Archived decisions

Contact: Graham Collingridge
01962 847277 [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The use of Mental Health Supported Capital Expenditure (SCE) will allow the County Council to meet the capital costs of its responsibilities under the Mental Health National Service Framework, and also local priorities described in the Supported Housing Service Plan and proposals for a Local Public Service Agreement 2 Target. The following decisions are sought:

1. That the County Council increase its capital programme cash limit for 2005/06 by £355,000 in respect of Mental Health Supported Capital Expenditure (Revenue).

2. That approval is given for up to £240,000 Mental Health Supported Capital Expenditure (Revenue) to be deployed in a scheme to improve the access of people with care needs to ordinary housing, and £115,000 to support the development of community mental health services.

3. That £235,000 Mental Health Supported Capital Expenditure (Revenue) from 2004/05 is carried forward into the 2005/06 capital programme

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

2.1 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 in mental health and housing services, agreed in conjunction with statutory and voluntary sector partners.

3. Other Options considered and rejected

None

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: 14 July 2005

Councillor T.K. Thornber, CBE

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 £355,000 in respect of Mental Health Supported Capital Expenditure (Revenue). Approval is also sought to pool the funding where appropriate 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.

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

2.1 The Department of Health circular LAC (2005) 12 indicates that the allocation is intended to support the implementation of the Mental Health National Service Framework and the Suicide Prevention Strategy, and in particular the following objectives for people with mental health problems:

2.1.1 Improving access to general community mental health services

2.1.2 Advice and services related to accessing and retaining employment

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

2.1.4 Modernising and reconfiguring day services to provide for improved access to mainstream and supported employment opportunities

2.1.5 Access to services for key groups at particular risk of exclusion e.g. homeless people

2.1.6 Improving access for Black and minority ethnic communities by implementing the action set out in Delivering Race Equality in Mental Health Care 2005.

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

3.1 Social Services proposes to use the majority of the allocation (up to £240,000) to support its objective of increasing the access of people with social care needs to ordinary housing. The overall approach was described in the Supported Housing Service Plan agreed by the Executive Member for Social Care on 24 September 2004. New proposals in the Green Paper on Social Care, `Independence, Well-being and Choice' strengthen the need for a range of housing strategies. The paper outlines a proposal to give people a right to request that they receive the care and support that they need in a non-institutional setting.

3.2 Hampshire County Council and the Hampshire-based district councils are working closely together to improve access to ordinary housing for people with care needs. They have proposed a Local Public Service Agreement (LPSA) 2 target for this purpose, currently being discussed with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Department of Health. Local councils have agreed a target of 120 additional properties over the next three years. A substantial part of this target will be met through increased shared ownership for people with care needs. The MHSCE(R) will be used to support this initiative. In addition, the ODPM will be contributing £2.1million start up costs of which £100,000 will be for the housing scheme. This will allow for set up costs and allow the scheme to be monitored and evaluated.

3.3 The remainder of the allocation (£115,000) will support the development of specialist community mental health services, and will supplement the plans agreed in 2004/05 to develop new Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Teams and modernise day and employment services. Much of this expenditure would improve accommodation for social care staff in joint teams working under a partnership agreement with Hampshire Partnership Trust.

3.4 Executive Member approval is required for schemes over £50,000. There are no additional revenue implications for these schemes. The housing scheme is expected to reduce residential care costs and improve performance targets for people helped to live at home. It will also enable councils to receive reward money for achieving LPSA2 targets.

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.

3.7 Finally, it has recently become clear that the figure of £200,000 MHSCE( R) that Cabinet agreed to carry over from 2004/05 was underestimated by £35,000. Approval is therefore sought to carry over a total of £235,000 MHSCE(R ) into the 2005/06 Capital Programme.

4. Modifications to NHS Facilities

4.1 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, the National Suicide Strategy, Delivering Race Equality in Mental Health Services, and the housing developments outlined in the Green Paper on Social Care. The following decisions are sought:

1. That the County Council increase its capital programme cash limit by £354,000 for 2005/06 in respect of Mental Health Supported Capital Expenditure (Revenue).

2. That approval is given for up to £240,000 Mental Health Supported Capital Expenditure (Revenue) to be deployed in a scheme to improve the access of people with care needs to ordinary housing, and £115,000 to support the development of community mental health services.

3. That £235,000 Mental Health Supported Capital Expenditure (Revenue) from 2004/05 is carried forward into the 2005/06 capital programme

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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