Agenda item

The report provides an update on three related strands of work around supporting children and young people in Croydon: the Health and Wellbeing Board (HWBB) workshop, Croydon’s five year Local Transformation Plan (LTP), and the key actions to be included in Croydon’s Youth Plan. (Copy attached)

The Board considered the report which provided an update on three related strands of work around supporting children and young people in Croydon; the Health and Wellbeing Board workshop, Croydon’s five year Local Transformation Plan (LTP), and the key actions to be included in Croydon’s Youth Plan.

The Chair welcomed comments from the school representatives present regarding the mental health and wellbeing of young people in connection with the Youth Plan, and how the Board could liaise with the local schools going forward.

Ms Jenny Adamson, Saffron Valley Collegiate, explained that there were concerns for the lack of resources within early years prevention work. It was explained staff who worked in schools were receiving mental health first aid training and there was a focus on how mental health manifests within the classroom.

The Broadmead Primary School representatives explained they had introduced a nurture provision, one held in the mainstream school building and one in the school grounds. This was a 12 week programme of nurture, where parents were worked with closely and it included signposting to outside agencies.

Councillor Avis noted that there was discussion at the previous Health & Wellbeing Board regarding the increase of young women being admitted to Accident & Emergency due to self-harm. In response to Councillor Avis, Ms Adamson noted that the cohort of young people showing signs of poor mental health within schools was largely young males who were acting out traumatic experiences; this was a huge concern as it was unsafe for the individual and others around them. The Broadmead Primary School representatives added that the behaviour from young males was often more apparent and young women showed symptoms in a less obvious way, and often slightly later in life. The Director of Public Health noted that evidence showed that different genders responded to trauma in different ways; it was often displayed in violence with women, either against themselves or others.

In response to Councillor Hall the representatives present explained there was a challenge with providing help within the school setting, especially mainstream schools, but the introduction of drama and music therapy had proven positive. It was explained that due to the lack of resources the schools were unable to focus on preventative schemes and had to wait until the individuals were a higher priority before intervening.

The Executive Director for Children, Families, Education and People stated that a school survey was to be circulated, likely on Monday 4 March 2019, requesting information on mental health resources available to schools and if further support was needed. He explained that from this it was hopeful that the resources and capacity could be sought to breach the gaps to ensure schools were able to provide full, preventative schemes. The outcome of the survey would be discussed at the head teachers’ breakfast. Councillor Avis requested that the school representatives attend a future Health & Wellbeing Board meeting to feedback after the survey had been completed.

In response to Andrew Eyres, NHS Croydon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), the Chair noted that there would be further engagement on the Youth Plan to identify any gaps. The Croydon Voluntary Action representative added that they could work with the schools to identify services to help bridge the gaps.

The Director of Public Health noted that she had attended the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) Board on 26 March 2019 where it had been discussed that it was difficult to create one plan to cover all complex mental health issues. It was crucial to help those in the community through frontline, preventative services, including; schools, churches and mosques.

Sally Wadsworth, the Joint Head of Integrated Commissioning Children and Maternity and Category Manager for Early Help and Child Health explained that the Children and Young People’s Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health partnership board would create an easy-read version of the Youth Plan and would engage with young people to help write it. The Board was currently looking at young peoples’ pathways to focus on establishing the key headlines the Board wanted to achieve.

In response to Ms Adamson the Chair confirmed that adult and youth services would be working collaboratively through the work of the First 1000 Days project.

Councillor Avis noted that the effects of social media and drug use needed to be included in the youth plan.

RESOLVED – That the Board agreed to:

1)    Note the outputs of the HWBB workshop held on the 5December 2018 on Children and Young Person’s Mental Health.

2)    Approve the proposed actions within the three children’s priorities agreed by Health and Wellbeing Board in October 2018 for inclusion in the Youth Plan

3)    Discuss the proposals to take forward the priorities Croydon’s draft LTP (local transformation plan) for improving Children and Young People’s Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health.

4)    Review and sign off Croydon Clinical Commissioning Group’s LTP (local transformation plan) for Children and Young People’s Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health.