Four practical guides to help current and future
commissioners plan and deliver high quality mental health
services have been published today.
The guides focus on primary mental health care
services, child and adolescent mental health service transitions,
dementia services and acute liaison services, and have been
produced by the Joint Commissioning Panel for Mental Health
(JCP-MH).
The short, easy-to-use guides describe what
good quality, modern mental health services should look like. They
bring together scientific evidence, patient and carer experience
and viewpoints, and examples of best practice.
The JCP-MH was launched in March 2011. It is
led by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and Royal College of
General Practitioners, in collaboration with 15 other leading
organisations with an interest in mental health, learning
disabilities and wellbeing.
The organisations came together to address
concerns about the future commissioning of mental health services,
and use their shared expertise to support current and future
commissioners in commissioning mental health care that delivers the
best possible outcomes.
Professor Helen Lester, Commissioning Lead for
Mental Health at the Royal College of General Practitioners and
co-chair of the Panel said: “As a practising GP, I know that it can
often be challenging to get the right care in the right place at
the right time for people with mental health problems. The Joint
Commissioning Panel for Mental Health has written guides full of
good ideas for commissioners, based on case studies of what works
in practice as well as the research evidence base. Every
commissioning group should have a set of these guides close at
hand.”
Dr Neil Deuchar, Commissioning Lead at the
Royal College of Psychiatrists and Co-Chair of the JCP-MH said: “We
know that commissioning mental health services can be challenging,
particularly in these times of uncertainty and change. By bringing
together experts from all parts of mental health – specialist
clinicians, social care, providers of all types, service users and
GPs – the panel aims help current and future commissioners gain
confidence and expertise in ‘values-based’ mental health
commissioning.”
Steve Shrubb, Director of the NHS
Confederation’s Mental Health Network which is part of the JCP-MH,
said: “We know that there is massive potential for GPs to improve
the nation's mental health as they take over commissioning of NHS
services. The vast majority of NHS care is offered in primary care
and with GPs in control of organising care patients there is a real
opportunity to improve care for patients. We also know that many
GPs themselves recognise that they do not yet have all the skills
they need to commission mental health services. We are really keen
to support GPs as they take over their new responsibilities and
these guides provide a really important resource which is backed up
by the best available evidence.”
Speaking on behalf of the Association of
Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS), Terry Dafter, Director
of Adult Social Care for Stockport, said: “This has been a
genuinely collaborative exercise between all key stakeholders
involved in commissioning mental health services. These are
interesting and challenging times for everyone and the spirit of
partnership working is reflected in this latest set of guides.
ADASS hopes that they will form a useful tool and benchmark for
commissioners of mental health services who have an interest in a
values-based approach to their work.”
A further 10 guides are currently in
production covering: addictions services, acute mental health care,
child and adolescent mental health services, community mental
health services, eating disorder services, forensic services,
perinatal services, public mental health interventions,
rehabilitation services, and services for older people.
For further information, please
contact:
Liz Leicester
or Deborah Hart in the Communications
Department.
Telephone: 020 7235 2351 Extensions. 6298 or 6127
Note to editors:
The Joint Commissioning Panel for Mental Health (JCP-MH) is a collaboration of leading organisations with an interest in mental health, learning disabilities, and wellbeing. It exists to provide current and future commissioners with knowledge, practical guidance, evidence, and insight.
The JCP-MH is a partnership between: Royal College of General Practitioners; Royal College of Psychiatrists; Association of Directors of Adult Social Services; NHS Confederation’s Mental Health Network; Mind; Rethink Mental Illness; Afiya Trust; National Involvement Partnership; National Survivor and User Network; Royal College of Nursing; Healthcare Financial Management Association; British Psychological Society; Department of Health; Mental Health Providers Forum; New Savoy Partnership; representatives of the English Strategic Health Authorities; and representatives from specialised commissioning.