Agenda item

To consider evidence as the second session of the Board’s inquiry on employment and skills

The Board received a presentation on mental health and employment as part of the evidence for its inquiry on employment and skills

In attendance to address the Board and answer Members’ queries were:

-  Sue Wynne, Chief Officer, Employment and Skills

-  Jane Hopkins, Head of Employment and Skills

The presentation covered the following areas:

·  Background to the identification of mental health and employment as a target area

·  Context to the proposed partnership way forward

·  Levels of mental health, the causes and the associated costs

·  The health/employment divide

·  The development of the proposition to move more long term unemployed residents presenting with mental health issues into recovery and ‘good work’

·  The proposed approach and associated health and employment outcomes

·  The proposed methodology

·  Delivery model

·  Next steps and future work to take forward the proposition

The following issues were raised in discussion:

·  Reference to the pilot currently taking place in Manchester

·  The numbers of employers taking part in initiatives such as ‘two ticks’ and mindful employers

·  Links with the Chamber of Commerce to encourage employers to have a positive approach to mental health

·  The male/female split in numbers of unemployed people with a mental health condition

·  The likelihood of physical ill health being compounded by mental health issues over time

·  The use of sanctions with unemployed people with a mental health condition

·  Confirmation that all Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are signed up to the mental health framework for Leeds, but that the North CCG has the lead role on mental health services

·  Reference to the Our Place and Patient Empowerment Project initiatives in the West of the city

·  The need for early identification of dyslexia in schools so that appropriate support can be provided

·  The support requirements of people with physical and mental health conditions in order to access work

·  The mixed economy locally of providers to meet a range of needs, which is both a strength and a weakness

·  The good work carried out by Job Centre Plus with certain cohorts and the aim of the proposition presented here to complement that work and address gaps in the current provision

·  The crucial importance of getting the necessary data sharing agreements in place at the outset

·  Specific support needs of people with autism or Asperger’s conditions

·  The availability of apprenticeships

·  Support for people with drug and alcohol problems, and also obesity

·  The impact of unstructured lifestyles

·  The importance of helping people back into society as well as into work

·  A desire to help all people in Leeds to be job ready in order to maximise the job growth opportunities associated with the Leeds City Region growth deal

·  The desirability of a social contract with employers

·  The role of the Council Tax Support Scheme

RESOLVED

a)  That the Board supports the further development of the proposition on mental health and employment

b)  That the issues raised by this session of the inquiry be noted and that the Board now has sufficient information to conclude the inquiry and produce a report of its conclusions and recommendations.