Be Healthy Outcome Theme Group Meeting

8th July 2008

Present:

Pat McKelvey - Head of Children’s Strategy and Partnerships, PCT, Chair
Tracy Wood - Area Coordinator, TMBC
Bev Connolly - Service Unit Manager - Children with Disabilities
Shelagh Walton - Advisory Teacher, Drug Education, Tameside Healthy Schools
Anne Okwe - TMBC, Children’s Centres

 In attendance:

Lyndsey Whiteside - TMBC, School Sports
Arlene Lomax, TMBC - Youth Service
Geraldine Haughton - Partnership Coordinator, PCT, Minutes

1. Welcome & Introductions

Pat welcomed everyone and introductions were made around the table.

2. Apologies

Adrian Holt
Alan Bailey
Julie Scrymgeour
Debbie Bishop
Judith Grigg
Linda Dunn (for Kathy Powis)

3. Minutes of the last Meeting

The minutes of the meeting held on 20th May 2008 were agreed as a true and correct record with the exception of an alteration to the Smoking Operational Plan Proposal which should read Pat to follow up around smoking support in maternity services – increased number of midwives championing stop smoking.

Tracy advised the group that Lillian Pons, from the Water Adventure centre, is the new voluntary sector rep on the group.

Matters Arising

Turning the Curve in oral health –Subsequent to the event Tracy reported that a communication plan had been developed and that the event would be featured in the local community press (within the next fortnight) across Denton South, Hattersley and Ashton. The feature would include vouchers offering half price toothpaste and toothbrushes, as an incentive (available on a first come first served basis) to promote the fact we sell toothbrushes and toothpaste from local children centres and raising awareness of oral health issues in the area. Uptake will be monitored through postcode monitoring on the redeemed vouchers.

As part of a wider marketing strategy we are hoping engage with the “I love me” campaign (an NHS & Manchester Evening News venture) and are putting some work together to ensure that the public and staff are aware of best practices around oral health and in taking forward ideas parents came up with.

Non-recurrent funding Based on Prevention Strategy – Pat updated the group on the process for allocating Prevention strategy money, explaining that there will be two rounds for bidding against the funds.

Pat reported that detailed bids, or outline sketch indicating interest could be submitted at this time and suggested a very tight pilot (eg. stop smoking in schools) or a project with a very short life e.g. training of staff, development of staff, brining consultant in etc might make it viable within a short timeframe. Pat reported that there are no limits but bids will be scrutinised with a maximum overarching budget and she asked that set up costs and time were accounted for in any bids. The money cannot be used for capital as the money needs to be used to add value and not used for propping up funding - there are very strict rules around capital.
Action: Geraldine to email Prevention Strategy to Shelagh Walton.

4. Consolidated CAMHS Report Cards for Sign Off and Judgement

Tracy has consolidated the CAMHS report cards previously presented into three cards which have proved really helpful for JAR.

Report card one
Children and Young People have access to an appropriate range of support if they feel troubled. Considers access to more specialised services – evidence shows making really good progress with CAMHS provision.

Judgement: that the data is considered to be heartening – but that in the future the group would expect to see data demonstrating outcomes for children and young people and their families.

Report Card Two
Staff working with children and young people are advised and supported in identifying possible mental health problems and in making appropriate referrals. The card includes access to training and 1:1 advices and support and demonstrates the wide range of training available to staff in Tameside.

Judgement: that the data is considered to be heartening, with all the building blocks in place. The group would like to recommend that all training is coordinated through a central point.

Report Card Three
Children and young people with mental health problems and their families have access to integrated assessment, treatment and support services in appropriate settings.

Judgement: that the data is considered heartening, but it is recognised that we are very much at beginning of a long journey to bring together all the offer for tiers 1 and 2 across the agencies in line with the healthy schools agenda and prevention strategy.

Tracy reported that the Report cards will be going on the partnership intranet.

5. Theme for the meeting: 1.6 The Health Needs of Children and Young People with Learning Disabilities and/or Disabilities are Addressed

a)  Clinical provision for children with disabilities – Presented by Bev Connolly

Bev summarised the recent changes to services for children with disabilities and the processes now in place to meet the EDCM and Aiming High agendas. She drew attention to the fact that the integrated service is for children 0-19 rather than just reaching the 0-5s as in the past and that the assessment process had been streamlined and enhanced to better meet the needs of children and their families. Bev reported that currently the majority of referrals are for developmental delay (29%) but that there is a significant percentage of referrals (19%) for children with ASD. Work to develop a comprehensive range of integrated care pathways, divide the integrated team into 2 multi agency teams (one for early support and one for ongoing support) and to progress plans for co-location of staff across the integrated services are on going.

Judgement: That the data be considered heartening in respect to the infrastructure which is now in place for diagnosis and early support for children and young people but it was recognised that we are at the beginning of a long journey and a further report with evidence of the impact of the changes that have been made, the development of care pathways and of the outcomes of children, young people and their families is required early next year.

b)  Transition – This card had not been submitted for presentation. Sheena is working very hard to get this together but had been under a lot of stress with the JAR. It was hoped that this would come back to a future meeting. Bev reported that the multi agency protocol for transition was finished and being presented to the transition group in the coming next weeks – once checked it will then get it published (booklet).

Tracy asked if anyone else present knew of examples of good work in the area of transition. Arlene reported an event last summer in Dovestones (where TOPPS used Dovestones staff as carers). The course supported young people in getting used to Dovestones and resulted in a much better position at start of new academic year.
Action: Aileen to put together a paragraph for the report card.

c)   Participation – Presented by Arlene Lomax

Arlene reported the work of the Youth service and how they had worked with young people to identify what activities they wanted to participate in under the Be Healthy Outcome. Bullying was a major issue to the young people and resulted in the development of an anti bullying campaign with a residential where posters were designed, a buddying scheme in youth club (room in club set aside quiet space) and a presentation at the anti-bullying conference. All youth service work with young people with disabilities involves them in the process to empower them and help to build life skills. A lot of physical activity activities have been promoted recently with a focus on dance – a dance instructor has been engaged and links with sports development made (learning cheerleading). Whenever practicable young people are given certificates that provide evidence of participation for their records of achievement.

Tracy provided some additional information received on Sunday regarding the Jubilee Gardens Saturday club and reported that she would add this to the card presented.

Judgement: That the data on this card be considered heartening in respect to the numbers of young people with disabilities participating, their involvement in choosing and planning the range of activities and the links formed with other partners. However, the group would like to see evidence of feedback from young people in a future report.

d)   Sports Partnership – Presented by Lyndsey Whiteside

Lyndsey reported on just one element of the Sports Partnership’s work, which is essentially the activity of just one team member. The card demonstrated the increase in number of young people with disabilities accessing sport and physical activities and the increase in opportunities for these young people to support them to reach their sporting potential.

Since the community sports coordinator came into post the rates of participation have increased dramatically (this is for physical activity not just sport and includes activities such as orienteering). The service also impacts on other areas of the young people’s lives by supporting development of self-belief, confidence, self-esteem and providing opportunities for development such as access to leadership programmes etc. There are also increasing numbers of young people with disabilities progressing on to represent the region in sport.

Work is currently underway to establish effective marketing strategies to increase awareness of provision and celebrate achievement. Anne Okwei reported work being undertaken by the Children’s Centres and suggested that liaison between parties would provide mutual benefit.

Judgement: The data in this card be considered heartening but the group requested evidence of young people’s views on the activities open to them in a future report. The group also expressed concern about the sustainability of such good work in light of the contract status of the worker.

6. Any Other Business

1. Youth Alcohol Strategy consultation – Tracy informed the group that a number of the members of the YP ASB group (drugs and alcohol) had got together to feed back to Government on this consultation that closed on the 4th July.
2. Review of Theme Groups – Tracy reported that the Area coordinators had called a meeting with the Theme Group chairs to considering a new report card format and structure for the theme groups based on using the national indicators (NIs). This was timely because a) the JAR process is in its last wave so we will not need to report against the judgements set within the APA documentation and b) the new ECM Outcomes framework is out and links the NIs to the Outcome Themes. Further information will be shared once the meeting has taken place

7. Next Meeting

The next meeting is due to be held on 16th September 2008 Millennium House, Denton 14:30–16:30 looking environmental issues that effect children and young people’s health.