Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Rita Patel, Angela Hillery, Andy Williams, Mandip Rai, Mark Wightman, Tracie Rees, Ruth Lake, Lord Bach and Professor Ochieng.

Members are asked to declare any interests they may have in the business to be discussed at the meeting.

Members were asked to declare any interests they may have in the business to be discussed at the meeting.  No such declarations were received.

The Chair welcomed everyone present and thanked all partners for their contributions in the supporting papers to this meeting.

Members of the Board received a presentation on Mental Health and Emotional Resilience issues arising from Covid 19.

Gordon King, Director of Adult Mental Health (LPT) and Paula Vaughan (CCG) introduced themselves and led the presentation and ensuing discussions which were focused around: what the impact of Covid had been on Mental Health of people in Leicester; how Covid driven innovations had made a difference; ensuring innovations and service improvements were working together to have maximum impact on Leicester’s communities;  and how to support the development of community based Mental Health services that meet the needs of neighbourhoods and people across Leicester.

It was commented that Mental Health services had never faced quite so many challenges as were now being presented in light of the Covid 19 impact and it was noted that system partners had taken time to look at the impact of Covid 19 upon the Mental Health of people and todays purpose was to consider that and feedback further thoughts.

Attention was drawn to key points of feedback from system partners which included:

LPT

·         An increased acuity in those coming forward being more poorly than before with a definite increase in numbers and demand for services and a notable increase in those who were not previously known to services.

·         Covid had brought about challenges such as face to face services and to the practicalities of managing in-patients i.e. Bradgate Unit

Police

·         There was some indication of a correlation between increasing numbers of missing persons and Covid

OPCC

·         Noticed an increase in child sex abuse and abuse relating to internet usage

UHL

·         Increase in number of people presenting to A&E with mental health issues as well as increase in people not previously known to mental health services

Universities

·         Increase in last few weeks of young people returning to Leicester as students, and seeing an increase on demand for welfare and support services particularly focused on the Hardship Fund and tying in with the economic impacts of Covid

All partners also agreed that Covid has had a significant impact on all staff groups who were their greatest asset but who were also under challenge of Covid with such things as children being at home, isolation and caring for others.

On a positive point, organisations had seen a reduction in overall sickness absence amongst staff and flexible working arrangements and remote working had been positive in allowing people the flexibility to balance their lives better.

The Board discussed the impact of Covid on Mental Health in Leicester’s communities which in summary included the following points:

·         Raising the concept of investment funding for Mental Health and keeping communities well. System partners were in an adjacent position around funding as it was expected the wider public finances would be under pressure moving forward and there was increased uncertainty about future funding.

·         Children, Young People and Parents, although the Board was more focused  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

To be confirmed.

The Chair commented that this had been a very useful meeting focused purely on mental health issues and the conversation about mental health would be continued at the next meeting.

Board members suggested items for inclusion at future meetings as follows:

·         Focus and review of “strategy” at the next meeting.

·         Explore Primary Care Networks in more detail.

·         Consider the effects of Covid and mental health impacts/needs of new parents, parents of school age children, people with learning difficulties and carers.

·         Consider long term plans for Ageing Well and supporting people living with frailty.

·         Consider the digital divide to those accessing services.

·         A discussion on PLACE.

·         Return to Health Inequalities e.g. diverse effects of culture and society on mental health.

The Chair concluded the series of issues to be picked up at the next and future meetings and hoped that those would be reflected in the reviewed strategy.

The Chair thanked everyone for their contributions to today’s meeting.

The Board noted that future meetings of the Board would be held on dates to be scheduled.

The Chair to invite questions from members of the public.

None received.

None.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 11.58am.