Agenda and minutes

Councillor Calum Watt, Chair of the Community Leadership Scrutiny Committee, opened the meeting with a brief round of introductions and offered a warm welcome to external guest speakers. Apologies for absence were received from Councillor(s) Liz Bushell, Matthew Fido, Dylan Stothard, Aiden Wells and Emily Wood. Councillor(s) Gary Hewson and Clare Smalley were in attendance as substitutes.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 14 November 2023 be confirmed and signed by the Chair as an accurate record.

Councillor Debbie Armiger declared a personal interest with regard to the agenda item titled ‘Crisis and Acute Mental Health Provision in Lincolnshire'.

Reason: She was an employee of Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (LPFT)

Councillor Joshua Wells declared a personal interest with regard to the agenda item titled ‘Crisis and Acute Mental Health Provision in Lincolnshire'.

Reason: His employer worked in partnership with LPFT.

Councillor Rachel Storer wished it be noted that she volunteered at Night Light Cafes.

Councillor Hilton Spratt wished it be noted that his partner worked for the National Health Service (NHS).

Councillor Calum Watt, Chair of the Community Leadership Scrutiny Committee, introduced the topic of discussion which was Crisis and Acute Mental Health Provision in Lincolnshire.

The Committee received a collaborative presentation from guest speakers, Sarah Connery, (CEO, LPFT), Christopher Higgins, (Director of Operations, LPFT) and Simon Colburn (Assistant Director, Health and Environmental Services, City of Lincoln Council). During consideration of the presentation, the following points were noted:

Sarah Connery, CEO – LPFT & Christopher Higgins, Director of Operations – LPFT

·       LPFT worked in services connected with autism and dementia and the Trust offered services countywide

·       Mental Health Helplines were available for both adults and children and young people which offered intervention. If further support was needed, a referral would be made

·       Night Light cafes were provided by a partnership organisation and was an important part of the local support that was available for residents

·       Health Based Places of Safety were available as part of provisions under the Mental Health Act. Specialist facilities were available for individuals detained by the Police

·       Services included Crisis Resolution & Home Treatment Teams for all ages. The largest of four teams was based at Lincoln County Hospital and offered a team of trained professionals that responded to individuals in a crisis situation

·       Teams worked within Accident & Emergency (A&E) at Lincoln County Hospital (LCH), supported individuals on hospital wards and offered advice on the management of a person’s care, treatment and medication.

·       The Mental Health Liaison Service assessed individuals who presented in A&E with a mental health condition

·       A nurse worked within the Police Force Control Room and despatched a professional if needed

·       The Mental Health Urgent Assessment Centre housed the Peter Hodgkinson Centre, a mental health A&E for individual with complex mental health issues, whose physical health was met

·       LCH had acute mental health inpatient wards; Castle and Ellis Ward for adults and Brant Ward for older people

·       Crisis and Acute Mental Health Care future plans included:

o   Reopening of Hartsholme Centre, a male Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). The centre was closed last year due to complex staffing issues that had been resolved. The reopening was planned for Quarter 4 2023/24 and would take place after the water system had been treated

o   LPFT planned to assist in the National Campaign for NHS 111 to provide an option 2 for Mental Health

o   A Crisis Services Review, planned for the summer. It was hoped that a review would offer understanding of the impact of the NHS 111 Option 2 and the ‘Right Care, Right Person’ agenda

o   A review, in collaboration with Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) on the Approved Mental Health Provision (AMPH) Service for Lincolnshire’s residents

o   An additional health-based place of safety in Boston in the form of a Mental Health Urgent Assessment Centre & 136 Suite.

o   Crisis Accommodation for Mental Health was a significant issue as it became difficult to find long-term secure housing that met the needs of individuals with complex needs and offending behaviours

·       Demand for support had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.

Consideration was given to the Committee’s Work Programme. Further to scoping discussions, the Democratic Services Officer confirmed that the focus of the Committee’s upcoming work would include an update on Youth Engagement and further attendance in relation to Sheltering Our Citizens.

It was agreed that an update on Youth Engagement would be brought before the Committee in March 2024. The Democratic Services Officer advised that confirmation of attendance had been requested from Toby Ealden, Artistic Director & CEO - Zest Theatre and Sukhy Johal MBE, Director of the Centre for Culture and Creativity - University of Lincoln.

It was suggested and agreed that the Care of Veterans in Lincoln be brought before the Committee in March 2024. The Chair tasked the Democratic Services Officer with requesting attendance from representatives of The Royal British Legion and The Royal Air Forces Association.

It was agreed that Development Plus and a representative from Lincolnshire County Council be invited to attend Committee in relation to Sheltering Our Citizens. Further to the Chair’s request, the Democratic Services Officer confirmed that the item would be brought before the Committee in June 2024.

Date of Next Meeting: Tuesday 26 March 2024.