Agenda item - Foundations For Our Future – the final Report from the Sussex Wide Children & Young Person’s Emotional Health & Wellbeing Service Review

Report of the CCG Managing Director on ‘Foundations Of Our Future’ review of children and young people’s emotional health & wellbeing services in Sussex (copy attached)

15.1    This item was introduced by Steve Appleton, independent Chair of the review. Deb Austin, BHCC Interim Executive Director, Families, Children & Schools, also responded to members’ questions; as did Ashley Scarff, Deputy Managing Director, Brighton & Hove CCG.

15.2    In response to a question from Cllr Osborne on young people’s input into service design, members were told that this was an important issue, and a flaw in current services. Agreed review recommendations include the creation of a pan-Sussex Programme Director post reporting to a group including the three Sussex Directors of Children’s Services, CCGs and Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPFT). The intention is to also have young person/parent carer representation on this group.

15.3    In answer to a question from Cllr Deane about the impact of Covid on mental health and wellbeing, Mr Appleton told the committee that the majority of the work of the review was completed well before the Covid emergency. However, it is clear that Covid has exacerbated many problems. Issues include uncertainty about exams, social isolation and financial insecurity in families. This is likely to increase anxiety amongst teenagers, who are already suffering from high levels of anxiety, particularly around climate change.

Covid does offer an opportunity to rethink services, particularly in terms of how to work better with faith and community sector groups. It is, however, disappointing that the group overseeing the implementation of review recommendations has not yet met and the Programme Director post not yet appointed to.

15.4    In response to a question from Cllr Grimshaw about what he hoped to see in terms of concrete changes in the near future, Mr Appleton told members that he hoped to see a reduction in waiting times for services; a widening of the range of support services offered; a more outcomes-focused approach to commissioning; and a broader focus on emotional health rather than just a focus on mental health.

15.5    In response to a question from Cllr McNair about the need to embrace a more holistic wellbeing model for services, Mr Appleton agreed that this is key. The need for a more preventative and less medicalised approach is accepted across the system, but there is very little funding available to make changes, and any positive change will require consistent buy-in from medical professionals. The concordat which accompanies the review report is intended to break down some of the professional barriers that work against a holistic approach.

15.6    Caroline Ridley noted that CVS organisations had seen more demand for some services during lockdown, but also a reduction in demand from young people who were struggling with the school environment and found learning remotely less stressful. However, lots of young people are now struggling with the post-lockdown school environment. Online counselling was widely in place before the lockdown and this definitely helped make the transition from face-to-face support easier.

15.7    Ashley Scarff told the committee that Covid had impacted on plans to implement the review recommendations. However, the appointment of a Programme Director and the establishment of an Oversight Group are both immanent. The review will have been through the governance systems of all relevant organisations by the end of October also.

15.8    Fran McCabe noted that she was glad to see so much young person and family input into the review. However, she worried about how urgently implementation would take place. Whilst understanding that Covid was an issue, there is an urgent need to establish a single point of access, and in particular to address the really worrying increase in self-harm. Mr Appleton agreed that urgency is key and it is important that commissioners and providers set out their timetables for implementing the required improvements. Mr Scarff responded that the Oversight Group, co-chaired by the CE of SPFT and the East Sussex County Council Director of Children’s Services, would be established imminently and will be responsible for setting implementation timetables. Deb Austin added that a single point of access is being actively considered.

15.9    The Chair thanked Mr Appleton for all his work on the review.

15.10  - Resolved: that the report be noted.