Agenda item

The report of Synergi-Leeds Partnership outlines that the partership is an innovative and ambitious citywide approach focused on addressing ethnic inequalities in mental health. The partnership is jointly led by Leeds and York Partnership Foundation Trust (LYPFT) and Public Health in Leeds City Council (LCC), and the core programmes are delivered and supported by colleagues in LYPFT, LCC, Volition and Leeds Involving People. The expanding network or ‘community of practice’ of statutory and voluntary sector organisations plays a vital role in advancing the priorities outlined in the Leeds All-Age Mental Health Strategy and specifically in ‘reducing the over representation of people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities admitted in crisis’.

The report of Synergi -Leeds Partnership outlined that the partnership was an innovative and ambitious citywide approach focused on addressing ethnic inequalities in mental health. The partnership was jointly led by Leeds and York Partnership Foundation Trust (LYPFT) and Public Health in Leeds City Council (LCC), and the core programmes were delivered and supported by colleagues in LYPFT, LCC, Volition and Leeds Involving People. The expanding network or ‘community of practice’ of statutory and voluntary sector organisations played a vital role in advancing the priorities outlined in the Leeds All -Age Mental Health Strategy and specifically in ‘reducing the over representation of people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities admitted in crisis’.

The following attended the meeting to present the item:

• Caron Walker - Chief Officer - Consultant/Public Health
• Sharon Prince -Deputy Director for Psychological Professions at LYPFT
• Laura Hodgson - Head of Public Health, Adults and Health
• Karen Cruise CEO of Flourished Minds CIC
• Sinead Cregan Director of Innovation and Development, Inspire North

Jim Barwick, the Chief Executive of Leeds GP Federation, introduced the item as he represented sponsorship of the partnership leadership team. The partnership programme was award winning, and reflecting on previous work, the approach was of high importance, lessons had been learnt and organisations were committed to further the work. Future operations were to focus on mapping areas most in need, improved communication principles and to hold open conversations on difficult topics.

The Board was provided with the following information:

·  A strong partnership foundation had evolved, with delivery involving Public Health, Forum Central, LYPFT, Leeds Involving People and Volition. The work focused on whole system change, identifying inequalities for each organisation through a social justice lens.

·  The approach was to identify racial inequality and to then challenge processes to be more inclusive, which required intensive data gathering, holistic understanding and collaborative partnerships to inform appropriate prevention and intervention measures.

·  Commitment to open dialogue to understand people of ethnically diverse background’s experience of service access and health outcomes were essential.

·  The work was validated against the seven principles of anti-racist framework. Organisations needed to commit to acting upon service feedback and anecdotal data so that people’s lived experience were a focus for change. Having safe spaces for discussions and leadership that represented EDI were essential.

·  Work and funding streams stemmed from the All Age Grants Programme and the Commission for Racial Equality.

·  Flourished Minds was a social enterprise part funded by the Synergi programme, gathering data to better understand and support mental health issues in ethnically diverse communities. Outreach work had been conducted at Carr Manor Community School, consisting of open dialogue with young people to develop connection and trust and to tailor suitable approaches in support of self worth and wellbeing.

·  The outreach work allowed young people to better recognise that good mental health was at the forefront of a positive life and teachers and care providers outlined that the work had improved education outcomes and students were more settled and patient.

·  Following partnering with Synergi, the direction of Flourished Minds had changed as it had become an open, specialist support network for ethnically diverse young people and worked closely with Leeds Trinity University, the University of Leeds and Leeds Community Foundation.

·  The principal findings and successes to build upon through Flourished Minds were to further investigate dynamics and experiences at higher education levels, create a governance basis to improve people’s opportunities over whole life cycles and pilot programmes city wide through community and third sector links to inform the delivery of mental health services.

·  Consequences of engaging with the Synergi principles were to enhance anti-racist approaches in institutions, empower employees, track evidence for improvements in outcomes, as well as scrutiny of previous work, and to simplify wording to embed accessibility. Complaints to service providers were to be actioned as a learning opportunity.

·  Solutions were to be co-produced with partners, including the development of mapping areas most in need of intervention, filling gaps in service provision, embed a considerate approach and to feedback on outcomes collaboratively.

·  The partnership had secured funding for the “Remembering What’s Forgotten,” programme co-produced with local artists and curators with lived experience. Launching in September 2024, the exhibition and a permanent digital archive were to highlight the untold contributions to addressing ethnic inequalities and promoting mental health for ethnically diverse communities.

During discussions, the following matters were considered:

·  How Synergi could link to the Marmot city programme was queried. In response it was outlined that addressing racism and discrimination and their outcomes was one of the eight Marmot principles. The programme fed into overall discussion to improve social determinants of health.

·  Prevention of the issues and barriers faced by ethnically diverse communities were best addressed at younger ages and work could be joined up with Young Minds, a charity supporting mental wellness for children.

·  How the work of Flourished Minds could be extended to incorporate more schools and the costs that would incur were queried. In response more connections were being made following recognition of the programme’s success, but more funding and leadership input were required for expansion. A further National Lottery funding bid had been submitted.

·  It was noted that the 280 schools within Leeds were a cohort reflecting broad diversity and an important starting point was to engage in difficult conversations to improve life experience and service provision for all ethnic backgrounds.

·  The definition of epistemic justice was outlined as universal participation in terms of equality of access to information, in this case, relating to mental health outcomes, service knowledge and access. Community engagement and change through listening to experience were integral to the promotion of epistemic justice.

·  In order to promote the work and to have long lasting impacts, communicating options for personal and social growth and online safety to ethnically diverse individuals and discussing their views and alternative social perspectives needed to inform the processes of services.

·  It was agreed that the Board would submit a letter to the Department of Education to highlight this key work, coordinated by The Leeds Health Partnership Team working with the relevant Public Health and Children and Families departments in order to lobby and influence positive social outcomes on this topic.

·  The significant impact the Synergi programme had, given the low level of grant funding received, was celebrated. To influence a cultural shift in the approach of care providers and focusing on the value of prevention required expanding the conversation to other social organisations, such as sports clubs.

·  As the required fundamental shift in delivery models were tied up in complex health and care systems, further community links were needed. Knowledge could be spread through the Leeds Learning Alliance to inform creative approaches to leadership and communications.

·  To expand the work through Children’s and Families social care, further discussions were to take place in order for isolated schools, looked after children and youth justice services to provide input, with reference to the Children's Wellbeing Bill.

·  A challenge to overcome was how to improve the scope of Synergi given capacity constraints. The main steer was to ensure mental health provision and racial justice were prominent considerations for all health and care organisations.

·  The methods for evaluating the best allocation for grant funding and measuring outcomes were queried. A review of outcomes was based on the significant positive feedback that had been received and robust evaluation had taken place prior to the second wave of funding for 16-25 year olds had been secured. Other funding options were being explored.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the headlines of this report and the progress made on the key work programmes of the Synergi-Leeds Partnership, be noted.

b)  That the pilot of the Communication Principles to encourage transparent discussions in strategic meetings and support the incorporation of the principles into city governance arrangements, with PLT adopting them and evidencing their use, be endorsed.

c)  That Leeds signatories of the National Synergi Pledge develop at least one organisational priority that will contribute to reducing racial inequalities in mental health, co-produced with people with lived experience, be requested.

d)  That a mapping exercise which ascertains the extent of services focused on or contributing to mental health support and intervention for Black and South Asian boys and men across the Leeds system, be agreed.