PRESENT: Councillor Wilson in the chair.
Councillors
Mrs Bromby (vice-chair), Cawsey, Eckhardt, N Sherwood, Smith and Whiteley.
The
panel met at Pittwood House, Scunthorpe.
14 DECLARATIONS - OF PERSONAL OR PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS AND DECLARATIONS
OF WHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS (IF ANY) - There were no declarations of personal
or personal and prejudicial interests.
No
whip was declared.
15 PUBLIC REQUESTS TO SPEAK – There were no requests received
16 INFORMATIVE DISCUSSION ON THE ‘CHILDRENS BOARD AND OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY’
– The Chair advised members that Richard Stiff, Deputy Chief Executive (Individuals)
had been invited to the meeting to explain the role of the Children’s Board,
its relationship with overview and scrutiny and the possibility of involving
scrutiny members on the Children’s Board in future.
The
panel was advised by the Deputy Chief Executive (Individuals) it would not be
possible to include the Chair/ Vice Chair of the Children and Young People Scrutiny
panel on the Children’s Board due to constraints outlined within the Children’s
Partnership Agreement between the Council and the North Lincolnshire Primary
Care Trust. This agreement detailed the membership of the Board. This
was a legally binding agreement.
Richard
Stiff added that there was scope to amend this after 1 April 2008, with the
possibility of more open membership. This could lead to a more parallel
working arrangement with Overview and Scrutiny. He suggested that currently,
if the Chair/ Vice Chair or any scrutiny members attended the Children’s Board,
a conflict of interest could arise with the working of the scrutiny panel.
Resolved
– (a) That it be noted that under the current agreement it is not possible to
appoint the Chair/ Vice Chair onto the Children’s Board, and (b) that this be
reconsidered after the 1 April 2008.
POLICY
REVIEW – CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE (CAMHS)
17 Introduction, discussion and the views of Mick Gibbs, Head of Operations
for Children and Young People’s Services, on CAMHS – Further to minute 9,
the Chair advised the panel that Mick Gibbs had accepted the invitation to be
a non-voting co-opted member, and had met with the Chair and Vice Chair at a
recent scoping meeting to discuss his role. The Chair invited Mick Gibbs
to address the panel.
The
panel was advised that CAMHS fitted well within the Children’s Board umbrella,
with responsibilities cutting across the five tiers of the ‘Every Child Matters’
and the Children and Young Peoples’ plan. He explained, however, that
there were two areas of vulnerability, these being disabled children and children
in care.
Mick
Gibbs expanded on his statement by highlighting key areas to be assessed, how
many children and adolescents needed the services of CAMHS, how many have access
to it, and was the timing of intervention correct?
The
panel received further information on the agencies involved at different levels,
ranging from multi agency to more specialised units dealing with behavioural
problems. Measures were needed to ensure that psychiatric assistance was
available 24/7, to monitor how the transition for 16/17 year olds was undertaken,
complex care needs and the linkage with substance misuse. Knowledge of
these would provide a broader scope of the service. It was confirmed that
performance indicators were to be introduced soon to monitor the progress in
these areas, but at present there was little information to support that these
measures were in place and being met.
The
panel engaged in further discussions and were advised about the referral routes
to CAMHS, the approximate number of children and adolescents within each tier
of the service, the involvement of the multi agency prevention team and the
problems faced with addressing the 16/18 year old.
It
was agreed that CAMHS was a too large a topic to review in its entirety, and
that the review must concentrate on specific areas within the CAMHS service.
Resolved
– That the review concentrate on the specialist CAMHS service and also the lack
of provision for 16/18 year olds.
18 Meeting with Primary Care Trust – To confirm date, time and arrangements.
Panel
members were advised by the Service Director Legal and Democratic, that arrangements
had been made for a scoping meeting with the Primary Care Trust. This
had been arranged for 2.00pm on 6 December 2007, 2.00 pm at Pittwood House. All
panel members were invited to attend.
Resolved
– That the above meeting be arranged for an earlier time of 1.00 pm on 6 December
2007.
19 LEADER OF THE COUNCIL'S FORWARD PLAN – DECEMBER 2007 TO MARCH 2008 -
The Service Director Legal and Democratic circulated the Leader of North Lincolnshire
Council's Forward Plan for December 2007 to March 2008 .
The
plan contained details of all matters and issues likely to be the subject of
key decisions for a period of the next four months, updated on a monthly basis.
Members discussed various items on the Forward Plan.
Resolved - That the Leader of the Council's Forward Plan for December
2007 to March 2008 be noted.
20
MONITORING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF PREVIOUS SCRUTINY REVIEWS – Panel
members were addressed by the Service Director Legal and Democratic who reaffirmed
that part of the Overview and Scrutiny process was to ensure that the recommendations
agreed in previous reports had been implemented.
To
assist the Scrutiny panel in this process, information was circulated to highlight
the reviews that had not been revisited and provide a brief outline of the recommendations
that had been suggested.
The
Chair agreed that it was necessary for the panel to review previous reports
to ensure that work had been undertaken and to hold the Executive to account.
It was noted that there were three reports in particular that should be followed
up by the Children and Young People Scrutiny panel; these being (i) Recruitment
and Retention of Parent Governors, (ii) The National Healthy Schools Standard
and (iii) Every Child Matters – the Common Assessment Framework.
Resolved
– (a) That the
Service Director Legal and Democratic contact the relevant senior officers and
obtain feedback on the progress of implementing the recommendations contained
within the three reports above, and (b) that the findings be reported back to
the panel at the next full panel meeting with appropriate officers in attendance.