Invitees

Councillor Jane Gebbie - Deputy Leader of Council and Cabinet Member for Social Services and Health

Claire Marchant - Corporate Director - Social Services and Wellbeing

Jacqueline Davies - Head of Adult Social Care

Mark Wilkinson – Group Manager – Learning Disability, Mental Health & Substance Misuse

Glynis Evans – Community Mental Health Services Manager

Robert Goodwin - Service Group Manager, Mental Health Services - Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board

The Head of Adult Social Care presented the report, the purpose of which was to provide the strategic and operational context in which Adult Community Mental Health Services are delivered in the County Borough and to ask the Committee to provide comments on the future direction of services.

The Chairperson thanked the Head of Adult Social Care and Members discussed the following:

·         The referral pathway into the Social Care and Recovery Team, the typical intervention period and its importance as an early intervention and prevention team.

·         The notable increase in the number of referrals for young people on the autistic spectrum, the Code of Practice on the Delivery of Autism Services in Wales and the Authority’s training plan.

·         Local hackathon events and adjustments to improve services and communication for all people neurodiverse conditions.

·         The largely positive joint inspection of the North Community Mental Health Team and steps taken to address the areas for improvement and best practice. 

·         In relation to the Assisting Recovery in the Community Service:

-       types of therapeutic courses and counselling available;

-       evolution of the service;

-       age profile and reasons for people accessing the service; and

-       capturing service user experiences and feedback.

·         Current waiting lists for the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service and the role of schools and colleges in making referrals.

·         The success of the Wellbeing Retreat, the potential for the service to be extended and themes affecting users.

·         Sufficiency of funding for statutory Mental Health Services, targeted investment in Prevention and Wellbeing Services to prevent escalation of need to secondary services and the importance of safe and manageable caseloads. 

·         Improving communication around Mental Health and reducing stigma.

·         The development of a Regional Mental Health Strategy and any anticipated changes to the Interim Strategy following publication of the new National Strategy.

·         The intended audience for the Interim Strategy, the importance of partnership working and the steps taken to promote the available services.

·         The source and significance of the values and principles set out in the Interim Strategy and Professional Codes of Practice. 

·         The roll out and accessibility of identified training and how the Service works with voluntary organisations.

The Chairperson advised that there were no further questions for the Invitees, thanked the Invitees for their attendance and, advised that if they were not required for the next Item, they may leave the meeting.

RESOLVED:            Following detailed consideration and discussions with Officers and Cabinet Members, the Committee made the following Recommendation:

1. That the Committee write to the Members of the Senedd for Bridgend and Ogmore to request an invitation to the round table meetings run by them, involving third sector and voluntary organisations and relating to mental health and the Bridgend Mental Health Pathway.

and the Committee requested:

2.    Data relating to the notable increase in the number of young people on the autism spectrum being referred to the Community Mental Health Teams and a copy of the existing Code of Practice on the Delivery of Autism Services in Wales.

3.    That information relating to the pathway to independent advocacy for adults be circulated to all Members to enable them to signpost constituents requiring advocacy.

Assisting Recovery in the Community Service (ARC)

4.     

a)    Information regarding the types of courses available from ARC;

b)    Information on how the service has evolved and adapted in recent years;

c)    Data showing the age range of individuals accessing the service, the reasons why and the interventions of the service with them; and

d)    Case examples of work that has been done on an individual and group level in the last 12 months.