In May 2020, Combined Healthcare was proud to launch a new online facility as part of its ongoing commitment to openness, transparency and innovation.
Using our unique ‘Ask the Board’ facility anyone can use a webform – available by clicking here – to make a comment or suggestion or ask a question in advance of each Open Trust Board meeting. A response is provided as part of the Chair’s Report to the Board meeting, which are publicly available as videos shortly after the meeting.
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If you have any questions about “Ask the Board Online”, contact the Communications Team at communications@combined.nhs.uk
Ian Syme
11/03/2021
Childrens Services:
Trust Board papers item11 Q3 Safeguarding Report (pge 49) identifies emerging data showing Covid 19 restrictions in combination with other vulnerabilities having a significant impact on children and young people including severe neglect, substance misuse, sexual assault, suicide, sudden infant death and non accidental injury. Furthermore data nationally is now emerging that children who have had covid infection can also suffer clinically significant ‘Long Covid” symptoms including significant Mental Health needs.
CAMHS prior to the Covid Pandemic were stretched!
Are the Trust acquiring data now that identifies substantial unmet Mental Health needs amongst these children and how with your partners (N.Staffs Combined Healthcare CAMHS cannot possibly address this increased need alone) will the Trust ensure such children will not be subject to increasingly extended waits to identified services?
Kenny Laing, Executive Director of Nursing and Quality provided a response. The Quarter 3 safeguarding report referred to national data reported which had indicated an increase in harm for children during the pandemic, the Trust has good practices and processes in place to ensure that staff who may be concerned about a child at risk of abuse or neglect can provide multi-agency support to the child. The Trust safeguarding arrangements show a consistent level of performance in relation to training compliance and the supervision that clinicians receive in this regard.
A significant increase had not yet been seen in the demand for Children and Young Peoples (CYP) services within the Trust and CAMHS services had been working throughout the pandemic, maintaining good performance in relation to responding to referrals and waiting times. The Trust was also investing in CYP services to enable it to ensure the services were able to cope with any future demand. In seeking to improve children and young people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing, we work closely with young people, parents, carers, family members, professionals, schools and colleges, local authorities and local communities to continue and improve the way in which we support children and young people to achieve positive mental health and to reach their potential. The Trust plays a key role with partners to ensure that any additional demand created by Covid-19 is anticipated, measured and responded to.
Peter Axon noted that Kenny described clearly the mechanisms in place to manage and support the individuals presented to the Trust in referrals there was a risk Covid was creating and required more work with partner agencies where individuals would be presenting and there was a risk of escalation of their condition. Integrated partnership agreements would provide more opportunity to work with non-secondary care organisations to prevent escalations.
Chris Bird added that CAMHS was the first service supported through the creation of a digital platform and would provide a wide range of information 24/7 for anyone who required access it, including on-line referrals where appropriate.
Joan Walley highlighted that schools and education were other areas we needed to integrate with.
Jonathan O’Brien added that there were additional monies identified in the Long Term Plan for CYP Mental Health during 2021/22 onwards. We were yet to have final confirmation due to ongoing discussions re: funding settlements and budgets, but this would be welcomed.