Agenda and minutes

CC Cynthia Dereli replaced CC Richard Newman-Thompson, CC Steven Holgate replaced CC Alyson Barnes and CC Fabian Craig-Wilson replaced CC Vivien Taylor for this meeting.

No apologies were received.

Members are asked to consider any Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests they may have to disclose to the meeting in relation to matters under consideration on the Agenda.

None were disclosed.

The minutes of the meeting held on 17 April 2015 were agreed to be an accurate record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 May 2015 were agreed as an accurate record.

The Chair introduced Louise Taylor (Corporate Director of Operations and Delivery), Tony Morrissey (Deputy Director of Children Services) Dave Carr (Head of Service Policy, Information and Commissioning), Mark Warren (CAHMS Coordinator), Vanessa Hollins (East Lancashire Hospital Trust), Terry Drake (Lancashire Care Foundation Trust), Nicki Turner (Policy, Information and Commissioning) and Dr Warren Larkin (Lancashire Care Foundation Trust) to the meeting, who presented a report on Emotional Health and Wellbeing including Specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

It was stated that the report addressed issues that the Committee had raised during consideration of an earlier report in January 2014 and that the opportunity had been taken to broaden the report to provide updates on wider elements of the CAMHS service. It was noted that the Committee had requested in the report; examples of work undertaken regarding emotional health responses for children looked after, information on funding and comparative data.

The Committee was informed that Appendix 'A' of the agenda pack referred to the Preston pilot which contained a full evaluation, and due to its success, the service had been made available across Lancashire. It was highlighted that the Preston pilot had developed new ways of working with 16-18 year olds as investigation and case reports had identified an inequity in provision for the age bracket.

It was highlighted that positive feedback had been received for training sessions involving Lancashire County Council Mental Health Service Workers, which had helped to raise awareness of the growing adolescent brain and the significant impact of trauma during the development period.

The Committee was informed that the Preston pilot had improved information sharing between adult and children's workers, and that the development of a single health care record had enabled the service to be joined up and integrated.

Feedback was highlighted to be positive from workers, and it was noted that the feedback from young people and carers services had also improved. It was explained that this was due to a more consistent application of processes, such as the common assessment process, which was designed to provide a holistic view of children's needs and would be implemented across all CAMHS services.

It was reported that children and young people felt listened to, had been able to communicate issues and understood what was explained in meetings, which provided a greater level of control and an understanding of methods to service users.

The Committee was informed that, regarding information sharing and better working between A&E Safeguarding and CAMHS staff, a Teaching Hospital Quality Award 2014 had been awarded in the team work category, which displayed success.

Members noted that the number of young people who had presented with a mental health issue had increased. Therefore, it was queried whether there was capacity to help young people with the demands of a complex and demanding lifestyle in the modern world, and how this could be integrated into services that the County Council commissioned.

It was explained to the Committee that a mental health task force review  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Resolved: That the work plan and task group update be noted.

An item of urgent business may only be considered under this heading where, by reason of special circumstances to be recorded in the Minutes, the Chair of the meeting is of the opinion that the item should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency. Wherever possible, the Chief Executive should be given advance warning of any Member's intention to raise a matter under this heading.

There was no urgent business

The next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee will be held on Friday 17 July 2015 at 10:30am at the County Hall, Preston.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee would be held on Friday, 17 July 2015 at 10:30am, County Hall, Preston, Cabinet Room 'B'.