Policy / Downloads

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• A summary of changes to direct payments - What is changing? From 9 November 2009, important changes will take place. New regulations will extend the direct payments scheme to people who lack the capacity to consent, and to people with mental health problems who are subject to mental health and certain criminal justice legislation. Guidance for councils on direct payments has been updated to reflect these changes.
  
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• NEW HORIZONS – Towards a shared vision for mental health
  The consultation document was launched on 23rd July 2009 and will be our guiding Mental Health Policy for the next decade. Its importance therefore, to our role as voluntary sector service providers, cannot be underestimated. Click here to go directly to the document and further information.
  
  
• What Management Committees Needs to Know is a guide that helps small voluntary organisations and community groups understand the Trustee and Management Commitee National Occupational Standards Click here for more details.
  
  
• New Policy: Increasing the Uptake of Direct Payments
• Action on Stigma - Promoting Mental Health
• Launch of the 10 high impact changes for mental health services ...
• Older Adults Services - Launch Event for “Everybody’s Business” ...
• From segregation to inclusion: Commissioning guidance on day services for people with mental health problems (March 06)
• Supporting the physical needs of people with severe mental illness - commissioning framework (August 06)
• Reward and recognition: the principles and practice of service user payment and reimbursement in health and social care (second edition) A guide for service providers, service users and carers (August 06)
• Supporting women into the mainstream: Commissioning women-only community day services (March 06)
• The National Frame work for Mental Health - Five Years on
• Guidance for Commissioners of Supporting People Services...
• Mental Health and Social Exclusion Report...
  
  
  Briefing Papers
  
  
  • Employment and Support Allowance - Briefing paper
    
    
  • Mental Health Act 1983 as amended by the Mental Health Act 2007 - Briefing paper
    
    
  • National Social Inclusion programme – Outcomes framework for Mental Health Services - Briefing paper
    
    
  • Launch of the Vetting and Barring Scheme - Briefing paper
    
    
  • Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards - Briefing paper
    
    
  • Improving Reach and Train to Gain - Briefing paper
    
    
  • Real Help for Communities – Office of the Third Sector - Briefing paper
    
    
  • Conflicts of Interest - - Briefing paper
    
    
  • Office of the Third Sector – Social Inclusion Wholesale Bank Consultation - Briefing paper
    
    
  • Social Care Green Paper – ‘Shaping the Future of Care Together’ - Briefing paper
    
    
  • Disability Living Allowance - Briefing Paper 11
    
    
  • Balancing Risk - Briefing paper 12
    
    
  • Work, Recovery & Inclusion - Employment Support for People in Contact with Secondary Mental Health Services - Briefing paper 13
    
  • Free Support with Governance and Management from CharityBuilderUK - Briefing Paper 14
    
    

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  Guidance for Commissioners of Supporting People Services In March 2005 the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister issued the document below. This document provides guidance for Commissioners of Supporting People services in understanding the range of housing related support services which are available for people with mental health problems. You can read and download the report at the following link: www.spkweb.org.uk

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  What Management Committees Need to Know What Management Committees Need to Know is a guide that helps small voluntary organisations and community groups understand the Trustee and Management Committee National Occupational Standards and provides an introduction to key issues related to the running of their organisations. It is aimed at trustees, management committee members and paid workers who are helping committees to understand their role. You can download a copy of the guide for free HERE You may also wish to visit other parts of the governance website at www.governancehub.org.uk It contains a wealth of information on other aspects of governing your charity – many of the areas that were covered in our recent “Fit For Purpose” research.

  June 2007

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  Launch of the 10 high impact changes for mental health services A new drive to modernise mental health services was launched today by Health Minister Rosie Winterton. She published a document outlining ten key changes that mental health providers should make to improve quality of care for patients and drive better service efficiency. These changes include: more home treatment for service users improving access to screening and assessment for service users, and avoiding unnecessary contact for service users and providing contact in the right setting. Based on existing best practice, all ten changes have been tried and tested around the country. The difference they have made to service users, to staff and to services themselves have been measured and results are presented in case studies collected from local mental health services across the country. The document aims to show mental health professionals that by following this guidance, they can make a real difference to how they provide services for patients. Launching the document, which has been produced by the Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP) for the Department of Health, Rosie Winterton said: “We know that patients want community-based health services, greater control and a more personalised service. Unprecedented levels of investment in mental health services have already resulted in real benefits for patients. Now we must redouble our efforts to provide more streamlined, effective care, tailored to meet the needs of individual patients." “I am delighted to launch the 10 High Impact Changes for Mental Health Services and thank CSIP for all their work in making this possible. Based on real examples of success, the initiative offers practical changes that professionals can make to improve service delivery, the treatment and experience of patients, as well as the moral of staff." “Offering real choice, improving access and reducing social exclusion requires service reform. Our challenge is to continue to build on the successes that we have achieved. The 10 high impact changes initiative confirms that making a real difference is possible.” Commenting on the initiative, Jackie Ardley, director of CSIP’s South East Development Centre said: “The high impact changes success comes from and is dependent on engagement and work with staff and service users in the local health and social care communities who implement them.” To access the publication and find out more information please visit www.nimhe.csip.org.uk/10highimpactchanges Ashley Jacques Information & Communications Manager, Care Services Improvement Partnership East Midlands Development Centre (CSIP) Telephone: 01623 812930 Floor 3 Mill 3, Pleasley Vale Business Park, Outgang Lane, Mansfield. Nottingham NG19 8RL www.eastmidlands.csip.org.uk

  June 2006

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  Action on stigma - Promoting mental health, ending discrimination A new initiative from the Department of Health is to be launched on World Mental Health Day (10th October 2006). Called ‘Action on Stigma’, the aim of the new initiative is to help organisations change the way they deal with mental health issues. The Government believes that employers have a key role to play in helping reduce the impact of mental illness by changing the way they think about the issue and making a positive commitment to: * Help staff to maintain their mental wellbeing * Support employees if they develop a problem * Make sure their employees understand mental health issues * Not discriminate against an employee or customer because they have a mental health problem. The Government believes that it needs to get its own house in order and so the first organisations that will be targeted are those working in the public sector, specifically the NHS. The publication of the principles to work too will be followed by a period of discussion with employers about how the initiative can best be delivered in different parts of the country. This ‘listening’ exercise will be followed by the publication of an action plan in the Spring of 2007. If you would like to support this initiative or would like more information then please download the full briefing HERE

  October 2006

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  Older Adults Services - Launch Event for “Everybody’s Business” The Launch was held at Swanwick Hayes on Wednesday 29th November. If you follow the link below you will be able to access the feedback from the day: HERE For further information before then please contact Angela Kerry on 01773 763666 or by E-mail to angela.kerry@sdvsmhf.org.uk

  January 2007

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  New Policy: Increasing the Uptake of Direct Payments New Best Practice guidance on increasing the uptake of Direct Payments has been released by the Department of Health. You can download the information from their website HERE. Here

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

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  From segregation to inclusion: Commissioning guidance on day services for people with mental health problems (March 06) You can read and download the report at the following link: http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics

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  Supporting women into the mainstream: Commissioning women-only community day services (March 06) You can read and download the report at the following link: http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics

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  Reward and recognition: the principles and practice of service user payment and reimbursement in health and social care (second edition) A guide for service providers, service users and carers (August 06) You can read and download the report at the following link: http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics

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  Supporting the physical needs of people with severe mental illness - commissioning framework (August 06) You can read and download the report at the following link: http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics

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  The National Service Framework for Mental Health - Five Years On In December 2004 the Department of Health published this follow-up report on the NSF for Mental health, which was first published in 1999. The report summarises progress made so far, and highlights the main objectives for the next five years against each of the seven service standards. You can read and download the report at the following link: http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics

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  Mental Health and Social Exclusion Report A new report on " Mental Health and Social Exclusion" was published on 14th June 2004. The report looks at what more can be done to enable adults with mental health problems to enter and retain work, and how to ensure that adults with mental health problems have the same opportunities for social participation and access to services as the general population. You can download the report at the following link: www.socialexclusionunit.gov.uk/mental_health/mental_health.htm

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