Agenda item

Presentation from Child Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed and thanked Angela Lodwick for attending and for her readiness to speak to the Committee Members. The Learning Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee were invited to observe this agenda item.

 

Angela Lodwick provided members with a presentation, outlining the following:

·       Hywel Dda UHB

·       NHS SCAMHS (Role & Function, Referral Pathway & School in-Reach)

·       Primary Mental Health Service (P-CAMHS)

·       Emotional Well-being/ Schools

·       NHS Wales S-CAMHS Service Framework & Specialist Services

·       Referrals received & accepted (data on Hywel Dda UHB & Ceredigion)

·       SCAMHS Workforce in Hywel Dda UHB & Ceredigion

·       Impact & positive outcomes due to Covid-19

·       Coproduction: Future Minds, KOOTH Digital Online Counselling Service including presenting issues & Arts Boost

·       Safe Hwb CYP (Children and young people) in mental health distress & outcomes

·       Interventions to promote mental wellbeing

 

Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions which were answered by Angela Lodwick. The main points raised were as follows:

·       Concerns raised with GPs were not referring CYP and with waiting times; all GPs were aware of the Single Point of Contact (SPOC) referral pathway. Most referrals were done by schools, possibly as staff and school nurses were more familiar with the CYP. The target by WG was for all assessments to be carried out within 28 days of referral, but during Covid-19, P-CAMHS had a delay due to a significant increase in referrals.

·       It was suggested that there needed to raise public awareness of ways to access services. The website was in the process of being updated.

·       KOOTH employed trained counsellors, but it was not developed as a substitute for CAMHS services. There was a system in place to alert CAMHS if a CYP was deemed at high risk. In terms of KOOTH, most users were between 14-17 years old. A breakdown of the gender of users was not available during the meeting.

·       It was acknowledged that CAMHS had developed significantly over the past decade along with conversations around mental health. The focus of P-CAMHS was on early intervention and School in Reach Services have been active in Ceredigion for 3 years which has raised teachers’ confidence in child and adolescent mental health.

·       CAMHS provided services for young people up to 18 years old; there was a transition lead in place to aid with the transition to adult mental health services.

·       Work was ongoing to obtain a more suitable premise for CAMHS in Aberystwyth as Tŷ Helyg was not considered fit for purpose.

·       In instances where CAMHS did not accept a referral, the CYP was signposted/ given advice or referred to a different service.

·       In terms of Welsh language provision which was deemed key, CAMHS were expected to adhere to the Welsh Language Act. Welsh-speaking staff from the service were drafted in to undertake assessments and treatment for CYP when required.

·       Anxiety/Stress had increased significantly since the Covid-19 pandemic and currently, was the highest presenting issue in CYP. A pathway for staff to identify and provide intervention had been developed. 

·       Although there was an eating disorder team in Bridgend, concerns were raised as there was no dedicated tier 4 unit for eating disorders in Wales.

 

The Chairman, on behalf of the Committee, thanked Angela Lodwick for attending and for her valuable contribution. She noted that the discussion had certainly raised questions and highlighted the need for increased support for CYP. It was agreed that a copy of the presentation would be shared with Committee Members in due course.

 

Following questions by the Committee Members, it was agreed to note the information and feedback to Cabinet if required.

Supporting documents: