Report and presentation attached.

The high level objectives for the CAMHS service were to encourage joint commissioning of services and to focus on early intervention and a shared collaborative approach. A tri-borough approach was therefore seeking to align contracts, specifications and timeframes. Core principles of this work were to seek greater integration between health, social care and education and to have greater digital enabling of services.

As regards Havering services, did not attend rates for CAMHS appointments were monitored and people asked why they did not attend. Approximately 7,000 people had been seen in the year today. Waits for treatment were an issue but all service users had been seen within 18 weeks with the majority seen within 12 weeks.

There was now a part-time post within the CAMHS team to provide support and training to Havering schools re mental health. It was also hoped to pilot a similar support programme to GPs. A CAMHS nurse also worked with the Youth Offending Service as it was thought many young people known to the service may have an undiagnosed mental health condition.

Support had also been made available between the ages of 17 and 25 to support continuity of care between CAMHS and adult mental health services. There were four Support, Time and Resilience (STAR) workers to provide practical support to young people such as accompanying them to GP appointments if required. Drop in support sessions were also open to both parents and young people themselves.

Referrals to the CAMHS service were normally made via GPs and the NELFT CAMHS website gave a great deal of information on services available in the ONEL boroughs. All CAMHS teams were now co-located which allowed a more integrated service to be offered. Future developments were hoped to include a group with children with anxiety and a support group for parents. It was also planned to offer more support to young service users at home rather their having to be admitted. The East London consortium was also looking at new models of in-patient care for adolescents.

Around 70% of referrals to CAMHA were currently accepted and other referrals were signposted to alternative support. It was suggested that NELFT officers could meet with representatives of Havering MOND to discuss mental health support that could be offered in schools. The service was currently at its full budget for staff although a bid would be submitted for the recruitment of primary mental health workers. Recruitment to posts covering Havering had proved relatively easy.

Service users would be offered whilst by phone or signposted to other support whilst waiting appointments. Urgent referrals were seen within five days and referrals could also be made to the Young Persons Home Treatment Team. Support was also available on-line and a link could be circulated to the CAMHS website. It was agreed that one or two performance indicators covering areas such as the number of referrals from GPs or the Police or length of waiting times for CAMHS treatment could selected for scrutiny by the Sub-Committee. Parents  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12