Agenda item

This report provides an update to Committee members on the recent consultation process relating to a Draft Service Model for a Medway Young Person’s Wellbeing Service.

Discussion:

The Director of Children and Adult Services (Interim) introduced the report which provided an update to Committee members on the recent consultation process relating to a draft service model for a new Medway Young Person’s Wellbeing Service. The Director advised that the proposed new service model would be commissioned on a Medway footprint rather than Kent and Medway and would reflect the commitment to improve access to the range of services available.

The Partnership Commissioning Programme Lead reported the key findings from the consultation. These identified a high degree of support for the principles of the proposed service model which aimed to provide a holistic, integrated service with a single point of access. Some adjustment had been made to reflect feedback from the consultation. This included the provisions for an open access service that enabled self-referral; web based counselling; and early support for families experiencing challenging behaviour.  

Members were referred to the final service model and high level specification and the procurement timetable attached at Appendices 2 and 3 of the agenda report respectively and were invited to comment on the proposals.

Members raised a number of questions and comments, which included :-

·         CAMHS– in response to a question on the existing CAMHS provision, the Partnership Commissioning Programme Lead advised that there would be a continuum of support with the existing tier 2 and tier 3 service being integrated into the new model.

·         Home schooled children – the importance of gaining the trust of children and young people in order to be able to meet their emotional needs was recognised, as was the role of schools. In response to a question regarding support for children who were home schooled, the Partnership Commissioning Programme Lead highlighted the drop in advice and support service and the web based service, both of which would be available outside of the school environment.

·         Raising awareness among ethnic minority groups – in response to a concern that certain groups might be reluctant to discuss mental health issues, the Partnership Commissioning Programme Lead agreed that the service needed to reflect the ethnicity of people in Medway and undertook to engage with ethnic minority support groups, including the Medway Ethnic Minorities Forum. 

·         Improvements to the service – in response to a range of questions, the Partnership Commissioning Programme Lead clarified that the reference to a single point of access related to an administrative rather than a geographical point of access. Replacing the current fragmented service, the new service would adopt a more integrated, holistic approach and would provide the opportunity for much stronger support for looked after children.       

·         New service provision -   in response to a question on the capacity to deliver the new service, the Partnership Commissioning Programme Lead advised that the service would be commissioned from providers who would be expected to think innovatively in terms of collaboration and partnership. 

Decision:

The Committee:

1)    noted the progress made since the last report; and

2)    recommended to Cabinet to approve the Final Service Model and High Level Specification, as attached at Appendix 2 to the agenda report.