Decision details

To consider the recommendations within the “Accessing Mental Health Services Before the Point of Crisis” review report attached as Appendix A, and the SCRAIP response attached as Appendix B, to the report of the Community, Leisure Services and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee. 

That the “Accessing Mental Health Services Before the Point of Crisis” review report be noted, and that subject to the amendment of the second paragraph of the response to recommendation 1 as set out below, the responses to the recommendations be agreed and actioned as appropriate:

This meeting will develop an action plan focused on developing a prevention and commissioning approach, with current priorities identified as dementia, children (in particular, the need for more timely access to services) and mental health.

Mental health needs of Maidstone residents has been the focus of scrutiny since 2012.  A number of significant changes to the NHS took effect in April 2013 affecting how decisions about NHS services are made and how services are commissioned.  Local Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) were replaced by Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) giving local authorities a more influential role in respect of mental health services.  Local authorities are expected to work more closely with other health care providers to tackle the challenges.

The Community, Leisure Services and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee undertook a number of evidence gathering sessions during 2013-2014.  Witnesses included service users, representatives from West Kent CCG, Kent County Council Public Health, Kent Police, Kent County Council Community Wardens, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Kent and Medway Social Care Partnership Trust, Maidstone Borough Council Community Development Team, Maidstone Mind and Suicide Awareness for Everyone.  The recommendations are a result of the evidence gathered from these meetings.

The review report and recommendations were agreed at the Community, Leisure Services and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 11 March 2014.

The Cabinet could have decided not to respond to the recommendations contained within the “Accessing Mental Health Services Before the Point of Crisis” review report, but was mindful that the recommendations are based on evidence from a wide range of sources and support the Council’s objectives with regard to Maidstone being a decent place to live.