To receive apologies for absence, including notifications of any changes to the membership of the Board.

Apologies for absence were received from Laura Colman (Co-opted Member) and Saskia Hogbin (Roman Catholic Diocesan Representative – Co-opted Member) who advised that she was not able to take up her post.

It was reported that, in accordance with the wishes of the Conservative Group, the membership of the Sub-Board had been amended to include Councillor Tolchard in place of the Conservative Group vacancy.

1.         To undertake a spotlight review around the wider provision of mental health, therapeutic and emotional wellbeing services to provide early support and reduce the number of people meeting the threshold for CAMHS for children and young people in Torbay.

2.         To receive an update on CAMHS and the action being taken to reduce waiting times and explore options for those young people who do not meet the threshold for formal CAMHS referral or support.

3.         To consider what are the transitional arrangements for CAMHS for children from 18 years old onwards.

4.         To hear from Children and Family Health Devon on what they were doing to resolve the lack of CAMHS support and access for young people to CAMHS services, to include:

        How's many Torbay children are currently (a) waiting for assessment? (b) How long have they been waiting?  

        How many children are currently receiving intervention from CAMHS? 

        How many have received medication, but no therapeutic intervention?

        How many of those referred have an EHCP or are awaiting neurodiversity diagnosis?

        Whether there could be a specific, accelerated pathway for cared for children or adopted children?

        What are the current contracting arrangements and how can they be amended to meet the needs of our young people?

        Issues arising from the recent Joint Targeted Area Inspection (JTAI).

5.         To hear case studies from young people.

6.         To consider questions and evidence submitted by members of the public.

7.         To consider the Healthwatch Torbay Insight Report:  Experiences of Children and Young People:  Mental Health and Wellbeing.

Submitted Evidence:

·                     Torbay Local Area Partnership Presentation

·                     One Devon Presentation

·                     Summary of Children and Young People Emotional Health and Wellbeing Needs

·                     Provision for Children and Young People in Torbay

·                     Public Questions

·                     Healthwatch Report and Questions Experiences of Children and Young People Mental Health and Wellbeing

·                     Case Studies

(Note:  representatives from Torbay and South Devon Trust, One Devon Integrated Care Board( ICB), Child and Family Health Devon, Public Health, Adults Services, Children’s Services, Mental Health in Schools, Health Commissioning, Council Commissioning, Schools and Healthwatch Torbay have been invited to take part in this meeting.)

The Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board undertook a spotlight review on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and Emotional Wellbeing Support and examined the submitted supporting evidence (full details of which can be found at https://www.torbay.gov.uk/DemocraticServices/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=1862&MId=25737&Ver=4.)

·                     Torbay Local Area Partnership Presentation

·                     One Devon Presentation (revised presentation)

·                     Summary of Children and Young People Emotional Health and Wellbeing Needs

·                     Provision for Children and Young People in Torbay

·                     Public Questions

·                     Healthwatch Report and Questions Experiences of Children and Young People Mental Health and Wellbeing

·                     Case Studies

The Sub-Board heard evidence from the following:

·                     Liz Davenport, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust;

·                     Phillip Mantay, Devon Partnership NHS Trust;

·                     Dr Hannah Gooding, Principal Clinical Psychologist, Child and Family Health Devon;

·                     Beverley Mack, Child and Family Health Devon;

·                     Femi Akerele, Clinical Director CAMHS;

·                     Julia Chisnell, Public Health;

·                     Nancy Meehan, Torbay Council;

·                     Su Smart, NHS Devon;

·                     Nigel Acheson, NHS Devon;

·                     Stuart Heron, School Representative;

·                     Kevin Dixon, Healthwatch Torbay;

·                     Carrie, young person; and

·                     Anonymous, young person.

Partners outlined how they were working together building on existing partnerships with education, health and care for the management and delivery of services to support children and young people with their mental health and that this was a priority area for improvement.  This also linked to the approach of the Family Hubs based in Torquay, Paignton and Brixham which was bringing services together in the community to support young people and their families and carers.

Members noted the national statistics showed that mental health needs had increased by 25% since the pandemic with 70% increase in the number of people presenting to health professionals.  In Torbay for 7-16 year olds, prevalence had increased from 12% in 2017 to 18% in 2022 and for adolescents aged 17-19 years old, prevalence had increased from 10% in 2017 to 26% in 2022.  Child and Family Health Devon provide integrated mental health services for Torbay as well as the wider Devon area (excluding Plymouth).  They provide assessment and treatment, support other care professionals and social workers as part of a larger network with 0-19 Universal Services (Family Hubs) and Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, One Devon, Young Devon and Kooth which helps to promote the importance of good mental health and ensure children’s mental health was everyone’s business.

The Sub-Board heard the impact of the long waiting times to access services and how young people and their families were being communicated with throughout the process, e.g. asking if they still needed to access services when they had been waiting a long time and how this had also impacted negatively on the young people and their families and added to their mental health pressures and anxiety.  They noted that the average number of weeks to wait for a routine referral was 17 weeks, with emergency referrals being seen the same working day with a target of 7 days for those who needed to be seen quicker but not the same day.  There was a dedicated service  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.