Agenda item

To receive a presentation on MIND in Berkshire - Wokingham Wellbeing Service.

Alex Hills, Wellbeing Service Manager (Primary Care), Oxfordshire Mind, provided an update on the Wokingham Wellbeing Service.

During the discussion of this item, the following points were made:

·       The service provided 1-1 person-centred support for mental health and wellbeing to service users.  This helped to reduce pressure on other services, particularly Primary Care.   The service also introduced tools and techniques to maintain or improve wellbeing, pro-actively linked people with services and community resources, and supported them to identify and utilise existing support.  It helped to support the Wokingham voluntary and community sector to identify, and respond collaboratively, to local mental health and wellbeing needs.

·       The service was for those who were 18 and over, and who were experiencing a number of different issues such as social isolation and loneliness, mild-moderate mental health concerns, drug and alcohol issues.  A service was also provided for carers.

·       Alex Hills outlined the service access criteria in more detail.

·       Service users must be aged 18+ and registered with a Wokingham GP practice or a resident of Wokingham Borough. They could be:

Ø  People with mild to moderate mental health issues (e.g. mild/moderate depression or anxiety)

Ø  People who may need non-clinical support for stress, poor sleep, difficulties concentrating or relaxing, feeling overwhelmed etc.

Ø  Those with social issues or practical issues (including drug and alcohol use, abuse, bereavement, loneliness, and isolation).

Ø  Those who would benefit from having a broad chat about wellbeing (and need more than a 10 min GP appt).

Ø  Families and carers who were experiencing an impact on their wellbeing or mental health.

·       Work was undertaken in all of the GP practices in the Wokingham Primary Care Networks. 

·       Alex Hills outlined how the service was delivered.  There were 4 Wellbeing Workers who delivered the sessions across the Borough, and a Project Manager.  When someone was referred to the service, they could receive up to 6 non clinical 1-2-1 support sessions.  Alex Hills emphasised that it was not a counselling or befriending service, but person centred, goal focused practical support.  The service was offered in different ways; in person, virtually or via telephone.

·       Alex Hills highlighted some of the key projects since the service had begun in February 2021.  Members were pleased to note that by August 2022 the service was receiving over 100 referrals a month.

·       It was noted that in the case of 99.8% of those referred, contact had been attempted within 3 working days.

·       As of September 2022, the service had, had over 1,000 referrals.

·       A short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (SWEMWBS) was completed at each initial session, and a comparative measure at the end of service, to measure the impact on the service user.  The target was for a satisfaction rate of 90%, but 99.5% had been achieved in the last quarter.

·       The service wanted to survey other professionals such as GP Practice staff, the Voluntary and Community Sector and statutory partners which regards to their views on the service.  Service user events would be held to gauge how improvements could be made.

·       Members noted the experiences of an individual service user and feedback from service users.

·       Alex Hills outlined how the service supported the Voluntary and Community Sector:

Ø  Mental Health First Aider Forum – quarterly meeting for MHFA-trained professionals and residents in Wokingham to connect/refresh skills/share knowledge and experiences.  Five meetings had been held so far.

Ø  Mental Health & Wellbeing Community Alliance –bi-monthly meeting space for VCS group representatives to discuss community mental health and wellbeing needs, challenges, and successes.  Six sessions had been held so far and topics had included returning to face to face working and supporting those experiencing a mental health crisis.

·       A Member asked about workload and capacity.  Alex Hills commented that one of the administration demands of the service was contacting new referrals as soon as possible.  The service was getting to the upper level of its capacity.

·       Members questioned whether face to face appointments were preferred, and were informed that around 50% of appointments were held in person at practices.  A hybrid approach was offered to meet differing needs.

·       A Member questioned if the service worked with the Shinfield GP practices and was informed that they were part of the Central Reading Primary Care Network.

·       A Member noted that there was a gap between the number of referrals and the number of people who had attended a first appointment and questioned the reason for this.  Alex Hills commented that around an 80% attendance was expected.  The reason for this could be a need to send further reminders.

·       Members asked what the average time was between initial referral and the first appointment and was informed that it varied between the Primary Care Networks.  In Earley+ there was a higher demand, and the wait time was around two to three weeks.  In other Primary Care Networks where demand was lower, the wait time was lower.

·       In response to a question regarding risk assessments, Alex Hills commented that the initial session was 45 minutes, and this helped to assess the level of need.  Individuals were made aware of a confidentiality statement which highlighted that if anything was mentioned that led to concern for the safety of the individual or others, then this would need to be shared further.  If suicidal thoughts were mentioned a specific process would be followed.  The Wellbeing Worker could also look back on session notes.

·       The Committee questioned what training and experience the Wellbeing Workers had.  Alex Hills explained that the role was not clinical.  In house training was provided around topics such as Mental Health First Aid, domestic abuse, and active listening.

·       A Member queried whether those referred to the service were completing all six sessions or whether some dropped out earlier because they felt that no longer required the service.  Alex Hills stated that there was a good completion rate but that there were some who did not complete the course.

·       Members expressed surprise that the percentage of younger people referred to the service was not higher.  Alex Hills stated that it was higher in other areas that the service was run.  A recent conference run by MIND Berkshire suggested that there was a level of demand.

·       It was clarified that the service was offered to those who either lived in the Borough or who were registered with a GP in the Borough but lived outside the Borough.

·       The Committee queried whether the service was offered to the other Berkshire authorities and if so, if there was more that the Borough Council needed to be offering to support in a similar way.  Members were informed that the service was not currently offered to the other Berkshire authorities.

·       A Member queried whether the service had been funded by a donation which had stipulated that it only be for Wokingham Borough.  He went on to question what due diligence had been carried out regarding the source of the donation.  The initial press release had stated that funding would be for 18 months.  Members questioned funding going forwards.  Alex Hills stated that the service had recently been successful in applying for funding with the Council for the next 3 years with a possible further 2 years.

·       It was expected that referrals would continue at 100 per month.

·       Ingrid Slade clarified that pilot work had initially been funded by donation, but the work was now fully funded by the Better Care Fund.  She presumed that the first £250,000 had been spent on the service but would seek clarification.

·       Members questioned whether MIND Berkshire was working with volunteer counselling services such as ARC, and were informed that they worked with others at the Voluntary and Community Sector Alliance Forum meetings.  Alex Hills agreed to discuss the matter further with Councillor Shepherd-DuBey who was the Council’s representative on ARC.

·       In response to a Member question Alex Hills confirmed that the delivery of appointments via video would continue.

·       Members asked whether the level of engagement varied between the surgeries and were informed that it did.  Some practices had a high referral level, and in others more engagement work was required. 

·       A Member questioned how the service could grow its capacity.  Alex Hills stated that with further funding, additional staff could be considered.

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RESOLVED:  That the update on MIND in Berkshire be noted and that Alex Hills be thanked for his presentation.