The Health and Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on 23 March 2026 focused heavily on mental health services across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, with detailed discussions on performance against targets, challenges in service delivery, and future plans. The committee also reviewed activity from district and borough health scrutiny bodies and discussed the committee's work programme.

Mental Health Services in Staffordshire

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to an in-depth review of mental health services, with presentations from the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB), Midlands Partnership University Foundation NHS Trust (MPFT), and North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust (NSCHT).

Performance and Targets: Representatives provided an overview of their performance against constitutional targets for the 2025-26 financial year. While many targets were reported as being met or forecast to be met, some areas showed slight shortfalls. For instance, access to talking therapies was reported as being 2% behind year-to-date targets, though it was anticipated this would be met by the end of the financial year due to additional training and recruitment. Reliable recovery rates for talking therapies were also slightly below the 50% target at 49.1%, though improvements were expected.

Councillor Yu raised concerns about not hitting targets, but was reassured that many targets were indeed being met or were forecast to be met by year-end, with some services, like inpatient length of stay, being among the best nationally. Councillor Griffiths sought clarification on the coverage of Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) in schools, with current coverage at 67% and plans to reach 100% by 2029-30. It was explained that the rollout is phased, based on demographics and need, and that schools must opt-in. The Stay Well service was highlighted as an additional support for children and young people, available to all, ensuring no one is without support.

Challenges and Solutions: A key challenge identified was the significant issue of out of area usage for mental health inpatient beds, particularly in Stoke-on-Trent and the north of the county. This was attributed to a combination of factors including demand for beds, delays in discharging patients due to a lack of suitable care packages or placements, and the need for national improvements to inpatient facilities.

Delays in discharging patients were a recurring theme. Lisa Rogal, Operations Director at MPFT, explained that while patients might be clinically ready for discharge, the lack of suitable supported living placements and accommodation was a major barrier. This was compounded by issues with housing availability and individuals being discharged without adequate housing. Councillor Wallens questioned the timeline for social care assessments, and it was clarified that while assessments themselves were not typically delayed (with a 28-day period), the lack of suitable accommodation at the end of the assessment was the primary issue.

The committee discussed the role of districts and boroughs in providing social housing for individuals with mental health problems, with a general agreement that greater emphasis was needed.

Talking Therapies: The provision and effectiveness of talking therapies were extensively discussed. It was clarified that these are community-based services primarily for anxiety and depression, but have expanded to support more complex presentations. The service is available across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, with options for self-referral, GP referral, face-to-face, and online support. Concerns were raised about the number of sessions, with it being clarified that the average of eight sessions is based on evidence-based practice, but individuals can access support on more than one occasion and through various means, including group work and digital tools.

Questions were also raised about the cost of talking therapies, with a discussion on why the council was paying £132 per session when lower-cost providers were available. Darren Burks, Head of Portfolio for Mental Health at the ICB, explained that commissioning decisions involve more than just cost, with quality of providers and outcomes being crucial factors. High dropout rates for talking therapies were also addressed, with the ICB highlighting work on community engagement, opening up access routes, and investing in a mobile bus to reach rural and hard-to-reach communities.

Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) and Schools: The rollout of MHSTs in schools was discussed, with a target of 100% coverage by 2029-30. It was noted that the rollout is phased and based on need, with schools needing to opt-in. The Stay Well service was mentioned as a complementary offering for children and young people. Councillor Brown raised concerns about the potential impact of the SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) white paper, which could see funding move from dedicated centres to mainstream schools. While the implications were still being assessed due to the recency of the paper, it was seen as an opportunity to integrate support, with a wider workforce including speech and language therapists and occupational therapists.

Crisis and Inpatient Services: The challenges in crisis and inpatient mental health services were acknowledged, particularly regarding out-of-area placements and delays in discharge. However, positive notes included Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent being among the best in the country for average length of stay in mental health admissions. The launch of the Crisis Care Centre at St George's Hospital, Stafford, and the expansion of NHS 111 for mental health support were highlighted.

Homelessness and Mental Health: The link between homelessness, drug and alcohol issues, and mental health was a significant point of discussion. It was acknowledged that there are services across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent supporting individuals with these complex needs, often through outreach models. However, there was a strong consensus that more integrated work with housing providers and local authorities is needed to ensure suitable accommodation and ongoing support are available. Councillor Hood spoke passionately about the tragic situation of homeless individuals with mental health complexities, highlighting the woeful inadequacy of current housing units.

Funding and Integration: Councillor Luca raised concerns about the ICB potentially stripping £8 million from the mental health budget, but was reassured that mental health funding is protected by the Mental Health Investment Standard, which mandates increases. Cost improvement programmes were described as focusing on avoiding further costs through efficiencies, rather than cutting services. The broader agenda of integrated care and neighbourhood working was discussed as a framework for future service delivery.

District and Borough Health Scrutiny Activity

The committee received an update on the health scrutiny activity undertaken by district and borough councils. Councillor Wallens noted that representatives from the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB had declined to attend a meeting, stating it was more within the ICB's remit. A discussion ensued about the possibility of County Council representatives acting as substitutes for district and borough councillors at meetings, which was not currently provided for. Councillor Norman commented on the perceived disconnect between planning applications and health scrutiny, and the varied scope of health scrutiny across different boroughs. Councillor Jones provided an update from Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, highlighting their work on health inequalities, vaping, mental health, and dementia, and their upcoming workshop on dementia friends. Councillor Bebbington enquired if invitations to a dementia friends event had been extended to all county councillors. Councillor Luca provided updates on his involvement in health and wellbeing and licensing committees at Tamworth Borough Council. Councillor Brown requested feedback on questions previously submitted to Staffordshire Borough Council.

Work Programme

The committee noted that the current municipal year's work programme was nearing completion. It was stated that the committee, once re-established, would determine the focus of the work programme for the following year. The executive response from the ICB was also noted and agreed.

The meeting concluded with a brief discussion on the potential impact of local government reorganisation (LGR) on cross-border appointments and service costs, with an acknowledgement that the exact impact would depend on the final outcome of the LGR options. Councillor Griffiths raised concerns about support for homeless individuals, and the challenges in accessing services for this population. The discussion highlighted the need for closer collaboration with housing providers and local authorities.

Finally, a concerning link between education and mental health was raised by Councillor Brown, who was representing Ann Edgeller. This issue, concerning children's literacy rates and potential impacts on mental health, was deemed to be a significant concern that warranted further investigation, potentially through a joint committee approach. Councillor Luca also questioned the ICB's plans regarding mental health funding in light of potential budget cuts, receiving assurances that mental health funding is protected by national standards.