Agenda item

This is report provides an update to the Health and Wellbeing Board on the current position with the Like Minded strategy.  The report provides both a general overview of the key elements of the strategy together with specific details of the actions that have been/are being taken within Hammersmith and Fulham.

Councillor Coleman welcomed, Carolyn Regan Chief Executive of West London Mental Health Trust (WLMHT).  The report provided an update to the Board on the key elements of the strategy, which fell within Delivery Area 4 of the Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP), improving mental health services.  With emphasis on delivering community health care, the aim was to ensure the right support was in place to treat mental health conditions.  To illustrate, Community Perinatal Mental Health commenced at WLMHT in April 2016, providing targeted, community based support for women, and their families, with pregnancy related mild-to-severe mental illness. 

It was noted that the distribution of services for long term conditions and mental health needs across the Borough was good.  There was a new enhanced GP service offering extended appointments and work was on-going with practices to ensure a good uptake of services on enhanced GPs “offers”.    The Transforming Care Partnership (TCP), for people with learning disabilities and complex long term conditions, recognised the importance of a safe and seamless transfer into a community setting, rather than in a specialist learning disabilities hospital. 

With reference to the TCP, Keith Mallinson welcomed the report but observed that the lack of a joined up approach between departments contributed to a deterioration of long term conditions, acknowledging the link between housing issues and mental illness. 

Lisa Redfern queried the impact of implementing the strategy on resources and sought assurances that this would not result in the loss of beds.  In response, Carolyn Regan explained that mental health was a priority area and that there would not be any proposals to reduce beds in LBHF.  Ealing had more acute beds for longer stays but there were also vacant beds, indicating a need to look at the overall allocation of resources.  Acknowledging that LBHF residents were also placed in Ealing facilities, it was explained that each borough predominantly provided for its own residents and that the use of the bed changed on a weekly basis.

Following further discussion, the Board received an assurance that WLMHT would inform them of any proposed bed closures.  It was explained that there was a joint mental health transformation board consisting of the three boroughs and that considerable work was being undertaken with residents to facilitate early intervention.  Mike Robinson commented that encouraging residents to be more proactive about their own care will help alleviate pressure on services, and the impact of long term mental health conditions.

Steve Miley referred to the suicide awareness training being rolled out to 700 frontline staff across the three boroughs and enquired if this could be extended.  It was also noted that there was embedded support through CAMHs (Children and Adolescents Mental Health Services) and statutory cover for looked after children aged 21-25 years.  Support for this small cohort of care leavers mental health conditions was important, particularly in terms of ensuring access to services.  Given this and the recent Transitions report from the policy and accountability task and finish group, Janet Cree agreed to explore the issue further, with a view to providing a report to the Board in either November or January, setting out what could be a collaborative approach.  In response to a question on desired outcomes, Steve Miley indicated that he would like to see the same level of support services currently provided for 18 year olds, replicated for 21-25 year olds.  It was accepted that the CCG could not commit to this without further analyses and the identification of resources.  It was recognised that it was important to involve health colleagues in this area of work. 

ACTION: CCG to further explore the provision of services to 21-25 year            

        olds, with a report to the Board, anticipated for November or January 2018

ACTION: CCG to contact Director for Children’s Services regarding suicide awareness training