Agenda and draft minutes

Councillor Gareth Lloyd Davies declared a personal interest in Item 7 (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and Neuro-Development Services) as he is an employee of BCUHB.

 

Councillor Rachel Flynn (observer) declared a personal interest in Item 7 (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and Neuro-Development Services) as her son has been referred for neuro-development from CAMHS.

 

No urgent matters had been raised.

 

 

To receive the minutes of the Partnerships Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 11 July 2019 (copy attached)

 

The minutes of the Partnerships Scrutiny Committee held on 11 July 2019 were submitted.

 

Matters Arising –

 

Page 9 – the Chair asked for an update of the housing pilot scheme.

The Scrutiny Co-ordinator confirmed it was for people with complex needs and an update would be brought back to Scrutiny in mid-2020, as part of the Homelessness Strategy and Action Plan 2017 -2021 report.

 

Page 13 – The Scrutiny Co-ordinator confirmed all seagulls were protected and a Management Plan had been submitted to Communities Scrutiny Committee in July 2019 with a number of actions.

 

RESOLVED that, subject to the above, the minutes of the Partnerships Scrutiny Committee, held on 11 July 2019, be received and confirmed as a correct record.

 

The Committee discussed the following item of business, item number 5, in its capacity as the Council’s designated Crime & Disorder Scrutiny Committee in accordance with the Police & Justice Act ss. 19 and 20.

 

To consider a report from the Community Safety Manager (copy attached) which seeks the Committee’s observations on the Joint Community Safety Partnership’s activity in 2018-19 and the local and regional activity plan 2019-20

 

10.05am – 10.45am

The Lead Member for Planning, Public Protection and Safer Communities, Councillor Mark Young, introduced the report (previously circulated) to seek the Committee’s observations on the Joint Community Safety Partnership’s (CSP) activity in 2018-19 and the Local and Regional Activity Plan 2019-20.  Councillor Young was also the Chair of the regional North Wales Safer Communities Board (NWSCB).

 

The Community Safety Partnership Manager (CSPM) reported that Conwy County Borough Council (CCBC) and Denbighshire County Council (DCC) merged their CSP teams into a single team 12 years ago, with CCBC being the main employer.  Business Improvement and Modernisation took the lead for managing the CSP in Denbighshire. 

 

The CSPM gave an explanation of the statistics throughout the report.

 

The CSP meeting regime consisted of:

·         Strategic Steering Group – meet three times a year

·         Anti-social Behaviour Tasking Group – held monthly

·         Task and Finish Groups – held as and when required

 

The three CSP priorities for 2018-2019 were as follows:

·         Priority 1 – reduce crime and disorder in the local and regional area

·         Priority 2 – reduce reoffending – national/regional priority

·         Priority 3 – local priorities

 

Each priority had a number of performance indicators assigned to it to monitor progress and crime trends.  The statistics were reviewed on a quarterly basis at the Strategic Steering Group to act on emerging issues.

 

During discussion, the following issues were raised:

·         Repeat victims of crime – was there a particular trend?  The CSPM confirmed she would collate a breakdown and circulate to members, but new methods of reporting and counting incidents had had an impact on these figures.

·         Were statistics available for rural crime – The CSPM stated she did not have the statistics to hand but had been working with the rural crime team.  She would obtain the information and circulate to members.

·         There was a slight criticism concerning the police and their non-investigation of residential burglaries.  A crime number for insurance purposes was given out but not usually investigated.  However, they were operating a number of initiatives aimed at helping residents to reduce the risk of becoming crime targets i.e. the ‘Nudge’ initiative which utilised social media for the purpose of reminding people to close and lock all doors and windows in a bid to avoid opportunist burglaries. 

·         A problem of young people being without parental supervision between the hours of 3.00 p.m. (end of school day) and return of parents from work usually around 5.00 p.m.  This could cause issues.

·         It was confirmed that the Lead Member, Councillor Mark Young was to meet with the Chief Inspector and would raise concerns with him and ask him to highlight these areas in his presentation to Council Briefing session in November 2019.

·         It was clarified that a large number of partners, including the police, attended the CSP meetings and were extremely pro-active. 

·         County lines was a major concern and the CSPM confirmed all agencies across North Wales were working together to alleviate this issue.

·         Cuckooing was also mentioned as being on the rise and again, all agencies were working together in relation to this issue.

·         Hate crime had increased during the year but seemed to be concentrated in specific locations i.e. hospitals, police stations and the Cultural Centre in Rhyl.  The proposed new regional co-ordinators would focus a lot of their work around this particular aspect of anti-social behaviour

·         People were being encouraged to report any suspicious activities as the more reported, the more positive outcomes would be reported.

·         The sale of Morfa Hall building in Rhyl which housed voluntary services was raised as a possible future concern.  Were voluntary services to be relocated?  The Strategic  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To consider a report by the Team Manager Safeguarding Operational Services (copy attached) which seeks the Committee to review the Council’s progress in relation to local safeguarding arrangements and practices during the above period, and their impact on vulnerable adults in the county.

 

10.45am – 11.30am

The Lead Member for Well-being and Independence, Councillor Bobby Feeley, introduced the Annual Report on Safeguarding Adults in Denbighshire 1 April 2018 – 31 March 2019 (previously circulated).

 

During the previous 12 months, there had been continued focus on improving the consistency and quality of safeguarding work.  Significant work had been undertaken to improve performance against the Welsh Government performance indicator of enquiries completed within seven working days.  Nevertheless the Authority could not and would not be complacent in this area.

 

The Mental Capacity (Amendment) Act 2019 received Royal assent in May 2019, which amended the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (“MCA”).  The amendments introduced the new Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS).  The Act was designed to reduce the strain on the deprivation of liberty safeguards system since the Cheshire West judgement previously reported to Scrutiny Committee. 

 

Key achievements in 2018-2019 were as follows:

·         Set days established for initial strategy meetings following a successful pilot.

·         Quarterly audits of sample safeguarding cases in order to assure quality and consistency of work.

·         A pilot to establish a process between DCC and the Health Board relating to feedback on recommendations identified as a result of the safeguarding process.  The pilot was focused on the safeguarding reports/incidents relating to the Ablett Unit.  The overview of the safeguarding action plans would remain the responsibility of Scrutiny Corporate Safeguarding within BCUHB.  Reviews and involvement of the local authority safeguarding leads would be agreed in the final strategy meeting.

·         Pilot of an approach to deal with safeguarding reports relating to acquired pressure ulcers.  The aim of the pilot was to establish a closer and more effective process between BCUHB and the local authority.

·         Review of systems to manage Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) applications received.

 

The Service Manager – Specialist Services confirmed referrals were still on the increase with a 9.5% rise over the last year.  21% of referrals received were progressed to Strategy meetings. 

 

Neglect and physical abuse were the most common types of abuse reported, which was consistent with national trends.

 

During discussions, the following issues were raised:

·         Appropriate care, especially meal times, if a vulnerable person was unable to open the sandwich boxes provided.  This was a concern raised by members. The Head of Community Support Services confirmed he would raise this concern with BCUHB

·         Moving a resident to a place of safety when a problem with a placement had been borne out by an inspection – was there a timescale?  The Head of Community Support Services clarified that if an individual had capacity, they could choose to remain in the placement.  If they did not have capacity then their Power of Attorney would be consulted if one is in place, or a Best Interest Decision Meeting held.  Specialist Social Workers, Psychiatrists and Psychologists assessed whether an individual had capacity or not

·         Officers outlined the process followed following receipt of an allegation of abuse

·         Denbighshire’s performance in relation to dealing with alleged abuse was comparable to other public authorities in Wales as was its relationship with the local Health Board.  Two integrated health and social care community resource teams had been established in Denbighshire to date.  The relationships within these teams were generally good, with staff working towards achieving and delivering common goals;

·         Officers confirmed that the possibility of introducing an ‘award’ accreditation for care homes was under consideration as part of a national regulation regime for such establishments

·         the Service’s ambition was to achieve better outcomes for service-users, whilst reducing the number of alleged incidents of abuse.  However, the fact that allegations of abuse were being registered was in itself positive as it  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To receive a presentation from representatives of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Denbighshire and Neuro-development Services.

 

11.40am – 12.30pm

Councillor Gareth Lloyd Davies declared a personal interest in Item 7 (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and Neuro-Development Services) as he is an employee of BCUHB.

 

Councillor Rachel Flynn (observer) declared a personal interest in Item 7 (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and Neuro-Development Services) as her son has been referred for neuro-development from CAMHS.

 

In attendance to jointly present the Specialist Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and Neurodevelopment Services verbal report from BCUHB were:

 

Bethan Jones, Area Director Central

Sue Wynne, Clinical Service Manager, Central Area, and

Sara Hammond-Rowley, Head of Child Psychology and Psychological Therapies

 

The Area Director, Central, Bethan Jones introduced the presentation and outlined the aims which were:

·         To provide an overview of Specialist CAMHS and Neurodevelopment Services for children and young people in Denbighshire linked to the BCUHB regional approach;

·         To outline the vision – a whole systems approach – and highlight partnership working / joint projects.

 

The outline of current attention to mental health in the media – the benefits and possible unintended consequences:

 

Benefits –

Ø  Greater awareness of mental health in general public

Ø  Increased campaigning

Ø  Reduced stigma, and

Ø  More people coming forward to ask for help

 

Possible unintended consequences –

Ø  More people asking for help for “normal” distress, which resulted in an increase in demand for problems that do not always require specialist help

Ø  Those with significant mental health problems / mental illnesses could feel excluded, some felt that the increased focus on “wellbeing” undermined the seriousness of “real” mental health problems and unintentionally could reduce access for those who needed it most

Ø  More services described themselves as focusing on mental health potentially resulting in too many overlapping services and confusion.

 

They explained the difference between Primary care and Secondary care.

 

The main functions of CAMHS was:

·         Integrated

ü  Multi-disciplinary Teams (MDT)

ü  Functions

·         Single Point of Access

·         Assessment and Treatment

·         Crisis

·         Working with partners – Early Intervention and Prevention

 

A whole systems approach was now being utilised in relation to CAHMS services as it was felt that there was a need to concentrate on all aspects of CAMHS to make sure everything was taken into account.  Focusing specifically on meeting targets would do a dis-service to the children and young people who required and needed help at a time of crisis.

 

There had been challenges over the past 3 years in the recruitment of staff due to increased demand.  This was a national issue.

 

A recruitment drive had been held over the past 12 months and developed new training posts to attract professionals into CAMHS.  This recruitment drive had been successful with an additional 30% of staff joining the team who were currently commencing their posts.  The additional staff would enable the 4 weeks to be reached across all routine waits and assessments.  Additional recruitment drives was realising some interest in posts and it was anticipated to be fully established by the end of March 2020.

 

During in-depth discussions, the following were raised:

·         If there were a crisis issue, it was confirmed the individual would receive immediate help and treatment and would not be expected to wait.  Non-crisis referrals would be subject to being placed on a waiting list, but the aim was to reduce the time individuals spent on a waiting list.

·         For primary care, there was an aim to reduce the waiting lists.  Demand was on the increase which was recognised by both the UK and Welsh Governments.

·         Work was underway with the North Denbighshire GP cluster in a bid to reduce the numbers referred to Specialist CAMHS through  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To consider a report by the Scrutiny Coordinator (copy attached) seeking a review of the committee’s forward work programme and updating members on relevant issues.

The Scrutiny Co-ordinator submitted a report (previously circulate) seeking members’ review of the Committee’s work programme and provided an update on relevant issues.

 

7 November 2019 – 4 items on the Forward Work Programme which would stand as stated.

 

At this juncture, the Chair requested that the meeting be timetabled to conclude at 1.00 p.m. to allow sufficient time for all items.

 

The Scrutiny Co-ordinator confirmed a proposal form had been considered by the Scrutiny Chairs and Vice-Chairs Group (SCVCG) regarding weedkiller application across the county.  The SCVCG had asked that the item be included in the ‘Council and Trunk Road Agency Highways Grass Verge and Hedge Maintenance Policies’ item already listed on the Committee’s forward work programme for the 13 February 2020 meeting.  It was also requested that this item be listed as the first item on the Agenda.

 

The School Standards Monitoring Group (SSMG) required two representatives from Partnerships Scrutiny Committee to attend.  It was agreed that Councillors Hugh Irving and Peter Scott be the representatives.

 

RESOLVED that, subject to the above, the forward work programme as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report, be approved.

 

None.

 

 

 

The meeting concluded at 1.00 p.m.