VCS Forum for Mental Health
2pm-4pm on 16th September 2014
Minutes
Present:
John Burgess
Mel McQueen
Julie Kay
Dani Wardman
Rachel Barber
Andy Ward
David Smith
Alan Dunnett
Alyson Scott
Vanessa Langford
Steve Flatley
Mary Hodgson
John Brown
Helen Williams
June Tranmer
Catherine Surtees
Sian Balsom
Lynne James
Jade Brough
Rachel Jones
Irene Easterby
Laura Davis
Chair
York CVS
York Housing Association
Survive
Clarence Gardens
Community Links
(Vice-Chair) The Retreat
1-2-1 Counselling
York Mind
Magnetic Arts
City of York - Connexions
Castlegate
Healthwatch York
Healing Clinic
Healing Clinic
York CVS/CYC
Healthwatch York
Mainstay
Mainstay
Fighting Eating Disorders
Fighting Eating Disorders
York CVS (Minutes)
Guests:
Becky Allright
Kevin Aston
Inspector Bill Scott
Partnership Commissioning Unit
Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group
North Yorkshire Police
Apologies:
Kathryn Ashworth
Cllr Helen Douglas
Heather Simpson
Relate
City of York Council
Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation
Trust
York Carers Centre
City of York Council
Richmond Fellowship
Partnership Commissioning Unit
City of York Council
Sharron Smith
Catherine McGovern
Tina Warne
John Clare
Chris Weekes
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1. Welcome
John Burgess welcomed everyone to the meeting, particularly Becky Allright and
Kevin Aston and introductions were made. He thanked also Inspector Bill Scott who
joined the meeting later.
2. Minutes of meeting held on 22nd July 2014 and matter arising
The minutes of the last meeting were AGREED.
3. ‘Discover’ consultation on future strategy – update from Becky Allright, Specialist
Commissioning Assistant, Mental Health at the PCU.
Becky Allright introduced herself as the Assistant Commissioning Specialist at the
Partnership Commissioning Unit (PCU). Kevin Aston, Engagement Manager from the
Vale of York CCG also attended the meeting. Becky reported that the final feedback
from the Discover consultation was currently being worked into the tender
specification. There is a meeting on 5th November for those people interested in the
specification and they will be able to provide feedback from the consultation at this
meeting. Details of how to book a place at the event had been circulated. The
feedback received from service users so far has been shared with commissioners and
clinicians and the main themes highlighted in planning the specification of services.
Becky also explained that they were keen to have service users involved in the
assessment of tenders and provided information about how people could express an
interest in this voluntary role. [This information has been emailed around after the
meeting.]
The PCU is expecting lots of interest in the tender and they are keen the engagement
and dialogue doesn’t end after the specification is agreed and would welcome
suggestions on how to ensure this engagement and dialogue continues.
A detailed discussion was held and the following main points were raised:
· It was agreed it was positive that the intention was there to collaborate and
engage VCS providers.
· There was a strong view that the contracting model which the PCU choose to
use could influence how well the VCS could engage with the tendering
process. For example, if the model was of large contracts, this would make it
difficult for the VCS to participate. It was noted that the PCU could not, at
this stage, comment on the contracting model but would feedback the
concerns expressed.
· It was advised that for the VCS sector to be in a position to work
collaboratively in tendering for contracts it would take a lot of work over a
long period of time to deliver quality bids.
· The event on the 5th November is designed to advertise the procurement
model and stimulate collaboration and co-operation and that this is a new
area of commissioning for the NHS with a shift in emphasis, however they
cannot be seen to favour one particular sector.
· The example of the VCS sector in Leeds was provided where considerable
work and support over a number of years had taken place to enable the
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sector to bid effectively. It was acknowledged that York has not historically
had the same opportunities as Leeds.
When the Primary Care Trust had big contracts they didn’t break them down
sufficiently to make it feasible for the VCS to bid. It was a lost opportunity.
The Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has had discussions with York CVS
about building capacity but there are time constraints and limited funding.
It was noted there were lots of different successful models across the country
and asked could the CCG look at small amounts of funding to help the VCS
deliver. This point was not directly related to the specification.
The discussion was concluded with the importance of the role the VCS sector
can play in tackling mental health issues and it was suggested that this item
should be on the agenda for the Voluntary Sector Forum meeting on the 6th
November 2014.
ACTION: Laura Davis to add to Voluntary Sector Forum meeting agenda
Becky gave a brief update on the Concordat. There was a Silver Group meeting
scheduled on the 29th September with the Police, NHS and social care. The meeting
would be led by the Police. The meeting would include signing up in principle to a
Mental Health Concordat. The intention is after this meeting to get wider
consultation for feedback.
ACTION: Becky to clarify whether the meeting is invite only.
[Following the meeting it was confirmed by John Clare that the Mental Health
Concordat, “Silver Meeting” was currently restricted to a small number of statutory
partners, however, due to the size of the response they’ve had, they are planning
further planning meetings across York and North Yorkshire.]
4. CYC Adult Social Care ‘Rewiring’ – Chris Weekes and Catherine Surtees, CYC
Chris Weekes was unable to attend. Catherine explained she was seconded to CYC to
support the ‘Rewiring’ programme. The main areas of work were around
implementing the Care Act and what the changes will mean; the Better Care Fund
bid, which is on its third reiteration, and what the implications are for closer working
between adult social care and health.
The following points were made:
· Catherine met with the new Assistant Directors and they were very keen to
ask open questions of the VCS of what proposals the sector would like to see
and what the sector was doing that makes a difference and are there
significant gaps which the VCS could meet.
· There is no clear indication on how much money was involved but it was
clear that there was a need to make savings. The emphasis would be on
providing quality services.
· Any ideas from the VCS, from single organisations or collaborations between
organisations can be put forward to Catherine directly or to City of York
Council. The Council’s intention is to welcome proposals at this stage and
then put forward specific options to a Cabinet meeting in November.
· The Council are keen to do something about health inequality particularly
around life expectancy disparities across the city.
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Comments were raised about why ideas were being sought after the Joint
Strategic Needs Assessment has been completed; the VCS engages in a lot of
time providing feedback but often there was no response.
The VCS had not been asked for feedback on the Better Care Fund and
Catherine will feedback this concern. She explained that the Fund was
becoming focussed on preventing admissions to hospital.
It was clarified that what was being asked for now was not the needs but
proposals to address the needs and how proposals could be delivered which
may inform tenders.
It was noted that it was too open and more parameters need to be given.
It was AGREED the chair would write a statement to the Assistant Directors
expressing the frustration of the Forum members of this request for further
information.
ACTION: John Burgess to write a statement regarding this issue.
Becky Allright left the meeting.
5. Equalities Policy Refresh – Sharon Brown, CYC
Sharon was not at the meeting. It was noted that within the Equalities Policy refresh
document that the parity of mental health with physical health was not clear.
It was AGREED to accept it with the reservations about mental health.
6. Partnership Board: Draft Work Plan (attached)
This item was brought forward on the agenda. John Burgess explained he needed to
feedback back whether the Forum agrees in principle with the work plan and if
anything is missing.
The following points were noted:
· The JSNA has been published but work is still ongoing.
· There may be a more up-to-date version of the plan available.
· The work plan does not challenge complex issues such as parity of esteem;
promoting choice and control; Mental Health Crisis Concordat and
Personalisation.
· Mental Health Challenge was missing from the work plan and personal health
budgets.
· Tackling isolation was not included within the plan
· There is nothing about how the partnership connects with other boards such
as YorOK for CAMHS.
7. North Yorkshire Police “Together for Mental Wellbeing” initiative – Inspector Bill
Scott
Inspector Bill Scott was welcomed to the meeting and started off by explaining how
the police have seen the impact of mental health through their work increase over
time, with an estimated 50% of policing time linked to mental health issues.
North Yorkshire Police, with funding from the Department of Health set up a Street
Triage project in Scarborough and Ryedale. During the hours of 3pm-1am they have
access to a mental health nurse and a mental health support worker equipped with
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police radios and in an unmarked police car with tinted windows for privacy. These
staff can provide support and advice to officers; any information about whether
individuals are known to the health services; whether they pose a risk and provide a
range of less restrictive options in helping people with mental health problems.
The scheme is to be extended to York and Selby on 10th October, with funding from
the local authority and the CCG. They are also looking to work with the Ambulance
Service to give them access to advice from the Street Triage Team.
In response to the increase in suicides in the North East and North Yorkshire, the
police have developed with the charity Together: for Mental Wellbeing an initiative
to tackle mental health issues. This initiative works with a vulnerable group of
people who, as a result of mental distress, are intensive users of council, police,
ambulance and fire services. Through a range of social and psychological
interventions, the pilot will identify the three main issues in those people’s lives and
help them resolve them. The intention of the project is to reduce mental distress,
improve quality of services and save money. There is two years of funding from the
CCG, through the Better Care Fund, and police are underwriting the deficit and plan
to bid to charitable trusts and the Police Innovation Fund.
There are also now two Health-Based Places of Safety (York and Scarborough) for the
Police to take individuals detained under s.136 Mental Health Act, rather than taking
them to the cells. Two further places are being developed in Northallerton and
Harrogate. At present, there is an average of one such detention every two days,
and there is currently sufficient capacity, but problems could arise with multiple
detentions. Demand is greatest in York, being the most densely populated area of
the county.
The following comments and questions were raised:
· A question was raised about why Together: for Mental Wellbeing was used as
a partner instead of local VCS organisations. The response was that the
Police were not responsible for the commissioning but the CCG and it was
based on a unique operational model used in Rotherham successfully.
· It was commented that it was good that the project was about joining up
existing services and that the Mental Health Forum members want to play a
role in delivering a quality service.
· It was clarified that the project was aimed at adults and the Youth Offending
Team were not involved.
· The project is a pilot of 12-18months and North Yorkshire Police are
interested in any ideas from organisations and working with partners.
Inspector Bill Scott was thanked for his input.
8. Partnership Board Representation
The Forum has two representatives to sit on the Partnership Board with the role of
representing the Forum not their individual organisations. At present John Burgess
and Alyson Scott are the representatives and York CVS also has a seat. David Smith,
The Retreat, offered to be a deputy representative.
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It was raised that the VCS does appear to be under represented by comparison with
statutory providers. This could make it difficult to represent the sector. Training can
be provided and there are clear guidelines for provider representatives.
It was noted that the Partnership Board meetings are public meetings so anyone can
attend and ask questions although cannot be effectively involved in the debate.
There were comments that organisations should have places on the board as well.
It was noted to approach Roger Butterfield the chair of the Learning Difficulties
Forum about representation as they currently have only one representative.
It was AGREED that Alyson Scott and John Burgess would remain as representatives
and that David Smith would act as deputy.
9. Healthwatch York proposal “Getting Started in Mental Health Guide” – update
from Siân Balsom.
It was noted that this guide requires editing and Siân would welcome any
amendments by the end of September.
A launch event will be held 10am-2pm on the 21st November and it is expected to
sign up to the Time to Change pledge on that day.
Any organisations wishing to be involved in the launch event should get in touch
with Siân.
The expectation is to update the guide every six months.
10. Safeguarding
Mel McQueen explained that the Safeguarding Adult Board will have statutory status
from April 2015. The Chair of the Board would present an annual report and the
board was establishing procedures for Serious Case Reviews and Internal
Management Reviews. Under Making Safeguarding Personal, Michael Melvin from
the Council was focusing on people lacking mental capacity and the Board would be
leading on this. It was noted that updates on this would be welcome at a future
meeting of this Forum.
11. Information Exchange
· Steve Flatley introduced himself as the Connexions Manager at the Council.
He explained Connexions has been undergoing a transformation and now sits
under Education and Skills and has had significant budget cuts. As a result of
a review, the services based at Castlegate including benefits and housing will
be for young people upto age 19 and the counselling service will now be aged
16-19 and no longer upto age 25. It was reported that two thirds of service
users are 19-25 year old and therefore the impact on this age group was very
significant. Following discussions with the CCG and the Counselling Group
the feedback was that the service should continue but be focused on younger
people, for example, with schools commissioning counselling services. As a
result it was expected that 130 young people a year will not be seen by
Connexions as they will be over the age range.
Comments were made about how there was a lot of strong evidence that
such services were needed up until 25 years old.
It was AGREED that the Forum should respond to the Council regarding these
concerns.
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ACTION: John Burgess to respond to the Council about the changes to
young people’s counselling services.
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121 Counselling explained they are now re-launching themselves as an
independent organisation, after coming out of the umbrella of Future
Prospects. They are staffed entirely with volunteers and are experiencing
funding problems.
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Magnetic Arts reported they are running a Winter Wellbeing activity course
for those individuals who experience declining mental health over the winter
period.
12. Any other business
There was none.
13. Date of future meetings:
18th November 2-4pm Priory Street Centre, 15 Priory Street, York YO1 6ET
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