Agenda item

The Local Transformation Plan (LTP) is refreshed annually. The Health and Wellbeing Board is asked to note the Plan for 2019/20, which has been reviewed by NHS England and will have been published on the Council’s and CCG’s website by 31 October 2019. This report also updates the Board on progress with embedding Medway’s Young People’s Wellbeing Service.

Discussion:

The Health and Wellbeing Board considered a report which provided details of the 2019/20 Medway Local Transformation Plan (LTP) for Young People’s Emotional Health and Wellbeing. It was explained that the LTP had been reviewed by NHS England was currently undergoing some final amendments to meet key lines of enquiry expectations as set out in paragraph 2.3 of the report. An update on the progress of new Medway Young Persons’ Wellbeing Service (MYPWS) was also provided and set out in detail at section 3 of the report.

The following issues were discussed:

·         Self-harm and suicide prevention – in response to a question with respect to early intervention, the Head of Partnership Commissioning, Resources and Youth Justice explained that focussed work had been undertaken in schools in relation to suicide prevention which had received positive feedback. Examples included the SAFE project and a mindfulness programme within primary schools.

·         Health and wellbeing lead – a Board Member suggested that within the school leadership team there should be a health and wellbeing lead much like there would be a safeguarding lead. The Head of Partnership Commissioning, Resources and Youth Justice recognised that there had been a positive shift in school leader engagement and he was keen to work more closely with schools. In an upcoming meeting with primary school head headteachers, he undertook to raise this suggestion.

He also explained that the Council and its partners had been successful in securing funding for a range of interventions in schools such as restorative justice and positive behaviour support, but he recognised that there was a need to focus on targeted delivery within schools. To that end, he explained that together with the School Improvement team, a framework for delivery of interventions in schools was under consideration.

·         Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) – The Director of Public Health explained to the Board that good practice had been embedded within schools though Medway’s exemplar PSHE programme. It was further explained that Medway Schools now had a full complement of mental health nurses who would be a point of contact on aspects of health and wellbeing. The Director of Public Health advised the Board that he could provide a fuller update on the PHSE programme if requested and undertook to provide a Member with a briefing on the award which had been received for the programme.

·         Support for parents – with respect to a question concerning support for parents in relation to emotional wellbeing and identifying early signs within the family setting, the Head of Partnership Commissioning, Resources and Youth Justice explained that the LTP did include a focus on support for parents. He explained that further work was needed to provide parents with advice and guidance on where to access support to manage their children’s needs.

·         Young offenders – a Board Member recognised that many young people on the edge of criminality had mental health issues but that the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) threshold was high. In response, the Head of Partnership Commissioning, Resources and Youth Justice explained that through the Youth Justice Liaison and Diversion (YJLD) scheme, young people in contact with the police would be referred to an appropriate support provision at point of entry into the youth justice system. This could include a referral to NELFT for support in the hospital or a lower level provision.

In response to a question on funding received from the Community Safety Partnership for a counselling service, the Head of Partnership Commissioning, Resources and Youth Justice undertook to provide the Board Member with current data on the reduction of reoffending rates resulting from the intervention. 

A Board Member expressed concern in relation to the increasing length of time taken for cases to be resolved within the youth justice system and the impact this might have on the young people involved. In response, the Head of Partnership Commissioning, Resources and Youth Justice explained that in comparison with the national picture, the timescale in Medway was much less and young people were supported through the process.

Decision:

The Health and Wellbeing Board noted Medway’s LTP for 2018/19 and the wider update on embedding the Medway Young Persons’ Wellbeing Service.