Agenda item

Considering the impact of the pandemic on mental illness and mental health services, and the Surrey Mental Health Partnership Board (MHPB) review and consequent improvement plan agreed by Surrey Health and Wellbeing Board (and its delivery).

The Chair welcomed Professor Helen Rostill (Deputy Chief Executive, Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SABP)), and Co-Chair of the Surrey Health and Wellbeing Board’s Mental Health Delivery Board), Sally Heath (Director of Business and Innovation, Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust) and Sue Murphy (Chief Executive of Catalyst) to the meeting.  He advised the Committee that the item was an opportunity to consider the impact of the pandemic on mental illness and mental health services and to hear about the Surrey Mental Health Partnership Board (MHPB) review and consequent improvement plan agreed by Surrey Health and Wellbeing Board.

Professor Helen Rostill, Sally Heath, and Sue Murphy gave a presentation to help explain the Mental Health Improvement Programme (MHIP).  The background and context of the MHIP, its delivery architecture, and its governance were outlined to the Committee.  Next the progress and ambitions of the programme areas of the MHIP were described to the meeting. 

The Committee was advised that the recommendations from the MHPB review had been mapped into ten programme areas; specifically, three core delivery programmes (early intervention and prevention; no bouncing and improving access; and working together to break down barriers) and seven support and enabling programmes (digital and data; communications and engagement; how we work together; resourcing; workforce plan; training and awareness; and mental health system governance).

The meeting was presented with examples to illustrate the focus for the three core delivery programme areas, including the formation of Surrey Workforce and Wellbeing Collaborative, the design of an engagement programme by Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum (SMEF) and the Independent Mental Health Network, the GP Community of Practice initiative, the 24/7 safe haven pilot, an independent review of SABP adult single-point of access, and the successful funding application for a tier 4 CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) unit within the county.  Further examples shared with the meeting included the GPimhs (General Practise integrated mental health service) community-based model of mental health care, the establishment of a Young Adults Reference Group to better support the transition from children’s to adult mental health services, the Epsom pilot of secondary care integration, the Community Connections in-reach service pilot at Farnham Road Hospital and the Abraham Cowley Unit, the establishment of Surrey Mental Health Alliance by April 2022, and projects to inform the culture changes necessary to improve working within and across organisations. 

The Committee was advised of work to assess resourcing for emotional wellbeing and mental health services across Surrey, the launch of the Multi-Agency Emotional and Mental Wellbeing Training Collaborative in September 2021, and the Face of Support mental wellbeing campaign across Surrey.  The Director of Business and Innovation informed the meeting that a Mental Health Summit to be held on 1 December 2021 would update on progress achieved and help maintain momentum.

During the presentation, the Deputy Chief Executive, SABP, commended to Committee members a report produced by SMEF in 2020 about the impact of the pandemic on people’s mental health and offered to provide it to Committee members. 

Concluding the presentation, the Deputy Chief Executive, SABP, indicated that the transformation of mental health services was happening against a backdrop of a continuing surge in demand caused by the pandemic.  She advised the meeting of the pressure under which mental health services were working and the challenges of sufficient workforce to meet need.

The Chair thanked the Deputy Chief Executive, SABP, the Director of Business and Innovation, SABP, and the Chief Executive, Catalyst, for their presentation and praised the speed and progress of the improvement plan.

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Councillor for Climate Change indicated the Executive’s support for mental health services.  In addition, he undertook to pursue with local businesses the issues raised.

During the ensuing discussion a number of questions were asked and clarifications responded to and

• In answer to a question, the Deputy Chief Executive, SABP, suggested the value in the Committee meeting and receiving a presentation from her colleagues leading on the new emotional wellbeing and mental health services for children.  

• In reply to a question, the meeting was advised of the benefit of community leaders, such as councillors, and business leaders having an awareness of and support for the actions and work of the improvement programme.  She noted the importance of the county-wide improvement plan feeling both relevant to local communities and influenced by them.  The Councillors were asked for help identifying and connecting to local groups and organisations that could be involved in and champion the aims of the programme.  In addition, the meeting was advised of the value of promoting the mental health communications campaign within local networks and encouraging people to seek help at an early stage.  The Director of Business and Innovation, SABP, stressed the importance of workplace support for mental health and asked Committee members for ideas to better connect with local businesses.

• In response to a question, the Director of Business and Innovation, SABP, indicated that there was not an earmarked budget for the improvement programme, although the Surrey Health and Wellbeing Board had recognised the need to ensure that the actions and initiatives proposed in the programme were sustainable in the longer term.  The Deputy Chief Executive, SABP, advised the meeting that need was felt to be so pressing that SABP had decided to fund some of the programmes of work within the improvement programme without undertaking a formal business case process.

• A member of the Committee asked about resourcing of GPimhs across the county and suggested the importance of consulting with the police about alternatives if the Safe Havens for people experiencing a mental health crisis were not 24/7.  In response, the Deputy Chief Executive, SABP, advised that recruitment difficulties might cause some slippage in the extension of GPimhs but the financial commitment for the expansion was secure.  The Chief Executive, Catalyst, confirmed that alternatives to the Safe Haven had been discussed with the police.  She informed the meeting that a six-month pilot for a young person’s safe haven was starting on 15 November in Guildford, for people aged 18-25. 

• A member of the Committee requested further details and images to enable councillors to use social media platforms to raise awareness with communities and local businesses about the Face of Support mental wellbeing campaign.

• A member of the Committee questioned whether staff were trained specifically on how to challenge and address the damage Instagram and other social media caused to the mental health of young people, particularly young women.  In reply, the Deputy Chief Executive, SABP, indicated that staff were not systematically trained in how to deal with social media and that there was a probable requirement for this for some staff.

• In reply to a question about male suicide, the Chief Executive, Catalyst, advised the Committee of the Taxi Watch suicide prevention drive in Ireland and a similar initiative to begin in Elmbridge, Surrey.  In addition, the meeting was advised of training to be undertaken in Elmbridge by the Barbers Collective.  The Committee was advised that if the training was shown to be effective it was hoped funding could be secured for a wider rollout.

• In response to a member of the Committee asking about efforts to build trust with minority communities and overcome the stigma associated of mental health, the meeting was advised of the work and growth of SMEF.

• The Deputy Chief Executive, SABP, indicated that the number of people with mental health needs helped across Surrey could be provided to the Committee members.

Members agreed the value in receiving further information at a Committee meeting on the new emotional wellbeing and mental health services for children, young people, and families.

In answer to a question from the Chair, the Deputy Chief Executive, SABP, advised that the timeline for delivery of the improvement programme was 12-18 months and suggested a progress update to the Committee in the late spring or early summer of 2022.  Accordingly, the Committee members agreed an update on the improvement plan be added to the Overview and Scrutiny work plan.

The Chair thanked the Deputy Chief Executive, SABP, the Director of Business and Innovation, SABP, and the Chief Executive of Catalyst for attending the meeting to present information and answer questions.