed that there was a need for more evidence that, on the ground, access to preventative services was getting easier.  The input of Healthwatch in gauging this would be helpful.  It was queried whether any of those CYP on the waiting list could be helped by Kooth. 

The report mentioned that the ‘core CAMHS’ and Learning Disability service specifications were being reviewed and a model to improve early intervention, reduce waiting times and improve integration with local services and partner agencies was being developed.  As it was thought that this scoping work had been undertaken previously, Dr Goodman would investigate. 

It was queried whether (and how) the effectiveness of interventions was validated.  Ms O’Brien advised that the service in Hillingdon compared well with other boroughs but that there was a challenge with regard to capturing live information.  CNWL had numerous case studies which could be used to add more detail in relation to clinical services rather than preventative services.  There had been a national drive to address waiting times in relation to children’s mental health services and reduce them to four weeks. 

Dyslexia was a stigma for some young people that could prevent them from achieving their full potential.  It was noted that teachers were being taught to recognise dyslexia but it was unclear what support was then available to these young people in schools after diagnosis.  Hillingdon CCG had been working with the Council to identify and triage these young people but, at this stage, it was more about the individual being different than a mental health issue.  It was noted that inclusivity formed part of the OFSTED inspection framework so all schools would be required to address this in their School Development Plans. 

RESOLVED: That the Health and Wellbeing Board:

1.    noted the progress made:

a.    on the implementation of the Hillingdon Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Local Transformation Plan (CYP MHLTP) to date in 2018/19;

b.    in developing the local offer available for CYP and families in ‘Getting Advice’ and ‘Getting Help’ (building resilience and early intervention and prevention), particularly the establishment of the new Wellbeing and Mental Health project in schools which was developing a model of best practice and a compendium of resources to support all schools in the Borough; and

c.    regarding the sustained improvement in access for CYP in ‘Getting More Help’ and ‘Getting Risk Support’ shown in the performance data from CCG and NHS commissioned services; and

2.    agreed to delegate authority to officers in consultation with the Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Board, the Chairman of Hillingdon CCG and the Chair of Hillingdon Healthwatch, to agree, on its behalf, the October 2018 refresh of the Local Transformation Plan.  The plan would set out work proposed up to 2020 and would be consistent with the direction and priorities of the existing plan as agreed by the Board and outlined at section 7.0 of the report.