Report of the Chief Executive and Director of Operations, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust is enclosed.

The Board considered the report and accompanying presentation of the Chief Executive, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust that provided a progress report on developments in Manchester mental health services following the acquisition of Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust on 1^st January 2017.

The Chief Executive, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust referred to the main points and themes within the presentation which included information and updates on the following areas of activity: -

•      Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT);

•      Reducing Out of Area Placements for Adult Acute Patients;

•      Developing an Enhanced Community Mental Health Model;

•      Mental Health Liaison in Acute Hospitals;

•      Provision of a dedicated Section 136 Suite;

•      Rehabilitation Pathway and Housing and Mental Health Strategy;

•      Community Engagement and Manchester Wellbeing Fund;

•      Improving our environments;

•      Integrating with Manchester Local Care Organisation;

•      Greater Manchester Transformation Programme; and

•      Update on CQC Well Led Inspection of GMMH – July 2019.

The Chief Executive, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust reported that the Trust employed the highest number of apprentices in the UK and the Trust was recognised as Living Wage Foundation Employer. He stated that this was important to assist in the recruitment and retention of the best workforce to deliver services for the benefit of Manchester citizens. He further commented that the Trust had recently commissioned a dedicated student mental health service; was delivering mental health services for a Housing First project, delivered by a local housing provider to support 400 homeless people; delivering a mental health and criminal justice service and that the substance misuse service had been extended across the city. 

The Board welcomed the reported improvements and noted that both areas of challenge and improvement had been identified. In particular, the Board welcomed the work undertaken to address the number of out of area placements for patients requiring care. 

In response to a question from a Member the Director of Operation, GMMH stated that individuals could self-refer for treatment, however the waiting time for face to face advice was approximately 6 weeks for an IAPTS appointment.

The Chief Executive, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust acknowledged a comment from a Board Member by advising that work was underway at a Greater Manchester level to improve the transition from CAMHS (Child and adolescent mental health services) to Adult Services. The Director of Operation, GMMH also commented that opportunities did exist to work with families and deliver targeted preventative work.

The Chief Executive, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust welcomed the suggestion to work closely with Partners to continue to address out of area placements and delayed transfer of care cases. He further acknowledged a comment regarding sustainability of community projects and commented that opportunities to use the Manchester Wellbeing Fund to achieve this were being explored, and he provided an example of where this Fund had been used to then attract alternative sources of funding to support projects long term.  

Decision

To note the report and welcome the progress reported.