Agenda item
Scrutiny Challenge Session - Mental Health and Housing
To receive an oral report and presentation. |
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Minutes:
Sarah Barr, Senior Strategy Policy and Performance Officer, gave a detailed Powerpoint presentation outlining the rationale, scope and key questions for the Challenge Session (CS) and summarising its main discussion points, key findings and recommendations. The slides were also Tabled, a copy of which will be interleaved with the minutes.
A discussion followed which focused on the following points:-
· Consideration that:-
ØThe finding and recommendation relating to the need for Mental Health (MH) training for Housing Options staff should be extended to include training on housing for health practitioners. A multi-agency approach would be beneficial in obtaining information about individuals as they would engage more positively with those professionals who they knew and trusted. However this would be resource intensive.
ØMembers were supportive of a move away from a 3 stage to a 2 stage process, so long as there is greater transparency for residents.
· Concern that the needs of prison leavers with MH issues were not met/ captured within the current system of support provided by the council or the voluntary sector.
· The health prioritisation form was focused on questions regarding physical functioning and interaction with physical environment. There was now a need to progress the revision of the form to enable people to articulate any mental health problems and link MH to housing need, in order to ensure more information was obtained to inform decision making on health prioritisation;
· Consideration that:
ØEqualities monitoring data was required in relation to the applicants completing the health prioritisation form and those obtaining health prioritisation for housing, to determine if MH factors were exacerbated by cultural barriers.
ØThere are links between MH problems and overcrowding and it was an inadequate approach to rely on priority status gained by being overcrowded to address this. More thought was needed on how to support those with a previous or existing MH condition caused by housing.There was a need to maintain a spotlight on this issue and consolidate progress to date, and therefore the recommendations should build in a future review of progress.
ØThe Chair suggested that the Council could issue a statement onMH and housing and what was needed to demonstrate a MH condition that would result in prioritisation for housing. The issues were complex, and could not be ignored given the level of overcrowding in Tower Hamlets. The Committee could consider doing a full scrutiny review on this issue in 2013/14.
ØThose with the most severe MH were supported by the current system eg dedicated accommodation and supported living arrangements, but a significant number of people with more subtle MH conditions were not, and supporting cases were cited. There may be insufficient housing stock to allow them to move, but if they were supported to articulate their needs and listened to this would be positive. Consideration that anyone receiving Disability Living Allowance should be prioritised for housing. Also perhaps a specialism was needed to support the tranche of people with more subtle MH conditions.
ØThe third recommendation bullet should be strengthened by reference to depression and revised to “link mental health including depression to housing need”.
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The Chair the Moved and it was:-
Resolved
1. That the update on the Mental Health and Housing Challenge Session be noted; and
2. That, subject to (a) below, the report and interim recommendations arising from the Challenge Session be endorsed.
(a) That Officers take account of OSC member comments/ suggestions to strengthen the report and interim recommendations.
Action by:
Sarah Barr (Senior SPP Officer)