Archived decisions

Contact: Graham Collingridge County Manager Mental Health Strategy
01962 847277 [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 £111,721 in respect of Mental Health Supported Capital Expenditure (Revenue). The Department of Health has awarded the County Council this sum in addition to that of £345,000 reported on 15 September 2004. Approval is also sought to pool the funding for a substance misuse office accommodation scheme 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.

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 services promoting the social inclusion of people with mental health problems.

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 priorities e.g. accommodation for new specialist mental health teams and substance misuse practitioners.

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

3.1 The additional allocation has been awarded for integration of day and employment services. As these service developments were regarded as a high priority and are key national targets their funding was given priority by the County Council in the initial allocation of £345,000 SCE(R) and projects to implement these services are underway. It is proposed that the additional sum is allocated for projects to develop housing with support (£40,000), day and employment services (£45,000), and substance misuse services (£21,000).

3.2 The housing scheme involves a proposal to refurbish a property for people with mental health problems. This is part of a modernisation project of residential and housing provision being undertaken by Social Services in partnership with Mid Hampshire PCT and Winchester District Council.

3.3 The day and employment services scheme involves the re-establishment of services in the Winchester and Fareham and Gosport areas following the collapse of the Winchester Alliance for Mental Health in December 2004. Projects have been established with Solent MIND, and in partnership with Mid Hampshire PCT and Fareham and Gosport PCT to commission new services. The capital funding would support the start up costs including refurbishment of premises.

3.4 The substance misuse is for the adaptation of NHS office accommodation in the New Forest, Winchester and Basingstoke to provide for additional substance misuse staff. Social Services staff are accommodated in joint teams at these bases under an integrated management arrangement with Hampshire Partnership Trust. Additional staff have been funded by the Drug Action Team. A recent review of new integrated management arrangements identified improved accommodation as a top priority for the partnership.

3.5 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 by enabling capital projects in mental health and substance misuse services, agreed in conjunction with statutory and voluntary sector partners.

3.6 The schemes promote the social inclusion of people with mental health and substance misuse problems, including those from black and minority ethnic groups. The strategic plans for these services have received a race equality impact assessment.

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 and the National Drugs and Alcohol Strategies 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 capital programme cash limit be increased by £111,721 for 2004/05 in respect of Mental Health Supported Capital Expenditure (Revenue) to promote the development of mental health and substance misuse services.

2 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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