To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Sullivan (Rochdale Borough Council)

Members are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary, personal or personal and prejudicial interests they may have and the nature of those interests relating to items on this agenda and/or indicate if S106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.   

There were no declarations of interests.

To consider the minutes of the meeting of the Joint Scrutiny Committee for Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust held, 15^th October 2019

The Committee considered the minutes of its most recent meeting held 15^th October 2019. In considering the Minutes it was suggested that more Member of the Committee be invited to visit wards at different hospital sites across the Trust’s footprint, beginning with the Aspden and Hope Ward at the Royal Oldham Hospital, further to visits already undertaken by Councillors Dale and Walker, in October 2019.

Resolved:

1.     The Minutes of the meeting of the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee for Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, held 15^th October 2019, be approved as a correct record.

2.     It was agreed that further visits by Members of the Committee to the Aspden and Hope Ward at the Royal Oldham Hospital be arranged by the Clerk to the Committee, in consultation with representatives of Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust.

To consider the Trust’s current financial position

The Committee was updated on Pennine Care’s current financial situation. Presently, based on information currently available, it was projected that there would be a budget deficit by the end of the 2019/20 financial year. However, as reported to the last meeting, it was added that the figures in the report did not account for expected significant financial contributions to be forthcoming from the Department of Health and it was expected that the Trust would have a ‘balanced budget’ by the end of the current financial year.

The Trust had recently introduced a savings programme to help reduce costs whilst the filling of some staffing vacancies was being delayed. It was noted and welcomed by Members of the Committee that by and large the savings proposals were not adversely affecting patient care.

Members sought clarification on a number of issues that were of concern. The Committee was advised that the Trust was a ‘low risk’ in terms of dealing with any adverse issues arising from the country’s upcoming withdrawal from the European Union. The Committee was also advised of the Trust’s recruitment and retention polices, especially in terms of nursing staff, following various promises and pledges that were made during the General Election campaign in November and December 2019.

Resolved:

The report be noted.

To consider progress against items identified as requiring improvement at recent inspections by the Care Quality Commission (CQC)

The Trust’s Deputy Chief Executive reminded the meeting that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) had previously undertaken a ‘Well Led’ inspection of a selection of services provided by the Trust in the period August – October 2018. Some of the services inspected included dentistry, mental health hospital wards (for adults and for older people), PICU, home treatment teams and crisis services and walk-in centres across the Trust’s footprint.

Regular reports on the implementation of the CQC’s improvement plan were presented to the Trust’s Board. The Scrutiny Committee were regularly presented with information which detailed the Trust’s responses to the CQC inspection and the only area of work that was shown as being ‘red’ (issue that were not on course to be successfully implemented) was the ‘Review the patient experience structure and resource’. The Committee was advised of measures being put into place to improve this specific matter, via the recruitment of to a post of ‘Head of Patient Experience’, within their organisation, a process that was expected to be completed in the near future.

A Member referred to a an initiative that was prevalent within Stockport whereby health authorities linked in and worked with GP Practice Champions’, which had proved to be of assistance when dealing with patients that have mental health concerns. A Member also referred to the issue of ‘social prescribing’ and it was agreed that a report on this matter be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee.

Resolved:

1.     That the report be noted.

2.     The Trust be requested to submit a report, to a future meeting of the Committee, regarding the issue of social prescribing, with input from their operational manger with regard to their Community Care Programme.

To consider the Trust’s Workforce and Welfare Strategy including updates on sickness and occupational health

The Trust’s Executive Director (Workforce) gave a presentation to the Committee updating on the Trust’s staff sickness absence rates amongst its workforce.

The main reasons for `days lost’ through sickness were: Stress, Anxiety and Depression; Musculoskeletal problems; and Gastrointestinal problems

The Trust’s Occupational Health service was available to provide support for staff and managers in the management of sickness absence. The Occupational Health service also provided advice and treatment for staff to prevent and manage Musculoskeletal conditions as follows: PhiL – Physio Triage/Advice Service, Musculoskeletal Management Referral; and Musculoskeletal (Treatment). In addition to the Occupational Health service, the Trust has established a range of services for its employees to support the reduction of absence through prevention and health improvement.

The staff wellbeing service was described as being a well-regarded in-house service which offered a range of support to our workforce. The services included counsellors, Cognitive behavioural therapists, Psychological wellbeing practitioners, arts psychotherapists and EMDR (Eye- movement desensitisation therapy for trauma) specialists.

During the course of 2018/19, over 30 staff workshops and courses had been run including: interventions for bereavement, men’s mental health, sleep issues; BAME, LGBTQ, women’s health and the menopause, Mindfulness for chronic pain (including MSK), mindfulness and yoga, Acceptance and

Commitment therapy, team bespoke wellbeing sessions and outreach ward visits. There had also been four (two day) Mental Health First Aid accredited courses which had been delivered to 60 staff. There was training support to managers in staff wellbeing and mental health.

Feedback on the services showed very positive outcomes with 95 per cent of staff saying where appropriate, the support helped them to stay in work or return to work sooner from sick leave.

Prevention was considered to be key, therefore the Trust had specialist training and advice in place on how to minimise harm and injury when control and restraint measures needed to be implemented. Also specialist advice and training in moving and handling was provided and supported by the moving and handling co-ordinator. The Core and Essential Skills Training team also supported procurement of the correct equipment for clinical areas.

The Trust was committed to taking the health and wellbeing of its workforce seriously and recognised the challenges faced, particularly by its front-line staff members, who worked within mental health and learning disability services. The Trust’s Occupational Health and Staff Wellbeing services had been established to address the most common reasons for absence in order to act pro-actively to offer support to staff.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.

To consider the decision made by PCFT Board, in December 2019, regarding Single Sex Accommodation

The Committee was updated on progress towards the introduction of single sex wards at hospitals across the Trust’s footprint. A full and detailed business case thereon had been submitted to the Trust’s Board’s meeting on 19^th December 2019 and this document (Full Business Case: Delivering Single Sex Accommodation) was circulated to Members of the Committee in advance of the meeting.

The Committee was advised that the Trust’s Board meeting had approved the Business case and a multi-agency task group had been established to ensure that the recommendations thereon were carried out. The work of the task group was due to commence in March 2020. The Trust undertook to keep the Committee updated on the work of the task group, at future meetings.

The Committee was asked to note that Single Sex Accommodation was, going forward, to be known as ‘single gender accommodation’.  

Resolved:

That the report be noted.

It is proposed that the next meeting of the Committee be held on, Tuesday, 17^th March 2020 at 2.00pm at the Council Offices, Rochdale

It is proposed that Informal meetings of the Committee be held:

i.                 Tuesday, 18^th February 2020 at 2.00pm at the Trust’s Offices in Ashton-under-Lyne

ii.                Tuesday, 14^th April 2020 at 2.00pm at the Trust’s Offices in Ashton-under-Lyne

Resolved:

It was agreed that the next formal meeting of the Joint Scrutiny Panel for Pennine Care (Mental Health) Trust will be held on Tuesday, 17^th March 2020, starting at 2.00pm at the Council Offices, Rochdale and that informal meetings of the Committee’s membership be held, with representatives of Pennine Care Foundation Trust’s senior management, at the Trust’s head office (225 Old Street, Ashton-under-Lyne) on: Tuesday, 18^th February 2019 and Tuesday, 14^th April 2020: all meetings commencing at 2.00pm.