Agenda item

The task group’s second report is attached for endorsement by Committee and referral to the Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Skills and the Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) for response.

During Children’s Select consideration of the task group’s first report, the committee asked the task group to consider how the voluntary and community sector help to provide preventative services to children and young people in Wiltshire. This addition has been added to the task group’s terms of reference for its second report.

Due to the streamlined overview and scrutiny arrangements under COVID-19, the Health Select Committee is, exceptionally, considering the Final Report of the Task Group at the same meeting as it is receiving the Executive Response. It is also considering the report on behalf of the task group’s joint parent committee, the Children’s Select Committee, members of have been invited to participate in this meeting. The Executive Response is included under the next agenda item.

Cllr Gordon King presented the second report from the Task Group to the Committee. The Committee was considering the report on behalf of the task group’s joint parent committee, Children’s Select Committee. During Children’s Select consideration of the task group’s first report, the committee asked the task group to consider how the voluntary and community sector help to provide preventative services to children and young people in Wiltshire. This addition was added to the task group’s terms of reference for its second report.

Cllr King explained the evidence considered by the Task Group in relation to: Thrive Hubs, Access Coordinators, Self-referrals, NHS Benchmarking, access rates and governance arrangements. Conclusions reached by the Task Group were detailed in the report. Six recommendations were outlined in the report and Cllr King highlighted recommendation two in relation to better management of the self-referral process.

Cllr Berry expressed his support for the report and invited questions from the Committee.

It was questioned whether the data remained relevant during COVID-19, in response to which it was acknowledged the report was written pre-covid, and that work may be commissioned in future to assess the impact of COVID-19 on CAMHS.

Cllr Alford explained the Task Group had felt strongly that a better online tool was needed for online self-referral. It was also noted the referral data was inconsistent, therefore it had been difficult to compare data from different parts of the organisation and the Task Group felt this should be harmonised. Cllr Alford also highlighted there was currently no record of re-referrals into the system, this would be important to demonstrate whether the service was not meeting the needs of those referred. Both new data sets were felt to be beneficial to improving CAMHS scrutiny.

Cllr Hubbard, as Chairman of Children’s Select, expressed a disappointment the report did not have a discussion on the significant voluntary offer in Wiltshire to support mental health services. It was noted there were also sometimes inappropriate referrals to the voluntary sector.  For the avoidance of doubt, Cllr Hubbard declared he chaired a charity that commissioned mental health services in Wiltshire, although this charity had not been involved in giving evidence in the report. 

The Chairman noted the points on the voluntary sector and acknowledged these stakeholders could be more involved, should the work of the task group be recommenced.

Other points raised by committee included that private individuals or companies might also be supporting on mental health issues which perhaps should have been raised with CAMHS. The Thrive Hub was noted as an area of focus. Interest was also expressed in understanding the process where young people move into adult mental health services. Questions were raised on to the equalisation of Thrive Hub provision. Cllr Cape explained that a local Health and Care Record in Wiltshire would make sharing information between partners as appropriate would be easier.

In response to comments, Cllr King, on behalf of the Task Group, gave reassurances that commissioners were already aware of changes needed to produce more meaningful data on referrals. Cllr Alford explained that the Task Group had to focus its area on CAHMS to ensure focussed and timely recommendations, which would be lacking if the Task Group had a wide remit, however it was noted, future work could be undertake to investigate the other important issues raised by the Committee in the discussion.

Resolved:

To endorse the report of the Task Group and refer it to the Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Skills and the Bath, Swindon and Wiltshire CCG for response.

To request that Health Select Committee under the 2021-25 council considers reconvening the Task Group to consider the impact of COVID-19 on CAMHS, and the link between CAMHS and private and voluntary and community sector provision.