Agenda and minutes

To agree the procedures for the operation of hybrid meetings.

RESOLVED

THAT the guidance on hybrid meetings be noted.

To Note: All

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Ali, Councillor Tiwari, Margaret Harvey and Guy Pope.  

Councillor Hai, Cabinet Member for Young People and Inclusion and Councillor Mason, Cabinet Member for Best Start for Children and Families had also sent apologies for absence.  

To Note: All

No declarations were made.

Broadcast of the meeting

The Chair to announce the following: ‘In addition to the rights by law that the public and press have to record this meeting, I would like to remind everyone that this meeting is being broadcast live by the Council to the Internet and can be viewed on our website for twelve months after the meeting. After that time, webcasts are archived and can be made available upon request.

If you have asked to address the meeting, you are deemed to be consenting to having your contributions recorded and broadcast, including video when switched on, and to the use of those sound recordings and images for webcasting and/or training purposes.’

Any other announcements

The Chair announced –

In addition to the rights by law that the public and press have to record this meeting, I would like to remind everyone that this meeting is being broadcast live by the Council to the Internet and can be viewed on our website for twelve months after the meeting. After that time, webcasts are archived and can be made available upon request.

If you have asked to address the meeting, you are deemed to be consenting to having your contributions recorded and broadcast, including video when switched on, and to the use of those sound recordings and images for webcasting and/or training purposes.

No deputations were made.

There was no urgent business.   

To note the Children, Schools and Families Scrutiny Committee terms of reference.

RESOLVED 

THAT the terms of reference for the scrutiny committee be noted.

To Note: All

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on Monday 22 March 2021.

RESOLVED

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on Monday 22 March 2021 be agreed as an accurate record. 

To Note: All

Report of the Cabinet Member for Best Start for Children and Families 

This report sets out the proposed procurement strategy for key services which form part of minding the gap (MTG). The strategy also includes Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) systemic integrative therapy (a progressive, intensive form of family based psychotherapy for children and their families).

Minding the gap is an innovative approach to mental health services for young people aged 16-24 that has a national profile. It was created by Camden Council in partnership with Camden CCG in 2015 and co-designed with young people. The key aim of MTG is to improve transitions between child and adult mental health services, to improve the reach of mental health services for young people aged 16-24 and to destigmatise health services by offering holistic and integrated support. Since its launch in 2015 it has received significant national attention, with visits from Sir Malcolm Grant (at the time Chair of NHS England) and others with influence in the health system. It has been part of presentations to the Commissioning Academy, the Cabinet Office, regional and national conferences and at the global mental health summit in 2018.

Consideration was given to a report of the Cabinet Member for Best Start for Children and Families that set out the proposed procurement strategy for key services that form part of Minding the Gap (MTG) an innovative approach to mental health services for young people aged 16-24. The strategy also included Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) systemic integrative therapy (a progressive, intensive form of family-based psychotherapy for children and their families).

The following information was provided in response to questions from the committee:

·       The comments from members that future updates on this service should include more detailed information on the engagement and involvement of young people in the development of the service, were noted. It was confirmed for the committee that the HIVE had been co-produced with young people, who had been part of its continued development. The service included a range of activities with constant engagement with service users

·       There had been 4,000 visits to the HIVE by 2,500 young people. With 125 young people having one to one meetings at any one time. The Brandon Centre had seen 270 young people

·       The Brandon Centre was a well known service and was publicised to potential users of the service by GPs and schools referrals

·       The services in place for 18 - 25 year olds included one to one services to meet specific needs that included support to unaccompanied asylum seeking young people

·       The services were open access, where no one was turned away. There were no waiting lists but that was not the same as saying that all needs were being met. The level of support would be kept under review for the lifetime of the service contract 

·       There were a range of complex needs being supported, with a high case load of young people who were self-harming and or suicidal

·       Additional resources had been made available in response to the Covid 19 Pandemic because of the significant issues being experienced by young people. This included Minding the Gap and CAMHS support being made available in schools  

·       There were many opportunities to hear from young people about their experiences of life and services in Camden. Young people had attended and presented reports to this Committee and there would be opportunities for this going forward

·       There would be a detailed report on children’s health to the committee as part of the work programme in March

·       This procurement was part of an open bids process for a new contract and the existing provider was able to bid. Officers did not know what the cost of the procurement process was, but there was a balance of duty to ensure that the service provided best value in meeting the needs of a vulnerable population. The specific skills required of the service provider were set out in the selection criteria. In market testing there had not been  any interest from the private sector.     

More detailed data on outcomes, that had not been included in the report, would be circulated to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Best Start for Children and Families and

the Cabinet Member for Healthy and Caring Camden

This report seeks approval for the procurement of young people’s sexual health services in Camden and Islington, providing a more inclusive service representative of the local population.

The proposed approach to the commissioning of the young people’s open access sexual health services in Camden and in partnership with Islington will give young people access to the services they need to keep themselves well.  It will support them to take charge of their health and wellbeing through clinical services, targeted support, and delivery of relationship and sex education using a ‘No Wrong Door’ approach and supporting the delivery of Camden 2025.

Sexual Health services include building-based sexual health screenings, pregnancy tests and access to contraception, relationship and sex education in schools and other events, targeted support to groups of young people or individuals, and sexual health outreach clinics into youth settings and other locations.  

Consideration was given to a report of Cabinet Member for Best Start for Children and Families and the Cabinet Member for Healthy and Caring Camden.

The report was seeking Cabinet approval for the procurement of the young people’s sexual health services in Camden and Islington; providing a more inclusive service representative of the local population and access to services they need to keep themselves well.  Services would include building-based sexual health screenings; pregnancy tests and access to contraception; relationship and sex education in schools and other events; targeted support to groups of young people or individuals and sexual health outreach clinics to youth settings and other locations.  

During consideration of the report the committee welcomed the plans for the service, and it was requested that a report on Social Value be added to the Committee’s work programme.

RESOLVED

THAT the application be noted. 

To Note: All

Report of the Executive Director for Supporting People 

This report sets out the work programme for the municipal year 2021/22 for the committee’s consideration. The committee will continue to be provided with an updated report on their future work programme at each meeting, for their consideration.

Consideration was given to a report of the Executive Director for Supporting People that set out the work programme for the 2021/22 municipal year.

During consideration of the report the committee listed the following for the work programme and further discussion:    

·       Social Value Framework, learning from success and disappointments

·       Sharing a strategic risk register with the committee

·       The impact of healthy streets on young people (if within the committee’s terms of reference)

·       Impact and recovery report on the effects of the last year on children and young people 

·       Special Education Needs funding

·       Education Strategy

·       Exclusion Panel – update on the response to the panel’s recommendations

·       Girls and young women in sport  - update on the panel report with  available data

·       Listening more to young people, hearing the voice of young people/attending this committee and other opportunities for them to engage and be heard    

To Note: All

The Children, Schools and Families Scrutiny Committee is

asked to note that the next meeting will take at place at 6.30pm on

Wednesday 1 September 2021and also note the following schedule of meeting dates.

·       Tuesday 12 October 2021 tbc

·       Monday 8 November 2021

·       Tuesday 14 December 2021

·       Tuesday 18 January 2022

·       Tuesday 1 March 2022

It was noted that the next meeting would take place at 6.30pm on

Wednesday 1 September 2021and the following schedule of meeting dates was also noted: 

·       Tuesday 12 October 2021 - special meeting to consider the Education Strategy 

·       Monday 8 November 2021 

·       Tuesday 14 December 2021

·       Tuesday 18 January 2022

·       Tuesday 1 March 2022

For the November and March dates there was a membership clash with the Resources and Corporate Performance Scrutiny Committee. Alternative options for meeting dates would be scheduled where possible.  

Action By:  The Borough Solicitor

There was no urgent business.