Agenda and draft minutes

Items
No. Item

21.

Welcomes, Introductions and Apologies

Minutes:

Everyone was welcomed to the meeting and introductions were made around the table and screen.

Apologies were received from Cllr Anna King (Co-Chair), Divya Terry, Mavis Mundirwa, Annabel Pickering, Morcea Walker, Cllr Rosie Humphries, Laura Boatwright and Neelam Aggarwal.

22.

Code of Conduct pdf icon PDF 244 KB

23.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 394 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the last meeting were agreed as a true record.

24.

Update on Maternal Mental Health Service

Carly Galpin

Minutes:

Many women experience moderate or worse mental health issues during pregnancy and the first 12 months after birth.  Some will be due to pre-existing conditions, some will be completely out of the blue.  This can be depression or anxiety sometimes as a result of the maternal journey due to the end of a pregnancy, death of the baby or trauma through the birth experience.  

The cost of maternal mental health conditions is around £8.1bn and relates more to the child than the mother proving the extent the impact has on the next generation.  Of those women who died 6 weeks to 1 year after birth, 1 in 7 did so by suicide.  20% of women will experience mental health issues  1 year + after pregnancy, this is higher in those with a pre-existing condition.

During 2016 there were 9,113 live births in the county, breakdown for mental health issues was:-

Postpartum psychosis – 20

Serious mental illness – 20

Severe depression – 250

Mild to moderate depression/anxiety – 800-1,250

PTSD – 250

Adjustment disorders and distress – 1,240-2,480

 

Covid has definitely had an impact over the last few years, not just with the women, but also within the maternity workforce with many facing burnout.

The specialist perinatal service provides assessment and treatment for those who have experienced, or are at an increased chance of experiencing, moderate to severe mental health conditions including

·        Pre-conception counselling

·        Medication advice

·        Specialist psychological interventions

·        Birth planning & postpartum monitoring of mental health

·        Mother infant interventions

·        1:1 and group interventions

·        Peer support – lived experience

·        Referrals from any health professional

·        Tokohobia (fear of childbirth)

·        Loss

·        Trauma

 

The Team had been in place a year now and was made up of:-

Consultant psychiatrists & junior Doctors

Psychology team

Wellbeing therapists

Perinatal practitioners

Occupational therapists

Nursery nurses

Support workers

Peer support workers

Administration

Midwives

 

The team engaged with Mental Health Awareness week, 2-8 May, with some webinars.

 

Aims for the coming year included:

Supporting 10% of the county’s birth population

Fathers & partners pathway

Engage with Baby Loss Awareness week 9 – 15 October 22

Continual work on development/delivering training on PMH

Continual work on develop/support charity sectors raising awareness and improve mental health disparity

Support 3rd sector re mental health disparities

 

The website had been refreshed - Specialist perinatal mental health | NHFT

 

Alex asked if they had connections with community organisations.  Carly stated that they do especially with Home Start but wanted to expand especially with parent/infant connection services as many mothers needed support with bonding.  They were also keen to increase the voice of 0-2’s in Northampton.  They had done some engagement in the Central Library which had great diversity and wanted to do more meaningful work with tots groups etc. asking questions around mental health and wellbeing.  Alex responded that there were some good play groups including in St James and Pearls of Peace which could be a good starting point.

 

 

Cllr Russell asked if any specific resources and support were available for same sex couples  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

25.

Plans for IWD 2023

Minutes:

Debbie asked for approval/comments to proceed with:

·        Developing something along the business route following on from meeting the business Inspirational Woman winners and shortlisted and other business women we had met over the last few years.  Also the talk from Asy last time promoting the help Nat West had available for female start-up businesses.

·        Involving Northants Sport and Northampton Leisure Trust.  Apparently a few years ago they had run a day at Lings for women and girls under the ‘This Girl Can’ banner with lots of taster sessions and stands raising awareness of activities.

 

Support was given from those present.  It was also agreed the Guildhall event would be held on Saturday 4th March.  It was agreed that more was needed outside to promote what was going on inside – potential of parking the fire engine outside, having a workshop to design poster. 

 

Debbie said the feedback from the shortlisted Inspirational Women presentation had been very good and they really appreciated the intimate atmosphere and also the opportunity to speak to other shortlisted women.  Debbie suggested doing things along a similar line but at an earlier time, then putting in the programme that they would then come downstairs and be presented on the stage.  The issues with sound had been taken on board and advice taken on ways of improving the viewing quality of the live streaming.

 

 

26.

Community Information Exchange

Minutes:

 

Alex - Current Grants from NCF:-

·        The Constance Travis Endowment Fund for Northamptonshire will be opening for applications in June and awarding grants from July onwards. This will be a rolling programme, with no set deadlines and organisations will be able to apply for up to £3,000. Projects would need to be linked to one of the following local goals – no poverty, zero hunger, good health and wellbeing, quality education, gender equality, decent work and economic growth, reduced inequalities, sustainable communities, climate action and peace, justice and strong institutions.

·        Queen's Institute Relief Fund for Northampton - grants up to £5000 for projects based in Northampton that are all about improving health and wellbeing. The next deadline for applications is Friday 5th August https://www.ncf.uk.com/grants/grant-finder/queens-institute

·        The Compton fund is limited this year, it currently has just over £10,000 available, it will be open for applications of up to £5,000 and the next deadline is 7th October. Applications will go to a panel at the end of November and applicants will be notified of the funding decision in the first week or so of December. https://www.ncf.uk.com/grants/grant-finder/compton-fund

·        High Sheriff Initiative - this year the Northamptonshire High Sheriff’s Initiative Fund's focus will be on tackling serious youth violence and projects covering prevention and intervention. The programme will make awards of up to £5000. Applications are by expression of interest – deadline 10th June https://www.ncf.uk.com/grants/grant-finder/high-sheriffs-initiative-fund

·        Rachael's Fund was established to support projects working with adults and young people, who have mild learning difficulties, to live independently.  The aims of Rachael's Fund are to award grants to new or existing innovative projects supporting young people and adults with mild learning difficulties, particularly where there are gaps in provision. The programme will make awards of up to £10,000. Applications are by expression of interest – deadline 20th June https://www.ncf.uk.com/grants/grant-finder/rachaels-fund

 

NCF are looking to recruit a new Programmes Officer to join the Grants Team - https://www.ncf.uk.com/about-us/vacancies

 

Cllr Russell – Currently writing to residents about setting up a Semilong Residents Association which will meet at Alliston Gardens Community Centre.

Monthly meeting at Links View on first Monday of the month for coffee and cakes.

Cllr Advice Surgery at Northampton Bangladeshi Association first Thursday of the month.

 

Carly – 13-19 June Infant Mental Health Week

 

Tina – During the recent recruitment 1 woman had been taken on out of the 12 successful recruits which was a bit disappointing.  There had been a big interest from women at the beginning and they would be looking to see where in the process they had dropped out.  The new recruits were currently on training.  The next intake would be in October and there would be positive action days in the lead up which they would be asking partners to promote.  The service was still only 20% female.  The Fire Women’s Forum had developed a FAQ for those thinking of applying.  They had a lot of bookings for community events throughout the year.  The OFPCC had a lot of funding for a big  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

27.

Items for Future Meetings

Minutes:

Creating Equalz – update on the recent workshops

SWAN project – update

Something around financial crisis and rising costs

28.

Date of Next Meeting

Minutes:

The next meeting will be:-

11am 26 July 2022 by Teams and at Northampton’s Guildhall