Guidance for commissioners of services for people with medically unexplained symptoms
This guide published by the Joint Commissioning Panel for Mental Health (JCPMH) is about the commissioning of comprehensive services for people with medically unexplained symptoms across the healthcare system. Read more »
Integrated approach to identifying and assessing Carer health and wellbeing
This toolkit published by NHS England clarifies the new duties on NHS organisations under the Care Act 2014 and the Children and Families Act 2014, and includes examples of positive practice of work that have proven successful in supporting carers and their families. Read more »
Implementing the early intervention in psychosis access and waiting time standard guidance
This guidance is intended to provide support to local commissioners and providers in implementing the access and waiting time standard for early intervention in psychosis (EIP) services. Read more »
NHS Outcomes Framework 2016-17
This framework published by the Department of Health sets out the outcomes and corresponding indicators that will be used to hold NHS England to account for improvements in health outcomes after April 2016. Read more »
Five Year Forward View for Mental Health
This independent report of the Mental Health Taskforce sets out a strategic approach to improving mental health outcomes across the health and care system, in partnership with the health arm’s length bodies. It prioritises prevention, access, integration, quality and a positive experience of care. Read more »
Bromley Home Treatment Team
The Bromley Home Treatment Team, which includes doctors, nurses and psychological therapists, provides care 24 hours a day 7 days a week for up to 20 patients at any one time and up to 1200 patients a year. Read more »
Talking Shops in Doncaster and Scunthorpe
The Talking Shops in Doncaster and Scunthorpe enable people to drop-in if they need help for problems such as depression, panic or phobias, or simply to access free information or advice. They give people the opportunity to browse information on mental health issues and gain knowledge about the therapies offered by Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust. Read more »
Understanding Psychosis and Schizophrenia
This report published by the British Psychological Society provides overview of the current state of knowledge in the field, concluding that psychosis can be understood and treated in the same way as other psychological problems such as anxiety or shyness. Read more »
Distinctive, Valued, Personal: Why Social Care Matters – The Next Five Years
This discussion paper, published by the Association of Adult Directors of Social Services, that outlines the developmental steps needed to be taken immediately after the General Election in order to ensure a safe, secure and personalised care and health system for older and disabled people. Read more »
Future in mind – promoting, protecting and improving our children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing
This document published by the Department of Health makes a number of proposals to improve mental health services for young people by 2020. Read more »
New fund to improve the health of homeless people
The Homes and Communities Agency has announced a new £55 million fund to imporve the health of homeless people by upgrading existing accommodation and provide new housing. Read more »
Vanguard sites selected to deliver new models of care
NHS England has announced 29 vanguard sites for their New Care Models Programme, one of the first steps towards delivering the Five Year Forward View and supporting improvement and integration of services. Read more »
Caring for Carers
The Caring for Carers Hub developed by the Royal College of General Practitioners is a web based tool that can help primary care staff to more effectively support carers and the people they care for. Read more »
East of England Co-Production Programme
This project led by by the East of England Strategic Clinical Network, working with the National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi) will evaluate and support co-production between patients, carers and healthcare providers as equal partners in the East of England. Read more »
Mental Health Conference 2015
This storify outlines the issues and discussion from the Mental Health Conference hosted by Nick Clegg and Norman Lamb at the King’s Fund on 19 January to discuss the future of mental health services in England. Read more »
Mental Health Act 1983: Code of Practice
The revised code of practice shows professionals how to carry out their roles and responsibilities under the Mental Health Act 1983, to ensure that all patients receive high quality and safe care. Read more »
Commissioning for Carers Principles
This practical tool is part of a suite of products that will help commissioners to deliver what carers say is important to them in ways that have been shown to work effectively and efficiently in practice. Read more »
Mental health services in London: Key facts
This infographic published by the London Strategic Clinical Network for Mental Health provides key facts about mental health and wellbeing services in London. Read more »
A commissioner’s guide to primary care mental health
This guidance published by the London Strategic Clinical Network for Mental Health explores case studies where mental health and wellbeing services are being promoted and developed within and alongside primary care, and draws some key lessons from them. Read more »
Commissioning better CAMHS in the South West
This report published by the South West Strategic Clinical Network for Mental Health has been developed to support commissioners in leading and shaping the transformation of child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) in the South West. Read more »
Mymind
Mymind is a website www.mymind.org.uk and twitter feed @mymindfeed, developed by Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, to provide children and young people with information about mental health problems. Read more »
National Audit of Schizophrenia 2nd report 2014
This report presents the findings of the second National Audit of Schizophrenia. Among other important findings, it highlights areas of concern including: physical healthcare, the availability of psychological therapies and the inadequate provision of information and support for carers. Read more »
Learning Disability Conference
The Learning Disability Conference led by the Greater Manchester, Lancashire and South Cumbria Strategic Clinical Network for Mental Health, Dementia and Neurological Conditions was held on the 4th September 2014 at the Reebok Stadium, Bolton. Read more »
NICE Clinical Guideline CG185: the assessment and management of bipolar disorder
This guideline updates and replaces NICE clinical guideline 38 (published July 2006). It offers evidence based advice on the care and treatment of children, young people and adults with bipolar disorder. Read more »
Community mental health profiles
This tool, developed by the Mental Health Dementia and Neurology Intelligence Network, together a range of mental health data at Clinical Commissioning Group level and is principally intended to support local needs assessment, policy, planning, performance management, surveillance and practice. Read more »
Preventing suicide: A global imperative
This report published by the World Health Organisation aims to increase awareness of the public health significance of suicide and suicide attempts and to strengthen comprehensive suicide prevention strategies. Read more »
Severe mental illness profiling tool
This tool, developed by the Mental Health Dementia and Neurology Intelligence Network, supports an intelligence driven approach to understanding and meeting the needs of people with severe mental illness. Read more »
Common mental health disorders profiling tool
This tool, developed by the Mental Health Dementia and Neurology Intelligence Network, supports an intelligence driven approach to understanding and meeting the needs of people with common mental health problems. Read more »
No assumptions: a narrative for personalised, coordinated care and support in mental health
This resource, jointly published by Think Local Act Personal and National Voices, describes some critical outcomes and success factors in the care, support and treatment of people who use mental health services, from their perspective. Read more »
LIFT – wellbeing after baby
LIFT psychology service in Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset offers extensive programme of free psycho-educational courses, including the ‘Wellbeing after baby’ course for any parents or carers who are experiencing anxiety, depression or general stress since the birth of a baby. Read more »
Safer Care Pathways in Mental Health Project aims to make mental health care pathways safer and more reliable for service users and their families. It is one of ten projects in the national ‘Closing the Gap in Patient Safety’ programme, funded by the Health Foundation. Read more »
Born in South Lakeland – developing emotionally resilient children
This report asserts that improvements must be made across South Lakeland mental health services to ensure the safety of rapidly increasing numbers of self harming or suicidal young people. Read more »
Complex Recovery, Advice and Consultation Service
The Complex Recovery Assessment and Consultation (CRAC) Service in Cheshire and Wirral works to enhance existing care pathways by utilising expertise and specialist skills in complex care management. The team also captures on-going audit data looking at detailed analysis of variance leading to prolonged or repetitive use of acute care. Read more »
LIFT – BAME project
This project aims to increase the proportion of black and asian minority ethnic (BAME) groups who access LIFT Psychology’s services in Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset. Read more »
Sunderland psychological wellbeing service
Sunderland psychological wellbeing service provides quick access to a wide range of psychological treatment interventions for adults with common mental health problems who have a low to moderate level of need. Read more »
Making mental health count: The social and economic costs of neglecting mental health care
This report published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) argues that even in those OECD countries with a long history of deinstitutionalisation, there is still a long way to go to make community-based mental health care that achieves good outcomes for people with severe mental illness a reality. Read Making mental health… Read more »
Autism Innovation Fund
The government has made £1.2 million of funding available to improve local autism services and increase awareness. The funding is available as part of Think Autism, the update to the 2010 Adult Autism Strategy for England. Read more »
Autism Professionals Awards 2015
The National Autistic Society (NAS) Autism Professional Awards 2015 recognise and reward services and professionals leading the way in innovative autism practice and making a real difference to the lives of people with autism. Read more »
Autism hospital passport
This resource published by the National Autistic Society aims to help people with autism who might need hospital treatment to communicate their needs to doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. Read more »
Diverse perspectives
This report published by the National Autistic Society explores the challenges for families affected by autism from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities in England. Read more »
Report on the provision of CAMHS Tier 4 services
This report published by NHS England provides a comprehensive overview of the current provision of specialised inpatient mental health services for children and young people, known as Tier four services. Read more »
From the pond into the sea: Children’s transition to adult health services
This report published by the Care Quality Commission presents findings from a recent review into children’s transition to adult health services. Finding shows that young people with complex health needs do not always receive the necessary care and support when they move on to adult care services. Read more »
It involves us
This guidance produced by the National Autistic Society aimes to help local authorities better involve people with autism in their local planning and implementation. Read more »
Consultation on the Care Act 2014
Details on the rules determining who will get adult social care from April 2015 have been published, as part of a Government consultation on the regulations and guidance accompanying the Care Act 2014. Read more »
Lester UK Adaption 2014
This clinical resource, named in honour of the late Professor Helen Lester, provides a simple framework for identifying and treating cardiovascular and type 2 diabetes risks in patients with psychosis receiving antipsychotic medication. Read more »
A revolution in mental health information
In this blogpost Dr Geraldine Strathdee, NHS England’s National Clinical Director for Mental Health, explains why the Mental Health Dementia and Neurology Intelligence Networks represent a revolution for mental health services. Read more »
HeadMeds
HeadMeds is a website for young people about mental health medications and mental health conditions, managed by YoungMinds. Read more »
How to.. promote mental wellbeing in youth work practice
This ‘How to’ guide published by the Mental Health Foundation is aimed at youth organisations working with young people, to help to embed mental wellbeing improvement practices within the organisations. Read more »
Factsheet on Children and Families Act and The Care Act
This factsheet identifies the key elements in forthcoming policy changes that relate to the lives of young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and preparing for adulthood. Read more »
Developing effective holistic services for young people
This briefing published by Youth Access provides guidance for health and local authority commissioners on how to develop joined-up services for young people in transition that can provide co-ordinated support on health, mental health, social welfare, personal and practical issues. Read more »