Agenda and minutes

The Chair referred to the recent death of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Members of the Scrutiny Committee and Officers observed a minute’s silence as a mark of respect to his memory.

To approve as a correct record and order that the Minutes of the meetings held on 27 January and 17March 2021 be signed.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meetings held on 27 January 2021 and 17 March 2021 were approved as a correct record.

Councillors and officers to declare any interests which they have in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interest which they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

No interests were declared.

To consider call-in items (if any).

There were no call-in items to consider.

Students representing the Equalities Council will attend the meeting and make a presentation to the Scrutiny Committee relating to Mental Health Services for Young People in Stockport.

Officer contact: Michelle McLaughlin, Student Engagement and Student Voice Lead (Trafford College Group), 0161 296 5622, michelle.mclaughlin@tcg.ac.uk

Members of the Stockport College Equalities Council attended the meeting and made a presentation to the Scrutiny Committee in relation to Mental Health Services for Young People in Stockport and highlighted the following: -

·         A survey was conducted by the College of young people living in Stockport with 48 young people participating in the survey.

·         83% were aged 19-25 years, 10% were aged 16-18 years and 7% were 25+.

·         51% said that they had suffered from some kind of mental health problems during the pandemic; 79% said that they knew how to access mental health services in college/local area; and 21% did not know what services were available.

·         95% said that there should be more support available for mental health; 72% said that there should be more activities for young people to get involved in the local area.

·         Solutions included more advertising of services, involving community support groups, engaging with youth clubs, appointing mental health champions and supporting pastoral support mentors.

·         Stockport’s Local offer was scrutinised and it was found to be difficult to access, too many ‘clicks’ to find and access information and it was not appealing to young people.

The following comments were made/issues raised: -

·         Members welcomed the presentation and the details and proposals from the College Council.

·         It was commented that the pandemic had highlighted a number of gaps in the services and provisions. In response, it was noted that the Student Council and the College’s Inclusion Team have been working closely with the Council to support advertising services and publishing information across the College.

·         The College have an active website that is monitored and managed by the students and the inclusion team.

·         Members enquired about the best possible ways to communicate to the young people regarding services and provisions. In response, it was stated that young people spend a lot of time on social media including Instagram and Snapchat sites were easy to navigate and add followers to share information.

·         It was stated that new students to the college must find it difficult with accessing information and services. In response, it was noted that if the student attends with a formal diagnosis, there is information available and interventions to be used to support those students including pastoral support and formal appointments to support those students to settle in. For those that attend without a formal diagnosis, information is published for students to seek help and support and there are support groups for those young people to engage in and talk to other students, which have been the experience of some of the College Council members.

The Chair on behalf of the Committee thanked the students and their teachers for their attendance and presentation and encouraged the young people to remain engaged in the processes and to continue to share information regarding mental health across Stockport with other young people.

RESOLVED – (1) That the members of the Stockport College Equalities Council and their teachers be thanked for their attendance and presentation.

(2) That the Committee look into ways to act upon the information provided by the College Council and to continue to engage with the College in the future.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Children, Family Services and Education.

The report provides an update of the Covid-19 pandemic relating to Children and Families in Stockport and Stockport schools covering the period January – March 2021.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to note the update.

Officer contact: Carolyn Anderson, 0161 474 2172, carolyn.anderson@stockport.gov.uk  

The Director for Children’s Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update of the Covid-19 pandemic relating to Children and Families in Stockport and Stockport Schools covering the period January – March 2021.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Family Services & Education (Councillor Colin Foster) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.   

The following comments were made/issues raised: - 

·         Food vouchers continued throughout the Christmas, Easter and will also continue throughout the Summer;

·         Members enquired about an update relating to the devices for young people. In response, it was noted that devices were provided by the Government and Greater Manchester but it did not match the demand. More up to date numbers would be provided to the Committee.

RESOLVED – (1) That the update be noted and the officer team be thanked.

(2) That the up to date information relating to the number of devices provided and distributed to the Stockport Schools to be provided to the Committee.

To consider a report of the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance).

The report details the work undertaken by the Scrutiny Review Panel of the Children and Families Scrutiny Committee in respect to ‘Supporting Young People’s Mental/Emotional Wellbeing & Counselling in Schools’ and the proposed recommendations.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the information in the report and approve the recommendations.  

Officer contact: Heidi Shaw, 0161 218 1100, heidi.shaw@stockport.gov.uk

The Lead Councillor, Councillor Linda Holt, submitted the final report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the findings and recommendations of the Scrutiny Review Panel on Supporting Young People's Mental/Emotional Wellbeing & Counselling in Schools.

The Scrutiny Review had been commissioned by this Scrutiny Committee and the Panel had considered a range of information from partners and key stakeholders including Stockport Family, NHS Stockport Clinical Commissioning Group, School Nursing, MASSH, Public Health Advisor, SEND and Inclusion, the Psychology Service, Behaviour Support Service, Jigsaw, HYMs, School Representatives (Werneth, Cheadle Primary and Pendlebury Centre PRU), Kooth, Beacon Counselling and the Commissioning Service.

The Committee welcomed the detailed report and thanked Councillor Holt and the other Scrutiny Review Panel Members and supporting officer team for their hard work and leadership.

It was stated that the report identified the gaps in service provision and publicity and raising awareness. In response, it was noted that joined up working with young people including Stockport College would be ongoing.

RESOLVED – That the draft Final Report be approved for submission to the Cabinet.

To consider a report of the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance).

The report details the work undertaken by the Scrutiny Review Panel of the Children and Families Scrutiny Committee in respect to ‘Children and Young People’s Participation’ and the proposed recommendations.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the information in the report and approve the recommendations.  

Officer contact: Michelle Bellis, michelle.bellis@stockport.gov.uk

The Lead Councillor, Councillor Linda Holt, submitted the final report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the findings and recommendations of the Scrutiny Review Panel on Children and Young People's Participation.

The Scrutiny Review had been commissioned by this Scrutiny Committee and the Panel had considered a range of information from partners and key stakeholders including Stockport Family, the Children & Young People’s Participation Officer (Autism Ambassadors, Young Inspectors), Pure Insight (Care Leavers Forum), Stockport Signpost Young Carers, Four young people representing Stockport Youth Council and Two young people representing Stockport Action Youth Speakers.

The Committee welcomed the detailed report and thanked Councillor Holt and the other Scrutiny Review Panel Members and supporting officer team for their hard work and leadership.

It was commented that the Review Panel listened to the young people and would endeavour to provide feedback relating to the issues raised during the scrutiny review.

RESOLVED – That the draft Final Report be approved for submission to the Cabinet.

To consider a report of the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance)    

The report sets out planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and Forward Plan items that fall within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.    

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the information in the report and put forward any agenda items for future meetings of the Committee.    

Officer contact: Charles Yankiah, 0161 474 3206, charles.yankiah@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and any Forward Plan items.

The Chair proposed that the HYMs Waiting list is incorporated into the dashboard for future reporting to the Committee.

The Committee were informed that the following reports had been scheduled accordingly: -   

June 2021

·         Racism Update - a report relating to “what was being done in Stockport schools to educate young people about racism”.

·         Bullying Update - a report relating to “what are the strategies and policies on bullying in Stockport”

·         Leisure & Sports Disability Update -  an update relating to the leisure and sporting activities that were available specifically for disabled people in Stockport       

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the HYMS Waiting be incorporated into the dashboard for future reporting to the Committee.