Agenda item

To enable Cabinet to give consideration to recommendations made to it by the Community Leadership and Partnerships Committee in respect of the above.

RESOLVED that the comments of the Portfolio Holder be noted and the actions identified be undertaken.

Cabinet was made aware that, at the meeting of the Community Leadership and Partnerships Committee held on 8 January 2018, that Committee had received a presentation on the Mental Health Hub from Chris Bird (Treasurer - Citizens Advice Tendring), Melanie Hammond (Operations Director - Citizens Advice Tendring) and Clare Munday (Manager - Tendring Mental Health Hub). The presentation had included information on the following:

(1) Clients with mental health problems;

(2) Help provided and interventions;

(3) Benefit sanctions;

(4) Mental Health Hub functions;

(5) Client journeys;

(6) Case study;

(7) Statistics;

(8) Solving practical problems saves money;

(9) Achievements 2017/18; and

(10) Next steps.

Following on from that presentation Members had been given the opportunity to ask questions. The Chairman of the Committee had then thanked Chris Bird, Melanie Hammond and Clare Munday for the information that they had provided and also for all of their hard work.

Following discussion, it had been agreed by the Community Leadership and Partnerships Committee that it be recommended to Cabinet that Cabinet should -

(a)     make contact with the Mental Health Trust in order to establish if they would consider being partners in this successful scheme;

(b)     investigate whether as a partnership, access to Leisure Centres could be offered to those suffering from mental health problems in the District; and

(c)     investigate if any help or intervention for those with mental health issues is offered by the Council’s Housing Section to those who are affected by benefit sanctions and are threatened with homelessness. 

Cabinet had before it the following comments made in response thereto by the Health and Education Portfolio Holder –

“In response to a) Officers have recently met with representatives from the Essex Partnership University Trust which provides the over 18 mental health service in Essex. Following on from that meeting, representatives from the Trust will be attending a future Community Safety Partnership Networking Meeting and this will provide an opportunity to consider how the Trust can further engage in partner activities being provided across Tendring including the Mental health Hub.

In response to b) some people with mental health issues are already referred to our Leisure facilities by their GPs though the Exercise Referral Scheme. Officers can explore with other agencies whether it would be possible to expand the routes by which such users are referred.

In response to c) a person who is vulnerable as a consequence of mental illness could be owed a duty of care with accommodation if they are homeless. Vulnerable in a homelessness context refers to the person’s ability to cope with a homelessness situation. Not everyone with a mental illness will meet the vulnerability criteria as set out in legislation and case-law. In deciding if someone is vulnerable as a result of mental illness, the Council seeks independent medical advice from a psychiatrist before making a decision. Mental illness is a “protected characteristic” under the Equality Act 2010 so the Council must have regard to this legislation when making decisions.  If a person has accommodation but claims their mental health is suffering as a consequence of their living conditions, this is something that can be taken into account if they are on the housing register.  The Council is also obliged under legislation to take account of any disability or vulnerability, including mental health, when undertaking any housing enforcement action.”

Having considered the Community Leadership and Partnerships Committee’s recommendation and comment:

It was moved by Councillor McWilliams, seconded by Councillor Nicholls and –

RESOLVED that the comments of the Portfolio Holder be noted and the actions identified be undertaken.