Agenda item

This report provides more detailed background as to the development of the Mental Health Integrated Network Teams (MINT) across Hammersmith & Fulham. The report contains the detail held with the staff consultation document “Development of Mental health Integrated Network Teams (MINT)” and follows workshops in each borough that ran before March 2020.

Councillor Richardson welcomed Jo Baty, Wendy Lofthouse and Linda Stradins who provided a presentation on MINT, details of which can also be found at the following link:

Jo Baty, Assistant director mental health, learning disability and provided services; ASC, LBHF, Wendy Lofthouse, Mental Health Commissioning Programme Manager, H & F CCG and Linda Stradins, H&F Service Manager, West London NHS Trust, located at 122:22 minutes

Jo Baty thanked Merril Hammer, Jim Grealy and Keith Mallinson for their contribution towards the development of MINT which was first referenced in the NHS Long Term Plan,2019.  Wendy Lofthouse recognised that the local offer for core community mental health teams had not been updated or invested in for many years and that the Long Term Plan placed an emphasis on wrap around community care.  MINT had received transformation funding ahead of a national roll out of the programme. This was a positive development given the level of investment aimed at addressing a funding gap.

Following the presentation Councillor Richardson commended and thanked officers for a well-informed presentation, and the Committee for their commitment to asking considered questions. 

Jim Grealy welcomed the development work on MINT and recognised the extent of the positive impact the investment in the service will potentially have.  He suggested that given the direction of travel and predicted economic decline, it might be possible explore a potential link to increased demand for mental health and wellbeing services.  The progress on co-production was also welcomed.  Victoria Brignell added that the members of Action on Disability was also committed to coproduction, many of who were keen to be involved in this work.  Jo Baty confirmed that Action on Disability had been invited to meet with officers to discuss and to contribute to the work co-production, to help review the council’s website on People First on social care and on MINT.

Councillor Lloyd-Harris enquired if residents were time restricted in accessing services.  There were circumstances where cases slipped through gaps in services or services then ceased operating.  Wendy Lofthouse responded that the focus of any response would be to identify the needs of each individual and how those needs can be met.  Having a model case load and case list meant that a person would be “attached” to that service despite not having an active intervention. If they received an intervention and were discharged, people might have concerns about returning to the service.  The new model would have greater flexibility, be integrated within the community and accessible according to need. Maintaining good mental health and wellbeing was only part of the answer. Having decent housing, secure employment or having purposeful and meaningful social interactions were also important.  The intention was that MINT would have a holistic approach with a more easily accessible, integrated and joined up network of services. 

Councillor Lloyd-Harris acknowledged the benefits of the new approach but highlighted that a caseload of 20-28 seemed high particularly given that some patients had complex needs.  She also highlighted that that more investment in IAPTs (Improving Access to Psychological Therapy programme) funding in long-term treatment services would have greater impact over short term responses as they were more likely to address a patients underlying concerns and so less like to return for a short-term intervention.  Linda Stradins clarified that IAPTs were a collection of different, primary care psychological therapies, delivered in prescribed sessions either face to face or online by a team of clinicians. 

Linda Stradins concurred that the number of cases were challenging and that within these there would be some patients that were relatively stable on depot medication, or clozapine (prescribed by a psychiatrist in secondary care).  Improving pathways would make it easier to arrange stepdown care through better partnership access to GPs.

Councillor Richardson commended and thanked officers for the report and the amount of information covered over a short period of time.

RESOLVED

1.          That an update report be prepared within six months to review the extent the development and introduction of MINT;

2.          The Committee be updated about the timetable of resident engagement regarding MINT; and

3.          That members submit any further questions about MINT to officers and that written responses be circulated.