The Health and Adult Services Scrutiny Committee met on Wednesday 22 April 2026 to discuss the Community Mental Health Transformation Programme and the Lancashire Constabulary's Right Care, Right Person policy. The committee received updates on progress, discussed challenges, and made several recommendations for future action.

Community Mental Health Transformation Programme Update

The committee received a comprehensive update on the Community Mental Health Transformation Programme, which aims to improve access to mental health services and promote wellbeing. The programme has focused on developing integrated neighbourhood teams, known as hubs, which bring together professionals from health, social care, and the voluntary sector to provide a more coordinated approach to care.

Key achievements highlighted included:

• Integrated Hubs: District-based hubs have been established to support integrated service delivery, with co-location of health and social care teams.
• Enhanced Multidisciplinary Teams (eMDTs): These teams, comprising core membership from health, social care, and peer support workers, are designed to ensure the right professionals are involved in supporting individuals, aiming to reduce fragmentation of care.
• Improved Access to Services: Efforts have been made to strengthen accommodation pathways, improve access to employment support through the Individual Placement Support (IPS) scheme, and enhance community mapping to better connect with voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations.
• Prevention Focus: The Mental Health and Wellbeing Team works with Primary Care Networks and VCFSE partners to deliver early intervention and preventative support, reducing the need for crisis services.
• Co-occurring Conditions Improvement Programme: Launched in September 2025, this programme aims to address the needs of individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use issues, improving access, visibility, harm reduction, and coroners' assurance.

Members raised several points and concerns:

• Referral Process: It was clarified that referrals to eMDTs can be made by any professional, not just GPs, and that the process is not a postcode lottery. eMDTs meet regularly on a locality basis, with no current waiting lists for non-urgent cases.
• Stigma and Access: The committee discussed the ongoing stigma surrounding mental health and the need for better access to services. Officers outlined work on co-production with the voluntary sector, community engagement, and the use of the Public Health Bus to increase visibility.
• Voluntary Sector Engagement: Concerns were raised about the awareness and equal partnership of the voluntary, community, and faith sector (VCFSE). Officers explained the challenges of maintaining a comprehensive register but highlighted mapping exercises, workshops, and representation on the Community Transformation Board.
• Student and Transient Populations: While no specific student pathway exists, officers confirmed that students living in the area are supported through health and social care services where eligible, with links maintained with universities.
• Funding Pressures: Members noted concerns about increasing demand and capacity outpacing funding, particularly with inflationary pressures. Officers acknowledged the Integrated Care Board's (ICB) financial challenges but confirmed that mental health funding remains a priority.
• Housing Provision: The national shortage of suitable accommodation, including supported housing, was acknowledged. System-wide work is underway to maximise existing provision and strengthen partnerships.
• Psychological Therapies: National targets aim for assessment within six weeks, with local performance generally strong, though longer waits exist for some specialist therapies. Workforce recruitment and training are key to reducing delays.
• Care Quality Commission (CQC) Observations: Members referenced CQC findings on historic partnership challenges, workforce morale, and assessment backlogs. Officers explained that the CQC assessment covered all adult social care and that significant progress has been made since, including a memorandum of understanding with the ICB.
• A&E as Places of Safety: Concerns were raised about the use of A&E departments as places of safety for mental health crises, particularly during periods of system pressure. Officers outlined work to strengthen crisis and home-based treatment services to reduce reliance on emergency departments.

The committee made several recommendations:

• Further information on the locations of supported housing and community hubs to be provided.
• Additional information on informal drop-in sessions and centres to be circulated.
• A future report on housing provision, with emphasis on district council collaboration, to be scheduled.
• Data on A&E attendances for mental health used as a place of safety to be provided, including trends and actions to reduce inappropriate use.
• Development of outcome-focused performance information for community health and wellbeing to be supported.
• Progress on the advocacy role to be endorsed.

Lancashire Constabulary - Right Care, Right Person Update

Martin Storey, Superintendent at Lancashire Police, provided an update on the Right Care, Right Person (RCRP) policy. Introduced in 2022, the policy provides a framework for police staff to determine the most appropriate agency to respond to Concern for Safety reports, aiming to ensure individuals receive support from the agency best placed to provide it.

Key points from the briefing included:

• Core Duties: Police will attend where there is an immediate risk to life, serious harm, or where engagement is required under Articles 2 or 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Decisions are risk-led, not resource-led.
• Response Model: The Constabulary uses the Public Assistance and Service Standards (PASS) policy to grade incident logs, with response times ranging from emergency (within 15 minutes) to standard (within 48 hours) and telephone resolution.
• THRIVE+ Assessment: The nationally adopted THRIVE+ model is used for risk assessment, evaluating threat, harm, risk, vulnerability, and engagement needs.
• Deployment Statistics: Over the past 12 months, approximately 35,000 Concern for Safety incidents were received, with police deployed to around 63% of cases.
• Escalation and Review: Where a decision is made not to deploy, call handlers can escalate to a supervisor for review, and callers are advised to re-contact if risk levels change.
• Coroner's Notices: No coroner's notices have been issued in relation to RCRP since its implementation.
• Partnership Working: The Constabulary is committed to working with health, adult social care, and other emergency services, including the use of Street Triage Teams, which pair police officers with mental health professionals.

The committee noted that RCRP supports clear decision-making, proportionate response, and shared safeguarding responsibilities across agencies.

Report of the Health Scrutiny Steering Group

The committee received an overview of the Health Scrutiny Steering Group meetings held on 24 February and 7 April 2026. The group discussed updates from Healthwatch Lancashire, the NHS Quality Impact Assessment Review, and the University Hospitals Morecambe Bay Trust. The committee resolved to receive the report.

Health and Adult Services Scrutiny Committee and Steering Group Work Programmes 2025/26

The committee reviewed the work programmes for both the committee and the Steering Group. It was noted that this was the final full meeting of the committee for the municipal year, and a dedicated session would be arranged to discuss the work programme for 2026/27. The committee resolved to review the work programmes and recommendation responses.

The meeting concluded with the confirmation of the next ordinary meeting of the Health and Adult Services Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday 17 June 2026 at 10 am.