Agenda item

To consider an update on the EWMH services, Mindworks Surrey.

The Executive Director for Children’s Community Services, Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SABP), the Director of Children and Young People’s Services, SABP, and the Children’s Emotional Health Alliance Programme Director, SABP, updated the Committee on Mindworks Surrey.

With the aid of presentation slides circulated in advance with the agenda papers, the Committee was advised that Mindworks Surrey was an alliance of national and local partners commissioned to deliver services for children and young people across the county.  The Committee was reminded of the range of services offered through Mindworks Surrey.

The Children’s Emotional Health Alliance Programme Director, SABP, advised the Committee that the Amplify participation group had organised the Wellbeing Festival for children, young people, and families to be held on 4 March 2023 at Guildford County School.  The Committee was informed of increasing engagement with schools and plans to introduce an Independent Schools Reference Group in 2022/23.

The Children’s Emotional Health Alliance Programme Director, SABP, indicated the importance of improving transitions for children and young people, as they moved both from primary to secondary school and for 16-25 year olds moving into adulthood.  The Committee was advised of the work of Community Wellbeing Teams, School-based Needs Teams, Mental Health Support Teams, and the Reaching Out service.  In addition, the Children’s Emotional Health Alliance Programme Director, SABP, highlighted the themes and strategies for improvement identified from the Woking and the Guildford & Waverley Mindworks Protype projects. 

The Director of Children and Young People’s Services, SABP, indicated that during January 2023 demand for Mindworks Surrey services was forty percent higher than contracted for; the Executive Director for Children’s Community Services, SABP, advised that such a level was in line with regional and national demand.

During the ensuing discussion a number of questions were asked, and clarifications offered:

• Members of the Committee questioned the transition between services for children and young people as they moved from primary to secondary school and then onto adulthood.  The Director of Children and Young People’s Services, SABP, confirmed that the Community Wellbeing Teams, Scholl-based Needs Teams, and Mental Health Support Teams operated together as a single, virtual team. She indicated that Mindworks Surrey partners sought to work jointly in both service delivery and governance.  The Committee was advised of the Reaching Out service for 16-25 year olds who were difficult to engage.  In addition, the Committee was informed of the New Leaf service for children and young people affected by developmental trauma and who were in care, care leavers, or unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. 

• The Executive Director for Children’s Community Services, SABP, advised the Committee of the implementation of a digital tool to help Mindworks Surrey partners share information relating to the transition of children and young people from primary to secondary school and then onto adulthood.

• In reply to a question, the Committee was advised that New Leaf services were funded by several funding streams, including Surrey County Council, the NHS, and Surrey Police.  The Director of Children and Young People’s Services, SABP, offered to show the New Leaf service to a member of the Committee.

• The Executive Director for Children’s Community Services, SABP, confirmed that the number of referrals to Mindworks Surrey services exceeded the contracted service levels and had caused a significant deficit to build up.  She indicated that such a deficit was unsustainable, and that the financial recovery needed had prompted an acceleration of the i-THRIVE model, with increased group / peer support, and more training for schools to enable the earliest support possible. 

• A member of the Committee questioned the extent to which the value of investing in services such as Mindworks Surrey had been pursued with central government.  In reply, the Executive Director for Children’s Community Services, SABP, advised the Committee of efforts to lobby for parity of funding between children’s and adult’s mental health services and for recognition of the increasing demand for children’s mental health services. 

• In reply to a question about the time taken for someone on the neurodivergent pathway to receive post-diagnostic support, the Director of Children and Young People’s Services, SABP, advised the meeting that early support was provided ahead of a formal, confirmed diagnosis.  She indicated that the neurodivergent pathway at Mindworks Surrey had been revised to place greater emphasis on assessment of need and less on the mechanics of diagnosis.  The Committee was informed that this change enabled support to be provided in a timelier way, although it continued to be the case that a significant proportion of the demand at Mindworks Surrey was for diagnostic assessment for neurodevelopmental need.  The Director of Children and Young People’s Services, SABP, advised that the wait for a diagnosis of ADHD or ADSD exceeded 12 months. 

• The Committee was advised that in Surrey the number of children and young people requiring a Tier 4 admission was low compared to other areas.  The meeting was reminded that the inpatient facility at Emerald Place, formerly known as April Cottage, could only accommodate 12 children.  The Executive Director for Children’s Community Services, SABP, stated that children requiring inpatient services were placed as close to home as possible, with a strong rationale needed for placing anyone outside the county.  She indicated that there was not any child currently waiting for a specialist admission.  The Director of Children and Young People’s Services, SABP, explained the crisis pathway for the 18-25 year old age group in Surrey provided by the Working Age Adults Division, SABP.  The meeting was informed that the pathway included a crisis line and access to crisis outreach services and locally provided inpatient care.

• In reply to a question about unmet need, the Executive Director for Children’s Community Services, SABP, advised that the upskilling approach of the i-THRIVE framework aimed to help support children and young people in part by building resilience in communities and families.  The Children’s Emotional Health Alliance Programme Director, SABP, indicated that by increasing early interventions and support the i-THRIVE framework sought to minimise need for specialist services for severe mental health problems.  She informed the Committee of the prototyping work with communities, carers, and others.  The Children’s Emotional Health Alliance Programme Director, SABP, indicated that academic research showed most children who experienced mental health problems could go on to lead productive lives. 

• The Executive Director for Children’s Community Services, SABP, undertook to provide a link to the Best Start for Surrey Strategy, due to be published in early March. 

• In reply to a question about record sharing, the Director of Children and Young People’s Services, SABP, informed the Committee that progress had been achieved towards an ambition for a shared electronic patient record. 

• The Executive Director for Children’s Community Services, SABP, told the Committee of a social prescribing pilot in East Surrey.

The Chairman thanked the Executive Director for Children’s Community Services, Surrey and Borders NHS Foundation Trust (SABP), the Director of Children and Young People’s Services, SABP, and the Children’s Emotional Health Alliance Programme Director, SABP, for providing an update and answering questions.  He noted the endorsement of the Committee for the Children’s and Young People’s EWMH Service and its backing for all efforts the Council could take to support and assist Mindworks Surrey.