Agenda item

Having considered referrals by the Children and Young People Select

Committee and the Overview & Scrutiny Business Panel and a presentation

by the Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, the Mayor agreed;

(1) to note the referrals from the CYP Select Committee and Overview &

Scrutiny Business Panel;

(2) to note that when in February 2017 the Council’s funding of CAMHS was

agreed in the context of the overall savings required to balance the Council’s

budget it was also agreed to monitor progress on those savings in the light of

concerns about the negative impact of them and that such review should

enable such negative impacts to be mitigated;

(3) to note that since 2010 Central Government has reduced its support to

local government but maintained levels of funding for NHS services overall

while failing to fund inflation and demand changes for both sectors;

(4) to note that the decision was taken in the context of a Redesign of

Lewisham CAMHS involving substantial changes and investment by both the

CCG and Lewisham Council;

(5) to note that Mayor & Cabinet has not as yet considered a review of the

implementation of the changes agreed in 2016;

(6) to note that concern has been expressed by service providers that the

further demand changes have occurred since February 2016 which are

negating the assurances given at that time about the future capacity of the

service to meet the needs of its users;

(7) Require the implementation of the savings for the financial years 2018-19

and 2019-20, which were part of the decision in February 2016, to be halted

and a report to be brought to M&C addressing the following matters:-

a. The impact of the saving already made on levels of service and in particular

waiting lists.

b. Overall changes in funding for CAMHS with particular regard to the delivery

of the additional funding referred to in the report in 2017 by both LBL and the

CCG.

c. Demand changes in Child and Young People’s mental health.

d. Any changes to Government Policy since February 2017 in relation to Child

and Young People’s mental health services.

e. The potential for reducing back office costs within CAMHS to enable direct

services to users to be protected.

f. Alternative savings within the Children and Young Peoples budget

equivalent to those currently planned for CAMHS in 2018-19 and 2019-20.

(8) To inform Lewisham CCG of this decision and request that any planned

reduction in the CAMHS budget from the CCG also be halted pending the

consideration of the report outlined above.

The Mayor reported the Chair of the Children and Young People Select

Committee, Councillor Sorba, was unable to attend but had spoken to him

regarding the referral from his Select Committee. Councillor Hall addressed

the Mayor confirming the Business Panel’s support for the views expressed

by the Select Committee. In considering the referrals the Mayor recalled that

in 2017 he had agreed to monitor progress because of the concerns which

had been expressed and he therefore agreed to adopt the course of action shown in the resolution below.

Having considered referrals by the Children and Young People Select

Committee and the Overview & Scrutiny Business Panel and a presentation

by the Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, the Mayor, from the options available to him:

RESOLVED:

(1) to note the referrals from the CYP Select Committee and Overview &

Scrutiny Business Panel;

(2) to note that when in February 2017 the Council’s funding of CAMHS was

agreed in the context of the overall savings required to balance the Council’s

budget it was also agreed to monitor progress on those savings in the light of

concerns about the negative impact of them and that such review should

enable such negative impacts to be mitigated;

(3) to note that since 2010 Central Government has reduced its support to

local government but maintained levels of funding for NHS services overall

while failing to fund inflation and demand changes for both sectors;

(4) to note that the decision was taken in the context of a Redesign of

Lewisham CAMHS involving substantial changes and investment by both the

CCG and Lewisham Council;

(5) to note that Mayor & Cabinet has not as yet considered a review of the

implementation of the changes agreed in 2016;

(6) to note that concern has been expressed by service providers that the

further demand changes have occurred since February 2016 which are

negating the assurances given at that time about the future capacity of the

service to meet the needs of its users;

(7) Require the implementation of the savings for the financial years 2018-19

and 2019-20, which were part of the decision in February 2016, to be halted

and a report to be brought to M&C addressing the following matters:-

a. The impact of the saving already made on levels of service and in particular

waiting lists.

b. Overall changes in funding for CAMHS with particular regard to the delivery

of the additional funding referred to in the report in 2017 by both LBL and the

CCG.

c. Demand changes in Child and Young People’s mental health.

d. Any changes to Government Policy since February 2017 in relation to Child

and Young People’s mental health services.

e. The potential for reducing back office costs within CAMHS to enable direct

services to users to be protected.

f. Alternative savings within the Children and Young Peoples budget

equivalent to those currently planned for CAMHS in 2018-19 and 2019-20.

(8) To inform Lewisham CCG of this decision and request that any planned

reduction in the CAMHS budget from the CCG also be halted pending the

consideration of the report outlined above.