Meeting documents

Priority area 3: Promote Good Mental Health to Everyone.

Presenters:  Dr J O’Grady, Director of Public Health and Dr S Williamson, Interim Public Health Consultant.

The Chairman welcomed Dr S Williamson, Acting Consultant, Public Health and Ms S Callaghan, Service Director, Education to the meeting.

The Chairman reminded the Board that a different item from the Health and Wellbeing Board Performance Dashboard Analysis report was discussed as a deep dive at each meeting.

Dr Williamson reported that the paper on Priority area 3 - Promote Good Mental Health and Wellbeing for Everyone was the third in the series and provided information and commentary on the 11 indicators.   The Chairman advised that there had been a workshop on mental health last year and stressed it was a key item.

In response to questions from members the following key points were made:

Indicator 43 - Persistent absentees in Secondary school

• In 2016/17, the proportion of secondary school pupils classed as persistent absentees in Bucks was 14.8%. This was statistically significantly higher than the proportion across England at13.1%.
• The profile of the young people with long term absences was being reviewed to ascertain how to encourage children to have better attendance and avoid exclusions.
• It was reported that the data was from 2015-16 and that there had been a marked drop in absenteeism since 2016-17 due to the relevant services working closely together to provide better support, however, the data had not been benchmarked. 
• Also, there had been changes in national policy as the actual rate where a child became defined as persistently absent changed.  Currently, if a child’s attendance rate dropped to below 95% they were perceived to be persistently absent.  Previously, it was 90% which was why the data showed a decline.

Indicator 44 – Primary school fixed period exclusions

• The Education Service was working closely with schools to improve the outcomes.
• The number of fixed term exclusions was improving.
• There were 112 permanent exclusions two years ago; currently there were 59; however, the data in the pack was "lagged" and did not reflect the current position.
• There was a close correlation with the issues in the Special Education Needs (SEN) service.  The extensive SEN improvement plan should start to impact on improved outcomes in terms of attendance and exclusion rates.

Indicator 47 – Adults (aged 18-69) in contact with secondary mental health services who live in stable and appropriate accommodation

• The commentary had been received from Oxford Health and Dr Scully emphasised the importance of stable accommodation for those with mental health issues in Buckinghamshire.  
• There were significant pressures in Buckinghamshire which lead to people remaining in hospital for longer than needed. 
• Ms Quinton mentioned that there was also an issue in Buckinghamshire regarding appropriate accommodation for older people and for those with learning difficulties and there was an opportunity with the growth agenda to plan ahead. 

Indicator 48 - Excess under 75 mortality rate in adults with serious mental illness

Dr S Roberts, Clinical Director of Mental Health, CCGs, advised that, whilst benchmarked favourably with CIPFA peers, people were still dying unnecessarily and after discussion the Chairman recommended that this issue be re-visited at a future meeting to discuss what could be done in Buckinghamshire.

Action:  Ms Khan

Ms Baker advised that she would be working with Healthwatch England on a two year project focussed on mental health.  There was also a Healthwatch Bucks  "Feeling Happy Drawing Competition" open to schools and groups which Ms Baker asked the Board to promote.

RESOVED:  The Board NOTED the analysis in the report.