CLS news

For the first year of activity (08/09 financial year), targets for mental health Whole System Initiatives have centred on building a close relationship with our partners in the mental health justice system and identifying priority areas to tackle together.

LSC regional mental health leads have achieved the following so far this year:

• Regular meetings with their counterparts in the local Tribunal Service Mental Health Operations Teams (TSMH; formerly MHRT)
• Raising the profile of the work amongst providers and continuous gathering of feedback, including dedicated meetings with individual providers
• Tackling local issues with the TSMH
• Increased knowledge and understanding of the mental health justice system including observation of tribunals
• Promotion of more effective interaction with the TSMH by providers, including use of their secure email system, dedicated application forms and complaints procedure
• Investigation of local NHS structure, along with first contact with Mental Health Act Administrators (MHAAs).

Centrally, regional leads, along with the Mental Health Unit and Mental Health Policy Team, have achieved:

• 2 productive workshops which have identified national priorities including reviewing reasons for adjournments, efficient listings and effective provision of reports
• Representation of provider and client interests at TSMH management meetings
• Questionnaire sent to all MHAAs in England and Wales and responses analysed
• Initial meetings with the NHS Confederation to devise strategy for working more closely with local NHS bodies.

The LSC and TSMH will shortly be jointly reviewing the reasons for unnecessary adjournments in order to identify joint action that can be taken to improve the system for our providers and clients.

For further information on mental health whole system initiatives, please email Stuart Lee or phone him on 0151 242 5266.