The Group Manager Mental Health submitted a report to the Cabinet Committee with an update regarding the provision of mental health services to adults in the borough, the Mental Health Commissioning Plan and progress concerning the Dementia Strategy Plan. She reported on progress in the following areas:

• The Local Primary Mental Health Service continued to go from strength to strength with customer service questionnaires indicated that 90% of those in receipt of the service indicating they would recommend it to others.
• A single point of access (SPA) for GP referrals into secondary mental health services had successfully been piloted in Bridgend.  This was being evaluated with a view to rolling out the scheme in Neath, Port Talbot and Swansea.
• An accommodation work stream had been put in place for a single procurement and brokerage process for high cost specialist mental health placements.  This was enabling the Authority to collaborate with colleagues in communities to develop specific mental health housing projects such as increased provision of floating support and a specialist housing project for those with complex mental health issues.
• An initiative was being developed to raise awareness of mental health issues in schools.  The initiative also aimed to help early identification of mental health concerns regarding young people and facilitate early intervention. 
• The development of an electronic library of online self-help guides to offer information and advice on a wide range of subjects that included anxiety, dealing with bereavement and alcohol dependency.  By the 5 November 2015 there had been 1624 visits to the electronic library across the region.
• There had been a comprehensive consultation and engagement exercise on the delivery of the dementia strategy.  This had taken the form of focus groups throughout the borough and individuals had also been able to respond via the BCBC website. Early indications showed that the priorities identified improvements in service provision, diagnosis and timely intervention, access to information and training were correct although concern had been raised regarding the ability to deliver in a challenging financial context.
• A system for monitoring individual movement (Just Checking) to confirm levels of support required was currently being piloted.

The Group Manager added that whilst much had been achieved over the last year a lot remained to be achieved and there were significant challenges ahead.

The Cabinet Member Adult Social Care and Health and Wellbeing congratulated the Group Manager on her new post and thanked her for her immense work and efforts on considerably improving the Mental Health Service within the Borough. 

A Member stated that providing drop-ins was an excellent way for the public to receive support as it removed a lot of the stigma attached to Mental Health issues and was easy for people to access which made it more likely that they would seek help. 

The Equality and Engagement Officer informed Members that the Authority had recently provided training to staff on mental health issues to remove the stigma.  He stated that over 200 people had attended the courses and many were able to discuss their own experiences of mental health.  He added that there was also an E-Learning training module available for staff to complete.

A Member asked if there was a possibility of providing a crisis centre in the Borough.  The Group Manager Mental Health stated that discussions were taking place to explore if this was a possibility as this had been a success in Leeds

The Chairperson asked if the police were trained and knew how to manage a situation if they took someone into custody with a mental health issue.  The Group Manager Mental Health stated there was a multi-agency risk forum that included the police, the probation service, housing agencies and mental health team that had agreed a collaborative plan on how to work with individuals with mental health issues, she added that for example under the Mental Health Act people with Mental Health issues should not be detained in a cell. 

RESOLVED:                       That the Cabinet Equalities Committee received the report and noted the developments in mental health services, the mental health commissioning and delivery plan and progress concerning the dementia strategy and delivery plan.