Agenda and minutes

Councillor Derek Levy, Chair, welcomed everyone to the meeting and made introductions.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Birsen Demirel (substituted by Councillor Hass Yusuf), Councillor Chris Dey (substituted by Councillor Jim Steven), and from Councillors Tolga Aramaz and Huseyin Akpinar. Councillor Alev Cazimoglu, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care) sent apologies she was unable to attend this meeting.

Members of the Council are invited to identify any disclosable pecuniary, other pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests relevant to the items on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To agree the minutes of the Health & Adult Social Care Scrutiny Panel meeting held on the 28 July 2021.

The minutes of the meeting of 28 July were agreed with the following corrections:

•  Olivia Clymer represented Healthwatch Enfield.

•  Date of the next meeting should have read 16 September 2021.

•  Noted that the Vice Chair nomination was subject to approval by Council.

To receive a report on NCL Mental Health Services and Community Services Reviews.

RECEIVED the report on the progress of two strategic service reviews, one for community services and one for mental health services, that the North Central London Clinical Commissioning Group (NCL CCG) was running.

NOTED the presentation by Dr Jo Sauvage (NCL CCG Chair), Jo Murfitt (Programme Director for NCL CCG Strategic Reviews of Community and Mental Health Services) and Alex Smith (NCL CCG Director of Transformation).

Feedback, comments and questions were received from Members throughout.

1.    A key priority was addressing historical complexities across the system and differential access to services. Through the Covid-19 pandemic some of the variations and the impact of inequality became even more stark. The need for a more integrated approach to address inequities in community services was clear.

2.    Mental health issues had been more pronounced during the pandemic, and the terms of reference of the review had subsequently been amended. Work had started firstly on community services, but because of the impact on mental health, the reviews were being run in tandem.

3.    It had been important to understand the baseline and system and core offer.

4.    Work had progressed through August into September, with frontline staff, residents, and others involved in workshops regarding what people thought community and mental health services should be everywhere. The stage had been reached of a proposed core offer iteration, which would be submitted to the Programme Board for sign off at the end of this month. At the same time, each borough had been asked to map the situation in reality. There would be an impact assessment on what this meant for access, finance and resources to achieve greater consistency.

5.    In response to Councillor Georgiou’s queries, it was advised that there was necessarily engagement with professional clinicians, but there was an active process of listening to patients who would be affected, and looking at evidence. There was liaison with all stakeholders at multiple levels, across the boroughs, including a residents’ panel. It was fundamental for the CCG to engage properly and to evidence this.

6.    In response to Clare Duignan’s further queries regarding specific attention for local BAME communities, assurance was given that the difficulties of particular groups accessing services was known and that those concerns would be addressed, especially in the implementation stage.

7.    In response to the Chair’s queries regarding the methodology of the reviews, it was confirmed there was a need to look at both reviews together. It was recognised that there were deficits and variations in both service lines and a need to look in a more confluent way. The financial methodology used was considered the most helpful.

8.    In response to Councillor Hamilton’s query in respect of exclusions in the scope of the review, it was confirmed that learning disabilities referred only to a cohort of funded patients from long stay assessment centres.

9.    In response to Councillor Hamilton’s query about the example quoted about variation in boroughs’ times of acceptance of referrals, it was confirmed that the aim was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To note the dates of future meetings as follows:

·         Thursday 20 January 2022

·         Wednesday 23 March 2022

An additional Health & Adult Social Care Scrutiny Panel meeting to be arranged at a date in November 2021.

The dates of future scheduled meetings were noted, and that the next meeting would be arranged for a suitable date in November.