Agenda item

Report of Assistant Director Wellbeing and Housing

Purpose of report

To provide options in response to the motion agreed at the 15 July 2024 Council meeting:

“This council resolves to ask the Executive to increase spending on the mental health initiatives currently in place within the Chief Executive’s directorate to be funded by an allocation from the Policy Contingency budget.”

Recommendations

The Executive resolves:

1.1         To endorse an extension to the existing provision within current resourcing levels available through the Physical Activity and Mental Health provision the Wellbeing team currently deliver in schools and for families.

1.2         To agree a fund of £3500 to support research and evidence gathering to assess what the needs are for increased mental health provision for young people in Cherwell, the role of partners and consider the funding routes to secure it.

Resolved

(1)          That an extension to the existing provision within current resourcing levels available through the Physical Activity and Mental Health provision the Wellbeing team currently deliver in schools and for families be endorsed.

(2)          That a fund of £3500 be agreed to support research and evidence gathering to assess what the needs are for increased mental health provision for young people in Cherwell, the role of partners and consider the funding routes to secure it.

The Assistant Director Wellbeing and Housing submitted a report o provide options in response to the motion agreed at the 15 July 2024 Council meeting:

“This council resolves to ask the Executive to increase spending on the mental health initiatives currently in place within the Chief Executive’s directorate to be funded by an allocation from the Policy Contingency budget.”

Councillor Parsons, who had proposed the motion to Council, addressed Executive. Councillor Parsons commented that, having considered the report, she understood why options 1, 2 and 3 were not being recommended. Referring to option 4, Councillor Parsons noted research was important and that this option included an extension to the work currently underway suggesting that as not all children enjoyed or were able to particate in physical activity, could consideration be given to including other activities.

On behalf of Executive, the Chairman thanked Councillor Parsons for bringing her motion to Council and her comments to Executive.

In considering the report, Executive Members indicated their support to Councillor Parsons’ comment for alternatives to physical activity and agreed it was an important issue whilst noting it was a statutory function for the district council and important to work in partnership.

Resolved

(1)            That an extension to the existing provision within current resourcing levels available through the Physical Activity and Mental Health provision the Wellbeing team currently deliver in schools and for families be endorsed.

(2)            That a fund of £3500 be agreed to support research and evidence gathering to assess what the needs are for increased mental health provision for young people in Cherwell, the role of partners and consider the funding routes to secure it.

Reasons

The current Mental Health and Physical Activity programme is delivered by the Youth Activator programme in schools, combining physical activity with mental health themes.

The recommended option 4, increase the Physical Activity and Mental Health provision that the Youth Activators within the Wellbeing team currently deliver and research and stakeholder engagement (funded from the Policy contingency budget), would enable the council to conduct research through stakeholders and residents to better understand the needs around what mental health provision for young people in Cherwell is needed and investment required going forward and provide increased provision for young people and families through the Wellbeing team while the research was being conducted.

Alternative options

Option 1: Children young people Supported Self-Help pilot for 7–11-year-olds attending Primary School Clusters for agreed terms in Banbury, Bicester or Kidlington

Option 2: Children Young People offer for Secondary Schools Banbury, Bicester or Kidlington

Option 3: Combination of Primary School Cluster and Secondary School offer in Banbury, Bicester or Kidlington

Commissioning specialist support as set out in in options 1 – 3 was rejected due to currently not fully understanding what the needs and requirements are for young people around mental health in Cherwell and the investment required.

If the recommended Option 4 is approved, this would allow for an evidence base to be developed that looked at the needs of children ascertain what would be required and be sustainable in the longer term around Mental Health support, partner involvement and the scale of investment required. Option 4 would also provide increased provision for children and families while the research was being conducted.