Agenda item

(To receive a presentation from Sarah Connery, Chief Executive, Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust on Mental Health in Lincolnshire)

The Board received a presentation from Sarah Connery, Chief Executive Officer, Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT) regarding Mental Health in Lincolnshire.

Councillor Mrs S Woolley (Chairman) left the meeting at 3.02 pm.

John Turner (Vice-Chairman) in the Chair

The presentation made reference to: the significant increasing demands across a number of services, these services were highlighted as: the Crisis Services; early intervention in psychosis, perinatal mental health; sexual assault services, children and young people mental health/eating disorders; adult eating disorders and Autism diagnosis.

The presentation also advised of how the service had expanded and transformed to meet demands, with particular reference being made to community mental health.  The Board noted the partnership had been strengthened with primary, secondary and the voluntary sectors with the implementation of community based teams; the embedding of social prescribers and with investment in the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.  Reference was also made to the staff wellbeing hub; and how the system worked in Lincolnshire.

During consideration of the presentation, the Board raised some of the following points:

·       Whether the mental helpline was seeing repeat callers or unique callers.  It was reported that the adult helpline was seeing a significant amount of repeat callers; and from early analysis it had been identified that the service was being used as support for a certain percentage of the population;

·       Vacancy rates for the Trust.  It was noted that the Trust's vacancy rate was significant for both consultants and qualified nurses.  It was noted further that at the moment the Trust had around a 20% vacancy rate for both roles.  It was highlighted that the Trust was trying to be innovative in its approach to recruitment, working with Health Education England for international recruitment and by investing in existing staff to grow their own.  The Trust was also working with the University of Lincoln regarding apprenticeships and nursing qualifications.  It was also highlighted that the Trust was working across the East Midlands area to develop a competency framework. It was also noted that the Trust had found it difficult to recruit staff for in-patient wards; which was a new role with great development opportunities;

·       It was raised that with staff shortages there was a reliance on bank nursing staff and medical staff.  Further information was sought as to how the Trust was addressing the medical staff shortage.  The Board was advised that international recruitment was being followed as a way of increasing the number of consultant staff.  The Trust had also introduced a Development Associate Specialist role in hard to recruit areas; investment had also been made in non-medical prescribers.  The Board was advised that the amount spent on locums was tracked to ensure sustainability and that locums were engaged on longer contracts to help with continuity. It was noted what was trying to be avoided was the onset of a price war;

·       Lack of provision on the east coast of Community Teams.  The Board noted that at the moment there was a pilot site in the Boston area and as resources and recruitment allowed the pilot would be replicated across the County.  Reference was also mentioned to the Dementia Home Treatment Team and that further information would be shared with the Board following an evaluation of the service;

·       Lack of community mental health services in rural areas; and the need to ensure that local people had a local service that they could access.  There was recognition that some services needed to be centralised, and that the whole point of community working was to be working alongside GP's and the voluntary sector to provide a universal service within the community.  Clarity was sought as to when initiatives would be available across the County.  The Board was advised that currently there was access to cafes, community hubs, and the helpline.  It was highlighted that there was a pilot being undertaken in Boston, Lincoln and Gainsborough.  It was noted that the Chief Executive Officer would provide more detailed information regarding mental health services for the Board to consider at a future meeting;  

·       The use of digital.  The Board noted that digital technology was embedded in the organisation; digital access to psychological therapies; and that 95% of interventions were digital; and 

·       The excellent work of voluntary groups with regard to mental health issues.

The Chairman on behalf of the Board extended thanks to the Chief Executive Officer LPFT for her presentation.

RESOLVED

That the presentation on mental health services be received and that further detailed information concerning mental health service provision be presented to a future meeting of the Board.

Councillor Mrs P A Bradwell OBE left the meeting at 3.28pm.