Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Programme Board minutes: 24 September 2020

Attendees and apologies

Author:

• Alex Brown

Present:

• Hugh Masters, Chair, Scottish Government
• Sally Amor, Child Health Commissioner and North of Scotland representative, NHS Highland
• Alex Brown, Programme Support Officer, NHS National Services Scotland
• Roch Cantwell, Lead Clinician Perinatal Mental Health Managed Clinical Network, NHS National Services Scotland
• Ruth Christie, Workstream Lead, Children, Young People, Families and Relationships, Scottish Government
• Elaine Clark, Perinatal Nurse Consultant, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
• Emma Currer (Deputising for Mary Ross Davie), National Officer, Royal College of Midwives
• Maria Docherty, Executive Director of Nursing, NHS 24
• Amanullah Durrani, Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist, Royal College of Psychiatrists
• Maria Eleftheriadou, Perinatal and Early Years Mental Health Team, Scottish Government
• Fiona Fraser, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
• Marsaili Fraser, Performance Advisor, Inspiring Scotland
• Catriona Johnson, Programme Associate Director, NHS National Services Scotland
• Sally Ann Kelly, Chief Executive, Aberlour
• Barbara Kennie, Perinatal and Early Years Mental Health Team, Scottish Government
• Jacqueline Kerr, Assistant Chief Officer, Adult Services, Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership
• Katy Lister, Perinatal and Early Years Mental Health Team, Scottish Government
• Carsten Mandt, Senior Programme Manager, Perinatal Network, NHS National Services Scotland
• Anne McFadyen, Infant Mental Health Lead, Perinatal Mental Health Managed Clinical Network, NHS National Services Scotland
• Clare McGuire, Head of Programme, NHS Education for Scotland
• Eileen McKenna, Associate Director, Royal College of Nursing
• Aigli Raouna, Perinatal and Early Years Mental Health Team Internship, Scottish Government
• Justina Ritchie, Mental Health Nurse Lead, NHS Dumfries and Galloway
• Ross Sanderson, Policy Officer, Royal College of Nursing
• Marie Claire Shankland, Programme Director, NHS Education for Scotland
• Helen Sloan, Chair Maternal Mental Health Scotland, Maternal Mental Health Scotland
• Joanne Smith, Policy Manager, NSPCC
• Judy Thomson, Director of Psychology, NHS Education for Scotland
• Clare Thompson, Participation Officer, Maternal Mental Health Scotland
• Jackie Walker, Head of Children and Family Services, CrossReach
• Harriet Waugh, Head of Perinatal and Early Years Mental Health Team, Scottish Government

Apologies:

• Jeff Ace, Chief Executive, NHS Dumfries and Galloway
• Mary-Ross Davie, Director, Royal College of Midwives

Items and actions

Welcome, apologies and housekeeping

Ruth Christie (Children, Young People, Families and Relationships Workstream Lead, Scottish Government) welcomed everyone to the ninth Perinatal and Infant Mental Health (PNIMH) Programme Board meeting, and apologies were noted as above.

Scottish Government policy team update

Ruth introduced Maria Eleftheriadou, Barbara Kennie, and Aigli Raouna who had recently joined the Scottish Government (SG) policy team. Ruth welcomed the team expansion and advised that greater workforce capacity meant that previously delayed workstreams could progress.

2020-21 Delivery Plan progress

Harriet Waugh updated the group on the recent progress and ongoing actions of the Programme Board. She outlined progress against each 2020-21 Delivery Plan action, and invited questions or comments. A detailed update table was shared with meeting papers, and can be circulated again on request. Group discussion and decisions have been recorded below.

Perinatal mental health

Harriet informed the group that the Mother-Baby Unit Family Fund (MBUFF) would officially launch on 10th October. Amanullah Durrani (Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist, Royal College of Psychiatrists) expressed concern that the limit on the total amount that can be claimed from the MBUFF would disadvantage those women and their families who are under prolonged admission or visiting the MBU from more rural locations. It was agreed that Amanullah would have further discussion offline with Katy Lister regarding the upcoming review of the MBUFF. 

Action: Katy Lister

Harriet advised that seven Health Boards had received funding in 2020-21 to enhance existing Maternity and Neonatal Psychological Intervention (MNPI) services. It was agreed that Judy Thomson and Harriet Waugh would meet in due course to discuss workforce and sustainability of funding. 

Action: Harriet Waugh

Fiona Fraser requested an opportunity to see details of the successful Health Board proposals for 2020-21 funding, to better understand how services were developing nationally. Sally Ann Kelly stated that the Scottish Government Policy Team should issue a high level overview of what funding had been provided to each Health Board. Ruth Christie and Hugh Masters committed to the development of a map to illustrate national service development and progress of the Programme Board across Scottish Health Board areas. 

Action: Scottish Government Policy Team

Harriet advised that the Peer Support report and action plan would be formally launched by the Minister for Mental Health at a virtual roundtable event on 30th October. The actions from the Peer Support literature review have been validated by clinical and analytical services, and the aim of the event is to identify key priorities and focus areas.

Hugh Masters advised of the development of a subgroup for workforce planning and sustainability discussions. Joanne Smith, Judy Thomson and Helen Sloan expressed interest in joining the group.

Infant mental health

Anne McFadyen advised that the Perinatal Mental Health Managed Clinical Network (MCN) had provided support in setting up an Infant Mental Health (IMH) Forum, which would first meet on 23rd November. In addition to the four other clinical forums run by the MCN, the IMH Forum will facilitate the sharing of best practice amongst professionals which will be integral to success in this phase of national service development.

Anne informed the group that NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Fife were the most well prepared for IMH service development and had been funded as part of Wave 1. In the next round of funding, Boards in a position to begin service development have been selected for Wave 2. Remaining Boards, who are not yet ready to invest in IMH services but are open to development discussion, have been invited to express interest in Wave 3. It was agreed that Anne would share the criteria for Wave 2 with Judy Thomson.

Action: Anne McFadyen

Harriet advised that the IMH Evaluation subgroup were making good progress, and it was agreed that an update would be available at the November Programme Board meeting to outline recent work. 

Action: Anne McFadyen

It was agreed that the National Rural Mental Health Forum would be contacted regarding engagement with rural services.

Action: Scottish Govenment Policy Team

Judy Thomson raised the issue of the sustainability of LearnPro, and agreed to have further discussion offline with Marita Brack. Catriona Johnson advised that TURAS was the preferred platform going forward for NHS Scotland, and the National Services Scotland agreement with Learnpro was due to end in March 2021.

NHS Education for Scotland update

Harriet Waugh invited Marie-Claire Shankland to provide update from NHS Education for Scotland (NES):

Marie-Claire advised that the full Essential Perinatal course was now available on TURAS. NES were currently developing a resource to promote and describe the content of the modules, and a training framework to support the implementation of the course across as much of the workforce as possible.

A review of Health Visitor perinatal mental health champion training is upcoming, followed by the development of case-based group training for those working in MBUs and community perinatal mental health teams (CPMHTs)

NES colleagues have been meeting with Health Visitor leads to ascertain what stage Scotland’s Health Visitors are at in basic Solihull training, and other aspects of the IMH training plan.

NES are working with all courses who are producing Psychological Therapists to ensure they are receiving perinatal mental health training and doing placements where possible in primary care and specialist services to work with women in the perinatal period, and to encourage research and evaluation projects in this area.

Participation Officer update

Clare Thompson gave an update as Participation Officer for the Programme Board:

The Experts by Experience reference group were close to agreeing their Terms of Reference, which would be circulated upon completion.

Clare advised that she had been working with the MCN to develop the Peer Support Worker role description and was looking forward to involving Experts by Experience in the Peer Support roundtable event.

Clare directed the group to the Maternal Mental Health Scotland blog (found on their website) to find out more about participation for the Programme Board.

Perinatal Mental Health Network update

Roch Cantwell gave an update on the recent and ongoing work of the MCN:

Service development guides published and available alongside the national rollout of services, particularly CPMHTs and MNPI services.

The first tranche of role definition papers for professionals working in specialist services are available on the MCN website. All nine papers will be available by the end of October.

First draft received of six animations to accompany the national care pathways currently being developed by the MCN. The animations are directed at women and families to explain the nature of services, how to access services, and what their rights are in accessing services.

NSPCC and Anne McFadyen’s Wellbeing for Wee Ones report published, and individual Health Board reports circulated as part of the Programme Board virtual visits in July and August.

Covid-19 guidance for MBUs published.

Recent establishment of a fifth clinical forum, for Infant Mental Health.

Co-chairs identified for each clinical forum from out with the core team, to widen engagement and encourage the forums to become more autonomous. The forums will increasingly focus on data, audit and outcomes for services, which will be linked into the work of the Programme Board.

Anne McFadyen and Shona McCann are leading on a Needs Assessment for women with substance misuse in statutory, mental health and maternity services.

Post-meeting update: The Robertson Trust are no longer able to carry out the Needs Assessment for women with substance misuse in third sector and voluntary services, but Anne and Shona’s work will continue.

Next Meeting:

Thursday 26th November 2020.