Agenda item

To consider a report from Leeds City Council’s Head of Democratic Services introducing an update on West Yorkshire assessment and treatment units (ATU) for people with learning disabilities; and seeking the view of the Joint Committee on the proposals and the next steps including the presentation of the options, scope of further engagement/consultation and the decision-making process.

The report of the Head of Democratic Services introduced an update on West Yorkshire Assessment and Treatment Units (ATU) for people with learning disabilities and sought the view of the Joint Committee on the proposals and the next steps including the presentation of the options, scope of further engagement/consultation and the decision-making process.

In attendance at the meeting were:

• Helen Hirst – Chief Officer; Bradford City CCG, Bradford Districts CCG and Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven CCG and Programme Accountable Officer
• Sara Munro – Chief Executive, Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Senior Responsible Owner for the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism Programme
• Andy Weir – Deputy Chief Operating Officer (Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust) and Senior Responsible Owner for the West Yorkshire ATU Project
• Karen Coleman – West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health Care Partnership Communication and Engagement Lead
• Steven Courtney – Principal Scrutiny Adviser

Councillor Jeff Ennis Chair, Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Barnsley MBC) had been invited to attend and participate in the consideration of this item due to Barnsley’s inclusion within the boundary for the Assessment and Treatment Centres.

Additional information was tabled at the meeting in relation to Assessment and Treatment Unit Bed Usage.

The Joint Committee had considered a report on Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism Programme at its meeting in February 2019. Assessment and Treatment Centres formed part of the Joint Committee’s discussions at the February 2019 meeting. The Partnership report was attached to the submitted report at Appendix.

The Joint Committee was informed of the following points:

·  Significant engagement work has already been undertaken;

·  Work has been ongoing to reduce bed numbers in line with the recommended ATU beds per population. Beds in West Yorkshire and Barnsley have reduced from 22 to 16. The service was confident that it could deliver a good service with the reduced occupancy;

·  There are currently 3 units within the West Yorkshire and Barnsley area but the proposal is to close the Leeds unit and provide the specialist care at units based in Bradford and Wakefield. It was noted that occupancy levels had significantly decreased at the Leeds ATU over the past 12 months. It was also noted that Bradford occupancy had remained at 100% with 50% of those users no longer requiring provision but remained there due to delayed transfers of care;

·  There were concerns that staff from the Leeds unit would start to look elsewhere for jobs although it was anticipated that the Leeds staff could be used at the ATU’s in Bradford and Wakefield.

Members’ discussions focused on the following points:

·  The number of beds across the two units;

·  The number of staff required to ensure safety of both patients and staff;

·  Community Services available across West Yorkshire;

·  A Communication Plan which includes who engaging with, where and timeline of consultation period;

·  Update on provision and any potential concerns to be provided to each place;

·  Requirement if any of the setting up of a Mandatory JHOSC to include Barnsley.

The Chair said that she was disappointed that the Board as a stakeholder had not been informed early as to all the details of the ATU proposals. However, on discussions from a closed session of the Board during this meeting, the Board was prepared to go for formal consultation and not set up a Mandatory JHOSC. This was on the proviso that an update would be provided to each individual Board and should include any issues in relation to community offers in each place.

RESOLVED - To note the details presented in the covering report and within the appended reports.

The Board was also prepared to go forward with formal discussions rather than set up a Mandatory Board due to timescales and for each Scrutiny Board to receive an update on issues in relation to community offers in each place.