Decision details

To consider whether Cambridge City Council should become a signatory to the Cambridgeshire Mental Health Crisis Concordat.

Matter for Decision

The Officer’s report set out a proposal to join partners within a local concordat that aimed to deliver improvements in the care of people in mental health crisis within a national framework.

Decision of the Leader

     i.        To sign up to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mental Health Crisis Concordat on behalf of the City Council and to encourage officers in the delivery of its aims.

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Strategy Officer.

The Committee made the following comments in response to the report.

i.             Expressed concerns that the concordat may not be a productive resource.

ii.            Expressed surprise at the percentage of the population that this strategy seemed to cover.

In response to Members’ questions the Strategy Officer and the Chief Executive said the following:

i.             This was an opportunity to gain more knowledge about individuals and would assist organisations to make a decision whether individuals suffering from mental health issues required an immediate response. There was also a desire to ensure that people were not referred to the Police if that was not appropriate for their circumstances.

ii.            The Concordat was about joining up frontline staff; it had practical application with other agencies.

iii.           The Concordat was only one part of the strategy followed by a series of interventions and treatments as required.

iv.          The Vanguard Programme identified that people with mental health issues could be on low incomes.

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendations.

The Leader approved the recommendations.

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Leader (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Leader.