Agenda and minutes

1.1  An apology for absence was received from Cllr Oguzkanli

2.1  There was none.

3.1  Cllr Samatar stated that she was employed as a Wellbeing Network Co-ordinator for Mind City, Hackney and Waltham Forest.

4.1  The Chair stated that in September the Commission had discussed the plans for a major redesign and re-tender of the Wellbeing Network and they looked at the draft specification for it. CHWF Mind had been given the contract as the co-ordinating provider and Members had agreed to have them and the commissioner back to discuss progress.

4.2  He welcomed for the item:

Jennifer Millmore (JM), Senior Public Health Specialist, LBH

Andrew Trathen (AT), Consultant in Public Health, LBH

Vanessa Morris (VM), CEO, Mind in the City, Hackney and Waltham Forest

4.3  Members gave consideration to the update report and JM and VM took Members through the report in detail. It covered: target population and support provided; the new service; strengths retained from the original service and key changes for the new service.

4.4  It was noted that the new service would prioritise a holistic and person centred approach also focusing on those with complex mental health needs.  It would continue to be called the Wellbeing Network.  Innovations would include that  7 of the partners will run an integrated team which will also support people with cost of living crisis, employment and vocational support and training as well as peer support on employment. She explained the Mind Forward model, for single session therapy which would support people to address issues as quickly as possible. There would be greater use of safe spaces and supporting VCS partners to provide mental health interventions and supporting people using open-access sessions.

4.5  Members asked questions and the following was noted:

(a) The Chair asked under what circumstances would a GP refer to Wellbeing Network rather than to IAPT and how has the contract been redesigned to support the higher level of need that was identified. VM explained that shared care was a critical element in working with GPs and social prescribers to understand where needs are best served. Some clients could come for an initial period of stabilisation before they accessed IAPT. She added that three of the providers are also IAPT providers themselves and they have very good relations with them all. Being able to navigate the correct support as quickly as possible was vital and their partnership manager for the Network would have regular engagement with other teams in the community and so should be able to resolve issues about pathway ambiguity quickly.

(b) The Chair asked if there was a hierarchy of provision. VM explained the three levels of referral criteria. One related to complexity of need, another on “moderate or severe clinical depression” which included some focus on personality disorder and there was a focus on those who might not be able to access primary care interventions because of life circumstances. The third category focused on health inequalities. JM added that they were working with NHS partners on a ‘no wrong door’ approach so that clients can be referred as smoothly as possible.

(c) The Chair asked how the service would support those with a much more complex need but  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.1  The Chair stated that budget pressures in Adult Services were an ongoing challenge and in the Commission's previous discussions the issue of how we might better future proof our housing to meet future adult social care needs had been raised. He added that the intention was in no way to be critical as to why this hadn’t been done before but rather focus on whether it might be achievable in the future and whether it stacked-up financially or on the context of current priorities. A key question would be, for example, how many of those currently in nursing and residential care who are out of borough could be dealt with in another setting or service context in the borough. There would be 3 presentations, one verbal.

5.2  He welcomed for the item:

Georgina Diba (GD) Director - Adult Social Care and Operations

TerryannEbanks Thelwell (TE), Head of Provided Services

Helen Woodland (HW), Group Director, Adults, Health and Integration

Stephen Haynes (SH), Strategic Director, Economy, Regeneration and New Homes

James Goddard (JG), Strategic Head - Strategy, Assurance and Private Sector Housing

Chris Pritchard (CP), Director of Strategic Property

5.3  Members gave consideration to 2 presentations:

Adult Social Care and Accommodation: Planning for future need

Housing Regeneration and Delivery

5.4  GD and HW took Members through their presentation which covered: context; Hackney profile 2020-40; ASC reform white paper; the report ‘A place we call home’, local context and vision; what other types of options for ASC clients?; what are the other types of options for other clients with needs?; what do we offer currently?; Placement numbers; what are the benefits; Identifying future need.

5.5  GD explained that it was important to do a thorough needs analysis of the current cohort and which might be in a position to come back into the community. Since the document was written the number receiving ASC support had risen to 3382 and it was rising by the week. ASC was the largest budget with the council but supported 2% of the population. HW cautioned that the aim here was not to build a two tiered system. Currently if they had alternative options they could keep so many more residents within their communities and this was the aim. The Chair commented on projections for bringing care home patients back in borough with extra care options instead, and did some rough calculations of potential savings with the new approach 

5.6  SH and JG took Members through their presentation which covered: Our building programme; our objectives; manifesto targets; new sites; adaptable homes; our commitments; Housing Strategy; key actions.

5.7  SH explained that his department dealt with a lot more than housing regeneration and they also covered employment skills and adult learning as well as strategic housing and private sector housing but also town centre development and economic regeneration and in addition now with culture, libraries and heritage, so they take a holistic look at residents needs and are used to working across departmental boundaries. JG outlined the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.1  Members gave consideration to the draft minutes of the meeting held on 15 March 2023.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meetings held on 15 March be agreed as a correct record and that the matters arising be noted.

7.1  Members noted the updated work programme. The Chair stated that at the next meeting on 13 June there would be items on the Air Quality Action Plan implementation, GP access and some of the local NHS org’s draft Quality Accounts.

RESOLVED:

That the updated work programme be noted.

8.1  There was none.