To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 9 October 2024.

Decision

To approve the minutes of the Health Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 9 October 2024 as a correct record.

Report of the Director of Public Health

This report provides the Committee with an overview of key programme areas delivered by the commissioned provider of the integrated drug and alcohol community treatment service, ‘Change, Grow, Live (CGL) Manchester’.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Public Health that provided an overview of key programme areas delivered by the commissioned provider of the integrated drug and alcohol community treatment service, ‘Change, Grow, Live (CGL) Manchester’.

Key points and themes in the report included:

·       Providing an introduction and background;

·       Noting that local authorities were responsible for the commissioning of substance misuse services;

·       CGL Manchester are the commissioned provider who delivered the integrated drug and alcohol service in Manchester;

·       An overview of the key additional activity CGL Manchester had been commissioned to deliver and other investment opportunities, as well hearing about the impact of this activity and the voice of those with lived experience;

·       Key programme areas were:

-        Rough Sleeper Drug and Alcohol Treatment Grant (RSDATG)

-        Supplementary Substance Misuse Treatment and Recovery Grant (SSMTRG)

§  System Co-ordination - Bringing Services Together

§  Increased integration and improved care pathways between criminal justice settings and drug treatment

§  Enhanced Recovery Support

-        Supplementary Substance Misuse Treatment and Recovery: Housing Support Grant (SSMTRG: HSG)

-        Individual Placement Support (IPS)

-        Dependency and Recovery (D&R)

·       Engagement and involvement, noting that the experiences, opinions and needs of our communities shaped the service model, delivery and strategic direction;

·       Consdieration of opportunities, risks and challenges;

·       Case studies across a range of activities, and

·       Conclusion.

The Committee heard from Josie Starling and Sean Chaplin who spoke of their individual lived experiences. They described their respective reasons and circumstances that had culminated in them accessing CGL services; their experience of treatment and support; and the positive outcomes achieved. The Committee also received a performance in the form of a song from Cody Kirk, an individual who had attended recovery group activities organised by SHINE. 

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were:

·       Thanking the invited guests for attending the meeting and sharing their powerful life stories;

·       Acknowledging the important work delivered by CGL and SHINE;

·       Welcoming and supporting the No. 93 Harpurhey Wellbeing Centre provision;

·       Calling for regulation of the alcohol industry, especially the proliferation of 24/7 access to online alcohol delivery services, noting that this undermined the positive work to address alcohol harm;

·       Calling for an end to the prominent promotion of alcohol in supermarkets;

·       Supporting a call for prominent health warnings to be included on alcohol labels;

·       The need to address the stigma associated with alcohol and/or drug consumption so as to facilitate conversations and access to treatment and support;

·       Calling for appropriate levels of long-term funding arrangements to support and expand the positive work described throughout the report;

·       Recognising the importance of preventative work and interventions, particularly low-level mental health intervention and support to prevent situations spiralling into crisis;

·       The importance of individuals accessing appropriate support and treatment in a timely manner;

·       How could people access support offered by CGL;

·       What was being done to engage with hard-to-reach communities;

·       What impact was the improved care pathways between criminal justice settings and drug treatment having;

·       Were citizens with lived  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.

Report of the Direcotor of Public Health

This report provides an update on suicide prevention work in Manchester.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Public Health that provided an update on suicide prevention work in Manchester since the last update to the Committee in 2021.

Key points and themes in the report included:

·       Providing an introduction and background;

·       A summary of key data relating to suicide rates and risks;

·       An overview of national and Greater Manchester suicide prevention plans and activity, including examples of good practice case studies; and

·       An update on delivery of Manchester’s suicide prevention plan including potential areas of focus for inclusion in a refreshed plan for 2025 onwards.

The Committee heard from Charles Kwaku-Odoi, Chief Executive, Caribbean & African Health Network and Chris Jacob, Head of Service, 42nd Street who provided an overview of their respective organisations and services.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were:

·       The need to remove the stigma associated with suicide and encourage people to talk openly about this topic;

·       Paying tribute to the Deputy Leader for her leadership on this issue in her capacity as Chair of the Greater Manchester Suicide Prevention Programme Steering Group;

·       Would the Mental Health Bill that was currently making its way through Parliament support the work described;

·       Was there any formal monitoring or tracking of suicide rates amongst young people once discharged from mental health services; 

·       The need to recognise the impact of global events, such as war and climate change on people’s mental health;

·       Was information shared between appropriate agencies and services, particularly those relating to young people and their mental health; and

·       The need for appropriate bereavement support for those parents and families affected by suicide.

The Director of Public Heath stated that she welcomed the Mental Health Act Bill as this provided a legal framework, however called for corresponding funding levels as there was an ongoing increase in demand for mental health services across the complete care pathway from prevention work to acute care. She further called for a parity of esteem between funding for physical health and mental health services as it was understood that people experiencing mental health problems had worse health outcomes.

The Chief Executive, Caribbean & African Health Network noted the above comments and added that consideration had to be given as to the workforce and to ensure that services and provisions were culturally appropriate as this would contribute and support the wider work in Manchester to address health inequalities. He further discussed the work that had been delivered to engage with specific communities on the issue of suicide and wider mental health issues. He said that webinars had been arranged at convenient times (including weekends) where such topics, including bereavement could be discussed openly with a view to raise awareness and address the stigma that was often associated with this subject area. He said this approach supported the City of Sanctuary stated ambition to be a welcoming place for refugees and asylum seekers.

The Head of Service, 42nd Street said that anyone could refer to their  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

Report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit

This monthly report includes the recommendations monitor, relevant key decisions, the Committee’s work programme and items for information. The report also contains additional information including details of those organisations that have been inspected by the Care Quality Commission.

The report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit which contained key decisions within the Committee’s remit and responses to previous recommendations was submitted for comment. Members were also invited to agree the Committee’s future work programme.

Decision

The Committee notes the report and agrees the work programme.