To receive any apologies for absence.

Apology for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Dickie Davis, Clive Patrick, Aron Thornley and Mary Whitby.

Members are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary, personal or 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 interest.

To consider the minutes of the Joint Scrutiny Panel for Pennine Care (Mental Health) Trust meeting held on 31^st October 2022.

Resolved – That the minutes of the Joint Scrutiny Panel for Pennine Care

(Mental Health) Trust meeting held on 31st October 2022 be approved as a

correct record.

To consider updates from Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust relating to:

·         Workforce Update

·         Financial Update

·         Estate Management

The Chair welcomed attendees to the meeting, and invited Anthony Hassall, Chief Executive (Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust) to introduce the presentation.

The Chief Executive opened the meeting by explaining that the Christmas period had been extremely busy for Pennine Care and he wished to express his thanks to staff and colleagues for their hard work. The Panel endorsed a bid of thanks to Pennine Care NHS staff.

Workforce Update

The Panel was informed that there continued to be a shortage of highly qualified medical staff and mental health professionals to fill vacant posts, and workforce shortages remained a risk factor.

Members’ attention was drawn to the statistics provided in the presentation that showed that overall the number of new starters exceeded the number of leavers. Work was ongoing to understand staffing challenges and promote retention and investment in training roles and continue support to ‘grow our own’.  The Trust was proud to offer roles to those with ‘lived experience’ including military veterans and those who had left the armed services.

The importance of staff retention was highlight. In addition, it was noted that the initial findings of the staff survey indicated that there had been an improvement to employees’ experience of working for the NHS Trust.

There was some discussion about the reasons for the shortage of highly qualified medical staff.  It was explained that workforce planning throughout the NHS had not been good for a number of years and there were challenges in relation to the supply of staff and the high level of demand.  It was reported that there was a high attrition rate for junior doctors – as significant numbers of newly qualified doctors and mental health nurses were choosing to move abroad to countries such as Canada and New Zealand to earn better salaries. In addition, ‘Brexit’ was a contributing factor that had made it more difficult for European people to work in the U.K and some E.U nationals had returned to their home countries.

It was highlighted that ‘bank’ and ‘agency’ staff were used to fill vacant posts in order to ensure that staff shortages did not impact the delivery and quality of service provided.

In response to a question about engagement with schools to promote medical professions as a career option, the Chief Executive explained that unfortunately the curriculum subjects selected by pupils at aged 13/14 years old could limit pathways into medical careers.  Members were advised that the Trust engaged with schools, and that primary schools across all of the five boroughs (Bury, Oldham, Rochdale Stockport and Tameside) had access to a mental health practitioner.  Health Education England promoted work experience opportunities.  

Financial Update

The Chief Executive reported that the Greater Manchester (GM) Integrated Care System was in a very difficult financial position with a projected deficit of circa £60/£70 million.  All GM authorities had been asked to outline plans for ‘best’, ‘most likely’ and ‘worse case’ and to develop recovery plans.  Pennine Care Foundation Trust had worked to improve  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

To consider the work programme for 2022/2023.

RESOLVED - That updates on the following be provided at the next Joint Scrutiny Panel for Pennine Care (Mental Health Trust) meeting:

·         Finance

·         Staff Survey

·         NHS Planning Guidance