Agenda and minutes

Apologies had been received from Councillors Helen Adkins, Les Caborn, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Health, Mark Cargill, Dan Gissane, Colin Hayfield, Portfolio Holder for Education and Learning, Chris Kettle (Stratford-on-Avon District Council), Andy Sargeant, Chris Williams and Pam Williams.

Apologies had also been received from Laura Kisby (Non-Voting Representative) and Reverend Elaine Scrivens (Church Representative).

Members are required to register their disclosable pecuniary interests within 28 days of their election of appointment to the Council. A member attending a meeting where a matter arises in which s/he has a disclosable pecuniary interest must (unless s/he has a dispensation):

• Declare the interest if s/he has not already registered it

• Not participate in any discussion or vote

• Must leave the meeting room until the matter has been dealt with.

• Give written notice of any unregistered interest to the Monitoring Officer within 28 days of the meeting

Non-pecuniary interests must still be declared in accordance with the Code of Conduct. These should be declared at the commencement of the meeting.

None.

Any member of the public who is resident or working in Warwickshire, or who is in receipt of services from the Council, may speak at the meeting for up to three minutes on any matter within the remit of the Committee. This can be in the form of a statement or a question. If you wish to speak please notify Ben Patel-Sadler in writing at least two working days before the meeting. You should give your name and address and the subject upon which you wish to speak. Full details of the public speaking scheme are set out in the Council’s Standing Orders.

There had not been any questions received from members of the public.

The Children and Young People’s Emotional well-being and Mental Health Services Task and Finish Group has concluded its review. The review report, its conclusions and recommendations are submitted for the joint Committee’s consideration.

Councillor Pete Gilbert (Chair of the Task and Finish Group) introduced the report and informed the Joint Committee that the Task and Finish Group (TFG) had been an enjoyable experience that had drawn views and facilitated debate between the experienced members who comprised the membership of the group. Members noted the evidence gathering process that was outlined in the appended report.

Councillor Gilbert informed the joint Committee that the recommendations made by the TFG were outlined in the appended report and emphasised that the performance of the new children and young people’s emotional wellbeing and mental health services contract should be scrutinised on an ongoing basis (due to the contract only currently being in its implementation phase). Councillor Gilbert then invited members of the TFG to address the meeting where the following points were noted:

·         Members acknowledged that CAMHS had been an issue for several years – members of the TFG were hopeful after completing the TFG process that real progress could be made during the life of the current contract.

·         Members of the TFG implored their colleagues to support the recommendations, emphasising that the provision of IT support in relation to the Dimensions Tool could serve to ensure that the Tool became truly fit for purpose. Council support would ensure that the Tool became easier to use – assisting in triaging young people to the correct areas of the CAMHS service.

·         Members of the TFG expressed concern for those young people who have been in the CAMHS system for an extended period of time – it would be crucial that the new contract sought to ensure that these people were seen and treated quickly and appropriately.

·         The time sensitive nature of this TFG had meant that the group were unable to meet with service users – members felt it would be important to hear the views of service users at future Overview and Scrutiny meetings.

·         Members of the TFG expressed a view that the recommendations outlined in the report reflected what needed to happen to ensure that the progress of the contract was effectively monitored and that the Dimensions Tool was completely fit for purpose.

·         The remaining areas of concern from members of the TFG (and as such areas which scrutiny may wish to monitor) were: Awaiting to see if the contract would deliver a decrease in waiting times and ensuring that the Dimensions Tool was developed to a sufficient level as to remain fit for purpose.

The Joint Committee acknowledged that it would be important to convene on a sixmonthly basis to meet with officers with responsibility for delivering the new contract to monitor its effectiveness and also to meet with service users to determine what their experiences of the service were.

Councillor Jeff Morgan, Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services informed the joint Committee that he supported the recommendations as specified in the report and was supportive of these recommendations being considered by Cabinet so that a decision could be taken.

Resolved:

That the Joint Committee:

1)    Agrees  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

At the discretion of the Chair, items may be raised which are considered urgent (please notify Democratic Services in advance of the meeting).

None

The Committee rose at 14.45 pm

                                                                            ………………………….. Chair