Agenda item

The Cabinet Member(s) will update the Panel on any relevant issues. Panel members may ask questions on the update provided.

Councillor Dine Romero, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Communities and Culture addressed the Paneland said that she was happy to take questions on the submission she had provided to them. She added that she would welcome any suggestions for future items to be included in the update.

The Chairman asked the following question on behalf of Councillor Liz Hardman. With the school holidays only six weeks away, are there any plans to provide vouchers for those children in receipt of free school meals or will we be relying on the Holiday Activity and Food Fund. My concern is that not all children in receipt of FSMs will necessarily access the HAF programme and that it will not provide food every day for those that do.

Councillor Romero replied that the Council are currently lobbying the DFE for a decision on FSM vouchers for the school holidays and were expecting to receive a decision from the DFE shortly. She added that it was so important to make sure that children do not go hungry.

Councillor Paul May commented that he was pleased that the Council are going to support and fund some form of education provision on the former Culverhay School site. He added that when in place this offer should be promoted to those that need it most.

Councillor Romero said that she was considering a proposal from Bath College to deliver vocational provision at the site to support children aged 14-18.

Kevin Burnett asked if there was a procedure that detailed public accountability for how MATs (Multi Academy Trusts) are run.

Councillor Romero replied that there was a set procedure for accountability that can be circulated to the Panel. She said that traditionally there have been good relationships with local Head Teachers / CEOs and that she would work hard to retain these. She added that she would be happy to act as a voice for the Panel.

Kevin Burnett asked if she could comment further on Mental Health Support in schools.

Councillor Romero replied that she would give a written reply to the Panel.

The information below was supplied following the closure of the meeting.

1. Thrive model and early help services for early years

Bright Start Children’s Centre Services and Action for Children continue to provide early help support for children (from conception to age 5).  Their offer includes the Five to Thrive model which focuses on early relationships and attachment. 

Children’s Centre services work collaboratively with a wide range of early childhood services to provide early help including maternity services, health visiting, speech and language and the early years team.

The i-thrive model for CAMHS is a whole system model that recognises the important role and contribution a range of stakeholders have in supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. Based on research the model categorises children and young people into five needs based groups and identifies the skill mix of professionals and resources that are required to meet these needs based on what works. Oxford Health CAMHS are a key part of the CAMHS system and a comprehensive plan is in place to drive service transformation and modernisation. Key developments that are currently being taken forward include:

·  Expansion of the early help offer into schools and colleges through Mental Health Support Teams

·  Mobilisation of a Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Service to enable children and young people to be treated at home in the community and avoid hospital admission where possible

·  Enhancement of the nationally recognised children and young people’s eating disorder service for children and young people

·  Provision of a crisis helpline both in and out of hours

·  Review the Trust’s CAMHS webpages with better access to self-help tools and resources and signposting

·  Ongoing development of digital interventions including Sleepio and Lumi Nova

·  Co-location of specialist mental health staff in LA Children’s Services to work together to support vulnerable children

·  Development of a menu of choices for children and young people according to their needs based on NICE and i-thrive

·  Consultant Mental Health Practitioners to support the development of a 16-25 pathway and offer

2. Plan to address performance issues in CAMHS

In respect of CAMHS performance, the 19/20 National CAMHS Benchmarking report shows that the mean wait time to first appointment for BSW is 6 weeks compared to the national average of 10 weeks. The mean wait time to second appointment is 10 weeks compared to the national average of 15 weeks.  Wait times continue to be impacted by increasing demand both in respect of rising referrals and increased complexity. This has been compounded by Covid that has resulted in a surge in eating disorder and liaison referrals. Capacity within the service is also being tested as a result of workforce supply chain issues owing to a national shortage of mental health staff. Increased investment as outlined in the service developments above will help to address demand and capacity challenges and a workforce plan is in place to support with recruitment and retention, including the introduction of new roles e.g. Clinical Associate Psychologists, Wellbeing Practitioners, OT and Social Work Apprenticeships etc. A comprehensive business continuity plan is also in place for the BaNES team to help address current challenges.

3. Rollout of support to schools

Throughout the pandemic period B&NES Council and partners have continued to support schools to maintain and support pupil’s wellbeing.  This has been partly provided through existing services but also as a result of additional Department for Education funding. School Nurses continued to provided 1-1 pupil support via a 1-1 confidential telephone service specifically for secondary age pupils and any parent/carer. They also operated their CHATHEALTH text messaging service for young people. All schools were sent a letter promoting this. Public Health have provided regular round ups of local and national support which are sent to mental health leads in all schools. These have included information from national providers of curriculum materials, staff wellbeing support helplines and relevant links within the Council to Education Inclusion etc. Public Health has also been responsive to schools requests for information and help. For example they produced a template for schools to adapt and use on their website as a place to initially signpost parents/ carers concerned about their child’s wellbeing.

B&NES received £30K from the Department for Education to support the recovery of pupils mental health and wellbeing during the pandemic. This funding was used to deliver training, a series of fortnightly network meetings and a confidential 1-1 helpline service run by the education psychology service. Schools are regularly reminded and invited to take up this Wellbeing Education Return programme and to date since September 2020 all but 1 of our secondary schools have taken advantage of this support, 77% of primaries and 50% of our special / studio schools. A total 306 school staff have been involved. We are currently planning the offer for September 2021 – March 22 and are consulting with partners and schools on how they feel our additional £26,626 Wellbeing Education Return funding should be spent. 

The Chairman thanked the Cabinet Member for her update on behalf of the Panel.