To consider an update on the NHS Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group’s Looked After Children Annual Report for 2014/15.    

The Panel considered a report from the Designated Nurse for Looked After Children, NHS Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (BCCG), which provided an update to the Looked After Children’s Annual Report 2014/15 which was presented to the Panel on 21 September 2015.  The update focused on the commitments made within the Annual Report and provided a summary of the developments to date.

Following an introduction by the Designated Nurse discussion took place regarding the health needs for children and young people and the quality of service available to them.  Particular attention was paid to the provision of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) during which a Member expressed concerns on this issue and sought the perspective of the Designated Nurse.  In response the Designated Nurse explained that all referrals were made through a single point of access and this should enable any referral to be directed to the correct service in CAMHS.

Following further comment the Head of Corporate Parenting indicated that he also shared Members’ concerns.  He stated that concern had been raised at other meetings given that it had been twelve months since the appointment of a new provider for CAMHS and there had been only limited changes in service provision.  A Member commented on the need for challenge given the lack of progress.   The Director of Social Care, Health and Housing advised the meeting that there would be a focus on mental health and young people at a future meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

The Head of Corporate Parenting stated that social workers and managers were challenging the accuracy of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) scores given the important role they played in the assessment of children.  He indicated that there would be report on this subject to a meeting of the Panel.

A Member referred to the medicals undertaken by Looked After Children and queried what impact these had with regard to their relationship with their peers.  She stressed the need to ensure that the Looked After Children were not made to feel different from other children and suggested a ‘bespoke’ approach to achieve this.

The Head of Corporate Parenting assured the meeting that there were no Looked After Children at risk of harm because of any delay in the provision of mental health services through CAMHS.  He stated that, if necessary, the service would be purchased separately to ensure it was available. 

Arising from a query by the Chairman the Designated Nurse stated that she would report the Panel’s concerns to her Director and the BCCG.  She also explained that all assessments were carried out at school and Looked After Children were not taken out and made to feel or appear different. 

Members expressed some concern that the BCCG had failed to understand the Panel’s frustration and that the report before them lacked information.  In reply the Designated Nurse explained that the data they requested was not yet available in a refined form.

The question arose of how to gather the views of the foster carers and young persons.  The Designated Nurse stated that she would like to engage with foster carers and it was suggested that the Head of Corporate Parenting facilitate attendance at monthly foster carer meetings.  However, a foster carer referred to the issue of confidentiality.

NOTED

1          the update on the Looked After Children Annual Health Report for 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015;

2          that the Designated Nurse will set out her perspective on the progress made in the provision of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) since the appointment of a new provider in the report of the Head of Corporate Parenting.

RESOLVED

that the Head of Corporate Parenting submit a report on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to the Panel.