Agenda and minutes

To agree the procedures for the operation of hybrid meetings.

RESOLVED –

THAT the hybrid meeting procedures set out in the agenda be agreed.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Stephen Stark.

Members will be asked to declare any Statutory Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, Compulsory Registerable Non-Pecuniary Interests and Voluntary Registerable Non-Pecuniary Interests in respect of items on this agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

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

Broadcasting

The Chair announced that the meeting was being broadcast live by the Council to the Internet and could be viewed on the website for twelve months after the meeting. After that time, webcasts were archived and could be made available upon request. Those who were seated in the Council Chamber or participating via Teams were deemed to be consenting to having their contributions recorded and broadcast and to the use of those sound recordings and images for webcasting and/or training purposes.

Requests to speak at the Committee on a matter within its terms of reference must be made in writing to the clerk named on the front of this agenda by 5pm two working days before the meeting.

The Chair announced that a deputation would be heard from Merfyn Williams, local resident, regarding engagement and involvement of d/Deaf residents with local health services.

Consideration was given to the deputation.

Members made the following comments:

·       There was concern expressed about the reported lack of connection with health by a group such as Camden Disability Action, as the new governance through the Integrated Care System and Integrated Care Board was to achieve greater collaboration with the community.

·       There was concern expressed about the lack of specialist services in Camden and the expectation that services users pay for their own transport if specialist services were commissioned from out of borough.

Further to a question about the response to complaints about the service provided to deaf people, Merfyn Williams outlined a personal experience whereby the deputee’s GP and psychiatrist had looked for a solution and tried to communicate what was needed to the commissioner. However, it was considered that the commissioner was not following the best practice set out in “My Expectations for Raising Concerns and Complaints” by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, and Healthwatch England. A face to face meeting to discuss the case was not allowed, due to a lack of understanding of deaf peoples’ specialist needs and a focus on bureaucratic processes. Where specialist services were not commissioned within Camden and deaf people had to travel long distances, travel costs were not funded by the health service. Services within Camden were geared towards able-bodied people and specialist counsellors were not in the team. The equality of services was questioned if deaf people were having to travel for specialist services and paying for transport while able-bodied people had the option of telephone services or seeing a counsellor face to face locally. A conversation had been held with the mental health service but it was facilitated by a hearing person and there were challenges with explaining and developing an understanding of the communication issues and needs of deaf people to the team.

Simon Wheatley, Director of Integration, North Central London Integrated Care Board (NCL ICB), offered apologies for Merfyn Williams’ experience over time. It was clarified that the Clinical Commissioning Group had been replaced by the ICB in July 2022. The ICB had a foundational commitment to inclusivity and equality and it was an NHS England (NHSE) requirement for Integrated Care Systems (ICS) to improve outcomes in population health for all people and tackle inequalities of access. The ICB also had an obligation under the Public Sector Equality Duty to ensure services provided in compliance with legislation including the Equality Act. There was annual reporting against these requirements.

The Director of Integration explained that the ICS was developing a Population Health Strategy setting out what the objectives were for health and care improvements. The population health outcomes included some with direct reference to people with disabilities, including increasing employment opportunities, and the other outcomes were applicable more generally. Developing the strategy has included co-production  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

There were no items of urgent business.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 13 February 2023.

RESOLVED –

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 13^th February 2023 be approved and signed as a correct record.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director of Supporting People.

This report provides an update on implementation of the Community and Mental Health Review “Core Offers” in Camden. It recaps on the programme of work to date, how co-design and co-production have been embedded in the programme’s design and delivery, and the approach to delivery in Camden, with specific examples of transformation and benefit to Camden residents. The wider report (Appendix A) includes several case studies, including how we are supporting residents with the transition from young people to adult mental health services.  

Consideration was given to the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director Supporting People, which was introduced by Alice Langley (Managing Director Camden Borough, NCL ICB), Hugo Reggiani (Likewise) and Katherine Bennett (local resident).

In response to a question about perinatal mental health services, the Managing Director Camden Borough explained that it was a North Central London-wide service provided by Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust and built on partnerships with other providers. Outreach areas had been incorporated into the model in recent years. The starting point had been different in the five boroughs. There were three teams across NCL for perinatal mental health services. There was a gap in meeting the ambitions in the Long Term Plan for the service. Access was being provided in line with existing investment and further investment was a priority.

The Chair queried why there was a shift from consultation to co-production. Debra Holt (Assistant Director Integrated Commissioning Mental Health & Learning Disabilities) explained that there were different phases of service user involvement: consultation, co-design and co-production. The Managing Director Camden Borough noted that initially consultation was proposed for day support services at the Acute Day Unit but it had then been determined that it would be more meaningful to involve service users in co-design from the start of the process.

Responding to questions about transition from CAMHS to adults’ services, the Managing Director Camden Borough explained that a Transition Panel within Minding the Gap supported the transition of individual cases, ensuring the onward pathway was seamless. There was a dedicated psychotherapy resource for young people needing mental health support. The London Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) has provided resource for specialist support to young people involved in youth violence or the court system.

The requirement for providers to work differently within their current financial envelope was queried when there was increased funding to provide the “core offer”. The workforce already had stressful workloads and increased requirements for efficiency could increase pressure on them. Members asked what training and support was offered to staff. The Managing Director Camden Borough explained that implementing the “core offer” would ensure the fundamentals were in place and there was consistency. There was investment funding but clear ambitions to fulfil. The investment would be prioritised to ensure it was used in the most sustainable way possible, with a focus on preventative services. Sarah Hulme (Service Director for Camden and North West London Tri-Borough Services, CNWL) highlighted workforce support including ensuring they have appropriate skills and training, supervision, and wellbeing resources. The strategy was not asking the same people to do more. Mechanisms such as tracking staff working in the community to support lone workers and identify who can move quickly to support a resident have been welcomed by staff.

The Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care highlighted Camden’s strategy in recent years to invest in preventative/early intervention services and requested that the borough not be punished with lower levels of investment for being a model of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care.

This report provides the Committee with an update relating to the portfolio of the Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care.

Consideration was given to the report of the Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care. The Cabinet Member highlighted the Adult Social Care Peer Review being undertaken and high take-up of the Learning Disabilities Annual Health Check. The Chair requested that an update on the Peer Review be provided to the next meeting via the Cabinet Member’s update report.

ACTION: Senior Policy and Projects Officer

In response to comments about the need to also concentrate on increasing the uptake of health checks amongst older people, the Cabinet Member agreed that health checks including breast screening checks and immunisations were the bedrock of good population health. Kirsten Watters, Director of Public Health, noted that, since the pandemic, the take-up of health checks by those over 40 years of age had fallen. A report could be brought to the committee on actions to raise take-up, including targeting particular communities.

ACTION: Senior Policy and Projects Officer

Stephen Heard, Director of Healthwatch Camden, supported the efforts being taken to increase take-up of health checks and screening.

In response to questions about cancelled meetings with deaf residents as described by the deputation, the Director of Healthwatch Camden would be having conversations to understand what had happened. Discussions had already been held with the deputee and the aim of equitable services was supported.

RESOLVED –

THAT the Committee noted the report.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director Supporting People.

This paper sets out the Committee’s agenda for the meeting on 10th July 2023 and tracks actions from previous meetings.

Consideration was given to the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director Supporting People.

The Chair noted that it was Martin Pratt’s (Executive Director Supporting People) last meeting of the Committee in advance of retiring. Members commended the Executive Director’s support and humour. The Committee wished the Executive Director well, showing their appreciation with a round of applause.

RESOLVED –

(i)             THAT the proposed agenda for the meeting on 10^th July 2023 was noted; and

(ii)            THAT the Committee’s action tracker was noted.

There were no items of urgent business.