Communiqué April 2023

Children Young People and Families Executive Steering Committee (CYPFESC)

The CYPFESC met on 4 April 2023. Committee discussion was focused on how to ensure that as NSW Health implements the Henry Review Implementation Plan (HRIP), it is delivering on the intent of the Henry Review and making a difference for children, young people and families. The committee also discussed some of the key mental health initiatives within the implementation plan and how to ensure paediatric and mental health services are working together effectively. The committee heard a report back on progress of the workforce recommendations in the HRIP and Paediatric Intensive Care and Neonatal Intensive Care (PICNIC) recommendations.

CYPFESC priority setting for 2023-24

CYPFESC agreed an approach to developing its new workplan for 2023-24. This process will consider:

• Priorities set out by three key strategies: Future Health, Regional Health Strategy and the National Action Plan for the Health of Children and Young People
• Systemic issues identified by lead child, youth and family governance groups
• HRIP activities that are ongoing and require a longer-term focus at the system level.

The next workplan will tighten the focus of CYPFESC to key systemic priorities. Other ongoing reform activities in the HRIP will be progressed by the child, youth and families governance groups, with CYPFESC oversight.

Update on implementation of mental health projects in the HRIP

The Ministry's Mental Health Branch provided an update on three activities:

• 2.5.4 – Investigate current resources and arrangements in mental health support for paediatricians
  CYPFESC discussed the complexity of this activity, which will require time and ongoing resources. Paediatricians have an important role in supporting children and young people with mild to moderate mental health issues. Some progress has been made, with training resources available on the HETI website and a new framework for paediatric inpatient care has been developed. However continuing work is required to address structural and cultural barriers.
• 4.7.1 – Establish Safeguard Teams in all local health districts
  NSW Health will establish 25 Safeguards teams of 8 FTE staff. Eleven teams have been established so far.
  The Safeguards teams will increase capacity for early intervention and integrated care. The multidisciplinary teams provide biopsychosocial assessment, crisis intervention, warm handover, and aim to prevent hospital presentations and admissions.
• 5.2.1 – Liaise with Medical Colleges
  The Ministry has written to colleges asking for support to review training requirements and is promoting co-development of guidelines between Royal Australian College of Physicians and Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry, as well as contacting the RANZCP Faculty of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Report of progress against PICNIC and Henry workforce actions

CYPFESC agreed that the PICNIC Action Plan is now operationally embedded and closed from a monitoring perspective. CYPFESC will continue to monitor HRIP workforce actions on:

1. Allied Health workforce capacity
2. Professional development for nursing staff.

CYPFESC members discussed the importance of ensuring that progress made against the actions also leads to service level improvement and better outcomes and experience for children, young people and families. The implementation of the governance refresh will help ensure appropriate governance structures are in place at the state level to drive improvement.

Members noted the ongoing importance of communicating progress and outcomes from the HRIP and PICNIC to the health system and other stakeholders.

For more information

Contact Sarah Morton, Director, Disability, Youth and Paediatric Health, NSW Ministry of Health at sarah.morton2@health.nsw.gov.au.