Archived decisions

Contact: Gill O'Leary, Strategic Service Manager Mental Health
02392 471644 [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The use of Mental Health Supported Capital Expenditure (SCE) will allow the County Council to meet capital costs of its responsibilities under the Mental Health National Service Framework and to implement the recommendations of the Mental Health Social Exclusion Unit Report 2004. The following decisions are sought:

1. That the County Council increase its capital programme cash limit for 2004/05 by £345,000 in respect of Mental Health Supported Capital Expenditure (Revenue)

2. That approval be given to fund £94,000 from Mental Health SCE(R) for a Mental Health Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team in Winchester

3. That approval be given to fund £158,000 from Mental Health SCE (R ) for the implementation of the SWIFT information system in mental health teams

4. That agreement be given, in principle, to the use of the powers under Section 28BB NHS Act 1997 where this would promote the cost effective and efficient use of funds

2. Reason

This decision supports Aims 1, 4, and 5 of the Corporate Strategy , Maximising life opportunities, Building strong and safe communities, and Improving services, by enabling capital projects within mental health services, agreed in conjunction with statutory and voluntary sector partners (See Appendix )

3. Other Options considered and rejected

All bids eligible for funding within the terms of the circular LAC(2004)10 were approved or recommended for Member approval.

4. Conflicts of Interest declared by the decision maker or other Executive member consulted
None

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee
None

6. Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent
Not applicable

Approved by: Date: 15 September 2004

Councillor T.K. Thornber, CBE

Contact: Gill O'Leary, Strategic Service Manager Mental Health
02392 471644 [email protected]

1. Introduction

1.1 The aim of this report is to seek Member approval to increase the County Council's capital programme cash limit by £345,000 in respect of Mental Health supported Capital Expenditure (Revenue). It also seeks approval to deploy the capital for a scheme to implement the Social Services SWIFT IT system in mental health teams, as a contribution to a further scheme to establish a crisis resolution and home treatment team, and for approval to pool the funding where appropriate with NHS partners through a partnership agreement under Section 28BB NHS Act 1977.

1.2 Mental Health Supported Capital Expenditure (Revenue) (MHSCE( R)) is awarded to councils with social services responsibilities in order to fund capital developments for services for people with mental health problems. This year, as well as supporting the general aims of the Mental Health National Service Framework, projects will assist implementation of the recommendations of the Mental Health Social Exclusion Unit (SEU) Report (June 2004). The SEU recommendations are described further in 2.1 below.

1.3 Under the new Prudential borrowing regime, SCE(R) provides the County Council with Government grant support to cover the cost of borrowing incurred in financing the proposed capital expenditure. The Department of Health has also decided that SCE(R ) is not time limited. Finally, Councils with a Comprehensive Performance Assessment of Excellent can use the allocation for any purpose and are not restricted to using it exclusively to implement the Social Exclusion Unit's report.

2. Eligibility criteria for the use of MHSCE (R)

2.1 The Department of Health circular LAC(2004)10 provides guidance on the use of this funding. Opportunities to reduce the social exclusion of people with mental health problems can, for example, be achieved by

2.1.1 Advice and services related to accessing and retaining employment

2.1.2 Advice and support to enable participation in education, housing, arts, sport, leisure, community engagement, and building capacity in mainstream agencies to support this

2.1.3 Reconfiguring day services to access mainstream and supported employment opportunities

2.1.4 Access to services for key groups e.g. young people in transition, homeless people and people from black minority ethnic groups.

2.1 As the Council has Excellent status proposals for funding are recommended for capital projects to support other NSF priorities e.g. accommodation for new specialist mental health teams and IT related developments.

2.2 Proposals had to be developed and submitted by multi agency Local Implementation Teams taking user and carer interests into account. PCTs have a responsibility for the revenue consequences of new capital schemes. The County Council also decided that priority would be given to proposals where there was an explicit commitment from PCTs to fund the social care component of new service developments (e.g. Approved Social Worker posts).

3 Proposals for the use of MHSCE( R ) by the County Council

3.1 Two schemes require specific Member approval as their proposed cost is over £50,000.The largest single proposal, for £158,000, is to roll out the use of the Social Services SWIFT IT system to mental health teams and interface with NHS systems.. Additional costs have been incurred by the County Council due to the end of the Pan Hampshire Adult Mental Health Information System (PHAMHIS) development and the introduction by the NHS of the National programme for IT. Social Services needs to implement SWIFT in mental health bases in order to meet minimum statutory requirements.

3.2 A further proposal, for £94,000, is for the adaptation of NHS office accommodation in Winchester to provide for a new Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team (CRHT). This service is to be funded with revenue from Mid Hampshire PCT and Eastleigh and Test Valley South PCT, and includes a commitment to fund social care. It will be provided jointly by Hampshire Partnership Trust and Hampshire County Council Social Services under partnership arrangements that are already in place for a jointly managed service. It should be in place by the end of December 2004.

3.3 A full list of all schemes that it is proposed to fund are listed in the Appendix. These schemes are aimed largely at implementing the recommendations of the Social Exclusion Unit Report, providing learning, training and employment opportunities for service users and access to information.

3.4 The proposals support Aims 1, 4 and 5 of the Corporate strategy, maximising life opportunities, building strong and safe communities, and improving services. They do this through projects intended to provide access to employment, vocational and leisure services to people with mental health problems, and through the provision of support to people at risk of harm to themselves, and occasionally to other people.

3.5 The proposed decisions support national policy initiatives to tackle discrimination against people with mental health problems, including those from black and minority ethnic groups.

4 Modifications to NHS Facilities

Proposals that involve the use of Council capital funds to modify and enhance NHS facilities such as bases for mental health services require a Partnership Agreement under section 28 BB Health Act 1977 with the owner of the property. These provisions concern the pooling of capital and allow the County Council to retrieve the value of the asset if the partnership ends. Pooling of Council funds is justified as the service will involve social services staff and meets key national priorities for service development.

5 Conclusion

5.1 The use of MHSCE (R ) will allow the County Council to meet its responsibilities under the National Service Framework for Mental Health to work jointly with the NHS and voluntary sector partners, service users and carers to develop services and promote social inclusion. The following decisions are sought:

1. That the County Council increase its capital programme cash limit by £345,000 for 2004/05 in respect of Mental health Supported Capital Expenditure (Revenue) to promote the development of mental health services and social inclusion for service users

2. That approval be given to fund £94,000 from Mental Health SCE(R ) for accommodation for a Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team in Winchester

3. That approval be given to fund £158,000 from Mental Health SCE (R) for the implementation of the SWIFT information system in mental health teams

4. That agreement be given, in principle, to the use of powers under Section 28BB NHS Act 1977 where this would promote the cost effective and efficient use of funds.

Background Papers

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - Background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excluded:

Published works.

Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

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