Agenda and minutes

In the absence of the Chair and Vice-Chair the Committee nominated Councillor Cummins as Chair of the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bradshaw, Hands, Larkin (and substitute Councillor Weavers), C. Mainey (and substitute Councillor Blackburn), S. Mainey and McIvor and Father Seddon. 

The Committee recorded its thanks to Councillor Byrne for his valuable contribution to Overview and Scrutiny, as he would not be standing for re-election in the forthcoming local elections.

Members and Officers are requested to give notice of any personal or prejudicial interest and the nature of that interest, relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the relevant Code of Conduct.

No declarations of interest were received.

Minutes of the meeting held on 15 March 2011.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 15 March 2011 be confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive.

The Committee received the report of the Assistant Chief Executive, formally presenting the Final Report of the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Working Group. The Working Group had been investigating the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service and it was anticipated that the recommendations within the report would improve that Service.

There were a number of Members at the Committee who had served on the Working Group, and there was in-depth discussion concerning the content of the report.

Members agreed that reference to Tier 4 services would include the unit at Alder Hey Hospital, and were happy with the explanation provided by officers concerning the funding and usage of the Tier 4 services.

It was agreed to amend the scoping document to reflect the engagement with Sue Brown, Alder Hey.

Members agreed that reference to Sefton’s 16-18 year olds service would be included in paragraph 12.7.

The Committee expressed concern about the high percentage of Children in Care who would likely access CAMHS and noted that this issue would benefit from future review by the Committee.

The Committee agreed to delete paragraph 13.4 from the ‘Conclusions’ section and adapt the content to serve as a recommendation.

The Committee agreed that recommendation 15.3 be amended to include emphasis upon GPs having access to appropriate training for referral to CAMHS.

Members clarified that recommendation 15.11 would refer to those services for children with mental health issues.

The Committee expressed thanks to the Lead Member of the Working Group, Councillor Hands, for leading on the review and to Ruth Harrison, Overview and Scrutiny Officer, for supporting the Working Group and compiling the final report.

RESOLVED: That

(1)       the Final Report of the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Working Group be approved and the following recommendations be referred to the Cabinet for approval, subject to the agreed amendments; and

(2)       the Committee would consider the issue of Corporate Parenting and its relationship to CAMHS as part of a future work programme.

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive.

The Committee considered the report of the Assistant Chief Executive in relation to the Committee’s programme of work. There were two items within the current Key Decision Forward Plan which fell under the remit of the Committee, on this occasion.

The last meeting of the Children and Adolescent Mental Health (CAHMS) Working Group had taken place on 11 April 2011 and the Final Report of the Working Group was addressed under Minute No. 77 above.

The Final Report of the cross-cutting Working Group to scrutinise health inequalities within the Borough had been approved by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 14^th April 2011.

Colin Pettigrew informed the Committee of the forthcoming ‘Safeguard’ inspection which would begin on 9 May 2011 and take place over a two week period.

RESOLVED: That

(1)       the contents of the Key Decision Forward Plan for the period 1 April – 31 July 2011 be received; and

(2)       the progress of the CAMHS Working Group be approved.