Mental Health Citizens’ Panel Meeting - Meeting Minutes
Date / VenueMonday 20th October 2014
2.00 – 4.pm / Sension House,Northwich
Present / Matthew Hyndman (MH), Gus Cairns (GC), Elizabeth Bott (EB), Emma McKenzie, (EM), Angela Knight (AK) Alison Morris (EM), Carol Barton (CB), Richard Berry (RB), Caroline Jones (CJ), Bev Spicer (BS), Chris Lynch (CL), Tony Groom (TG), Helen Edge (HE), Helen Davies (HD), Neil Garbett (NG), Rob Robertson (RR)
Apologies / Julie Sheen, Sandra Lewis
Welcome and Introductions / MH chaired the meeting and gave all the chance to introduce themselves around the table. MH outlined the main purpose of the meeting to look towards a way forward for the group.
Review of Launch events / CL commented that he felt that events had been well received. GC commented that initial events had been good but it was vital that the work continues. Discussed further involvement with West Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Vale Royal CCG. Some difficulties had been identified in Vale Royal. MH outlined some differences in how both CCGs carry out community engagement.
MH explained the comments received by Healthwatch Cheshire West in relation to mental health. We have receiveda number of comments, covering a broad spectrum of issues across the service (this differs from other service areas, such as GP Access). MH summarized the issues featured in the report in terms of categories. TG commented that the events were well attended by both service users and service providers.
MH informed participants that the report written after the Citizens’ Panel launch, along with the report on information collected by Healthwatch Cheshire West as part of Healthwatch England’s special inquiry into unsafe discharge has now been circulated to both CCGs, Cheshire West and Chester Council, and the main service providers (e.g. Countess of Chester NHS Foundation trust). The initial feedback has been positive.
Report - Issues raised (open discussion) / Lead GP – situation explained to the meeting and discussed.
Comments about the Recovery College were discussed. Sandra Lewis from the college had wanted to attend this meeting but due to resources was unavailable.
Explanation of ‘Recovery College’ - Chris Lynch
Comments on issues from report –
CB Transport is an issue particularly from Winsford to Macclesfield difficult.
Information on services available in the voluntary sector not passed from organizations delivering the service.
A number of people expressed some difficulties they had experienced with advertising opportunities in GP surgeries. HW could perhaps take this forward using their contact with these. CL spoke about some of the social prescribing model that work is currently taking place around. CL suggested this might be a piece of work that the Healthwatch Citizens’ Panel would like to get involved in. There was a general consensus in the group that community and voluntary sector provider services could provide support that avoids people needing crisis care later on (they could act as an early intervention). There was a feeling that GPs are risk averse and don't want to refer people to support services where there isn't medical trial information to prove that the intervention works.
Discussion on services that are no longer being provided and limitations on staff due to budget cuts. GC commented on reports from the citizens panel that suggested that support workers are retraining as social workers or community psychiatrist nurses in order to advance career – moving on from support worker posts which are not being replaced. The group felt more support workers post could be created by creating a peer support worker position.
BS updated people on the advocacy service that she is employed by. She informed us that the only people who get advocacy are people on CPA. She also fed back a trend where clients would be moved from CPA to a lower-level support to then being discharged from services more quickly than before. Once people are discharge from services they are left without support. Some support services, such as those within Northwich, are only available to people who are on CPA. People cannot drop in any more.
Update on Mental Health Scrutiny from Enter and View group – plans to extend Enter and View activities to cover mental health services – two preliminary visits planned to Bowmere in November and December.
Questions the group raised
Is a list of Mental Health Lead GPs available for practices across our area?
Is it anyone’s role to map what mental health services are available within the area? Do we have the chance to view that list?
It was also suggested that GP surgeries should provide more information about mental health on their websites.
The group also asked whether they could have shared with it the mental health commissioning priorities from the two CCGs and local authority.
What Next? / MH asked the group to consider how representative it can be in its makeup.Discussed in terms of how representative it is.
RR suggested representation from group should be mainly from people who use a service, or are friends, family members or carers for people who use services. The group largely agreed that this should be the case but didn't want to put a percentage against how many members needed to use services. The group also felt professionals’ input should be minimised; some of the professionals will be able to speak to people who have experience of mental health who wouldn't feel comfortable attending these meetings.
The group felt the meeting venues should be rotated around the Cheshire West and Chester area. This will allow people from different areas to attend. The group also felt that the timing of meeting should be considered, as some people won't be able to make daytime meetings due to work commitments.
Meeting frequency, venues and TOR will be discussed further at the next meeting.
The group had a discussion on the draft terms of reference.
The ideas that were suggested for the group included
- Directing Healthwatch's work around mental health
- Reviewing the comments / information Healthwatch picks up around mental health and using that to identify priority areas
- Working across Cheshire West and Chester to be the critical friend of commissioners, but to also work in partnership where possible
- Provide feedback to consultations run in the Cheshire West and Chester area
- Link with other organisations groups within the area but avoid duplicating any work.
It was decided that MH would prepare a draft TOR and send them out to the group by the end of the week.
The group discussed the meeting frequencies. Because of the geographical distance it was suggested that perhaps meetings could be arranged by email (a virtual group) and if specific task and finish groups were to be set up people could volunteer for those groups.It was also suggested that agendas for meeting are sent out in advance of meeting so that people who can't attend meetings can contribute ahead of the meeting.
The group discussed how rooms are set out for meeting. Some of the participants felt that a formal meeting round the table may be off-putting for some participants, and it may be better to run meetings in small groups in the future.
It was also suggested where possible to try and run meetings close to existing services (perhaps within current services). If this was possible, we may be able to attract people who use those services to attend part of our citizens’ panel meeting, if they feel there is a breakout space available for them after the meeting finishes.
The group agreed the next meeting should take place in early December in central Chester.
Actions
A draft TOR to be sent out to participants within the meeting.
Arrange a meeting in Chester in early December.
AOB / MH shared details of two upcoming events
Scoping out the prospect of an Updated Mental Health Needs Assessment - Wednesday 12th November, 2pm, Cheshire West and Chester HQ. If you would like to attend, contact (see attached email)
Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Clinical Networks "Sharing and Learning event with practical examples in delivering the Crisis Care Concordat" - Wednesday 19th November, 12.15pm to 4.00pm, Bridge Suite, Halton Stadium, WA8 7DZ (see attached poster and registration form).