To receive an update from CLiCC and make comment on Challenge Cards 1 and 2.
Minutes:
New Challenge Card 1: “We feel that younger children receive more support for mental health issues than older young people. Do you agree that as we grow older and have take on more responsibilities, the level of support should also grow? How can you make sure older children in care/care leavers get all the support they need with mental health concerns?”
The Designated Nurse for Looked After Children had responded to this challenge which was read out by the Head of Safeguarding, Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group.
The Children’s Services Manager, DAIVS suggested young people read Making Mental Health Available to Young People issue 8 February 2020 which was very helpful.
The Chairman was concerned about care leavers and 18 plus year olds as their emotional health was completely different from the emotional health support that young people received. Young people needed emotional support what were the Health Services doing about the transition gap.
The Head of Safeguarding, Dorset Clinical Commissioning confirmed this was about improvement they had won funding for and making that transition. This was a national one year project for care leavers and the health services would be reporting the outcome of the project to the Board.
The Interim Executive Director of People – Children asked if Dorset Council staff were involved in the project and that she would welcome a data set relating to CAMHS at the next formal meeting of the Board on 23 April 2020.
Resolved
That Health Services provide a data set relating to CAMHS to the next formal meeting of the Corporate Parenting Board on 23 April 2020.
New Challenge Card 2: “Whilst care leavers get 1 to 1 time with our PA’s, it’s only to go to the Job Centre or to work our finances out etc. What we need is the chance to have 1 to 1 time where we could just go for a walk or a coffee, something like that, to talk about how things are going, as well as time to do the other things that need to be done. How can you make this happen?”
Officers confirmed the restructuring did include more time with young people and the Personal Advisers who were highly motivated group wanted to see care leavers more. They did, however, have a very large caseload (33) so it was a massive job. They had to see care leavers who were in real crisis and unfortunately that meant those who were fine did not get seen very often. It was hoped for the future that a social setting may be arranged with several care leavers but unfortunately it would be hard for PA’s to spend individual time with them. Drop-ins and meetings with care leavers more socially might be a way forward.
One member thought this was an area where caseload management ought to be looked at as some young people would require a higher level of intensity and informal settings could sometimes be the most productive.
Noted
The Corporate Parenting Officer asked for items to be put on the tracker.
One member asked that case loading for PA’s and time spent with young people be put in the tracker.
Resolved
That the Corporate Parenting Officer place case loading for PA’s and time spent with young people on the tracker.
Supporting documents: