To receive declarations of personal and prejudicial interest (if any) from Members/Officers in accordance with the provisions of the Members Code of Conduct adopted by Council from 1 September 2008.

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To receive for approval the minutes of the 13/02/2019

RESOLVED:            That the minutes of the meeting of the Subject    Overview and Scrutiny Committee 2 of 13 February 2019 be approved as a true and accurate record subject to the inclusion of Cllr J Gebbie in the list of councillors in attendance.

Attendees:

Susan Cooper - Corporate Director - Social Services and Wellbeing

Lindsay Harvey - Corporate Director - Education and Family support

Cllr Huw David - Leader

Mark Lewis - Group Manager - Integrated Working

Beverley Keyse - Bridgend Community Health Council Representative

Laura Kinsey - Head of Children's Social Care

David Roberts - Director for Mental Health and Learning Disabilities - ABMU

Joanne Abbott - Davies, Assistant Director of Strategy & Partnerships - ABMU

Alan Lawrie - Director of Primary Community and Mental Health - Cwm Taf

The Group Manager – Integrated Working presented a report providing an update on the performance and strategic direction of child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) across the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board (AMBU) area, the funding for which went directly to ABMU.

The Group Manager – Integrated Working provided the background and explained that CAMHS had been a long-standing area of concern across Wales. He outlined the current position and that performance had improved over the last 18 months and there was now a better understanding of the challenges and barriers for the service. ABMU was working with Cwm Taf to develop a new integrated model providing a single point of access to all primary and secondary CAMHS.

The Assistant Director of Strategy & Partnerships – ABMU and the Director of Primary Community and Mental Health – Cwm Taf, gave a presentation “An Update on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)”. The Assistant Director of Strategy & Partnerships – ABMU provided a more detailed background on support for children and young people with emotional and mental health needs, key priorities for the Western Bay Regional Partnership Board and the Neurodevelopmental Disorders service. The Director of Primary Community and Mental Health – Cwm Taf, outlined  the CAMHS service in Bridgend including the network, what services were provided, how they looked, how they had been performing, the challenges and links with BCBC. He referred Members to the CAMHS Quick Reference Guide and the relevant contact details and outlined the primary CAMHS and specialist CAMHS total waiting and longest wait times, links with the LA/the third sector and future developments. 

A member raised concerns about the high number of children and young people in Bridgend that had been diagnosed with a mental health condition and stated that whilst there were excellent support services to support their emotional Health and Wellbeing, they suggested that better analysis should be undertaken to identify the emerging themes, i.e geographical issues, social media, bullying etc behind their diagnosis.  Once the themes had been identified, preventative measures could then be investigated.

Members asked how the causes behind a diagnosis of a mental health condition in a child were recorded and analysed, and if a summary could be shared with the committee so they could understand the reasons behind a diagnosis.

Members asked to receive a case study of a child that had been diagnosed with a mental health condition which showed their journey from diagnosis to treatment.  

The Assistant Director of Strategy & Partnerships acknowledged that this was a multi- faceted issue and there was no single solution and that they had spent considerable time considering different models. The Leader reported that he had given a commitment to Bridgend Youth Council that a priority with Head Teachers would be the development of a strategy that looked at emotional health and wellbeing across the borough and how BCBC linked with different services to “plug the gaps”. Some young people would always require specialist treatment but for others support in place  ...  view the full minutes text for item 73.

The Scrutiny Officer referred to the feedback to the comments and conclusions to the Direct Payments item considered at the last meeting and members confirmed they were happy that future monitoring should be undertaken as part of the CPA quarterly budget monitoring. Members asked for a copy of the process map and procedure as per the report. 

The Scrutiny Officer asked if there were any further questions in relation to the Sports Provision Playing Field Charging Strategy. Members asked if the link between this and CAT could be explained in the report.

The Scrutiny Officer reminded members that there would be a Forward Work Programme Workshop on 1^st May 2019 where additional topics would be considered for the FWP.

To consider any other item(s) of business in respect of which notice has been given in accordance with Rule 4 of the Council Procedure Rules and which the person presiding at the meeting is of the opinion should by reason of special circumstances be transacted at the meeting as a matter of urgency.

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