Agenda item

To receive an update against the progress of the recommendations of the Annual Public Health Report 2024 Emotional Health of our Children and Young People Matters and an overview of the Children and Young People Mental Health service re-commissioning process and current CaMHS waiting lists.

Members received an update from the Statutory Director of Public Health which focused on the final report of the former Director of Public Health, relating to the Annual Public Health Report (APH), and on the emotional health and wellbeing of children and young people (CYP).

Members were reminded that the APH, published last year, was based on focus groups with young people and included eight recommendations for improvement. The current report provided an audit of progress against those recommendations and demonstrated how insights from young people had been used to shape the work of partners. The Board were advised that the CYP Strategy remains a central priority for both the Council and its partners, and that TWIPP has formally adopted CYP mental health as one of its key priorities.

The Board heard that the Youth Partnership Board had continued to develop the local youth offer, including the ‘Making a Change’ project for 11–18-year-olds. This work built on the success of the Young People’s Year of Wellbeing, which has seen thousands of sign-ups and significant engagement through social media. Members were also informed that five lived experience apprentices have been employed to support work with looked-after children, ensuring their voices inform service development.

Members acknowledged the significant increase in demand for CYP mental health services, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was noted that the BeeU service contract was due to end in September, and that additional investment has been made to support services during the recommissioning process. A summary of this work was included in the presentation slides.

The Board welcomed the improvements being made and highlighted the need for a stronger third sector offer for young people, similar to that available for adults. Members praised the involvement of young people in designing logos and shaping the conversation around health and wellbeing from an early age. The Director of Partnerships, Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin ICB, acknowledged that transition between services has historically been a challenge and confirmed that the move to all-age services would address this issue and that the delay in recommissioning was due to the commitment to co-produce the service model with young people.

During the discussion Members raised concerns about waiting times for CAMHS, noting the increasing burden on teachers who are providing more pastoral care. The Director of Partnerships confirmed that an update on waiting lists would be sought from ICB colleagues and noted that a waiting list management group was in place and that improvements had already been made in areas such as complex eating disorders through targeted resource allocation. Members were advised that a written update on waiting lists would be provided.

RESOLVED – that:

a)    the implementation progress of the Director of Public Health’s Annual Report 2024 eight recommendations, which aimed to improve the emotion health and wellbeing of children and young people in the Borough, in line with the HWB strategy priorities be noted

b)    the Board notes that the key recommendation areas which still need to be progressed at pace across the ICS, are that the ICB led re-commissioning of child and adolescent mental health services (CaMHS) should include strong collaboration across the ICS to develop the local ithrive model offer of services and support, which adequately and holistically meets the emotional and mental health needs of our local children & young people. This should range from lower level community and school review of recommendations 2 based support, including youth social prescribing, brought together more intensive CaHMS support and interventions.