Rent arrears management for people with mental health problems

The National Social Inclusion Programme has produced a briefing document on improving the effectiveness of rent arrears management when supporting people with mental health problems.  The briefing has been drawn from the larger guidance produced by the Department for Local Government and Communities (DCLG, formerly ODPM) on effective rent arrears management, which can be found on the DCLG website www.communities.gov.uk

The briefing is designed to raise awareness of the need to address rent arrears proactively and therefore reduce unnecessary possessions and evictions (which involve both high cost to the landlord and a pronounced negative effect on the well-being of the tenant). Information and practical suggestions are provided to assist general housing and mental health service providers to work individually and jointly on achieving effective rent arrears management when supporting people with mental health problems.

This electronic (PDF) briefing can be accessed on the National Social Inclusion Programme website.

Change in Mind - Improving Mental Health and Social Wellbeing

Mental health services in Manchester are changing and improvements are planned so that they are:

• accessible for everyone who needs them
• easy to use
• supporting people to stay in their own homes or near their families so that they don't become isolated from their own community
• enabling people to become well as quickly as possible - and to stay well
• modern and up-to-date: a 21st Century service
• being delivered in line with government targets

A final decision has been made about which changes to take forward.  These changes take into account concerns raised during a public consultation on the initial proposals from 7 December 2005 to 22 March 2006. You can find out more about the consultation process and the final decisions taken by the Joint Committee on the Best for Health website.  Work is currently ongoing to organise the next steps of the Change in Mind project; implementing the decisions taken by the Joint Committee at their meeting on 28 July 2006. There will be no further meetings of the Joint Committee, but the committee will administer the Local Implementation Team (LIT).

Equality and Diversity

The Equality Impact Assessment Group discussed the Change in Mind decisions in principle in relation to equality i.e. could any of the decisions in principle disadvantage any particular groups in Manchester on the basis of race, gender, sexuality etc. The Equality and Diversity Group have reported back and you can download their findings from www.bestforhealth.nhs.uk

Is money available to fund these proposed changes?

The 3 Manchester Primary Care Trusts and Manchester City Council have confirmed their commitment to fund the £3.9 million as specified in the Change in Mind consultation document.

Manchester to have first Mental Health A & E

The Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts and the Executive Committee of Manchester City Council have met and agreed important improvements to Manchester's mental health services, including the country's first 24-hour mental health assessment unit at Accident and Emergency, an early intervention service and more specialised community, mental health teams. This follows an extensive public consultation with users, carers, and the public.

Councillor Basil Curley, executive member for adult services said: "These changes will improve both the quality of care, and the access to care for people with mental health problems.  The consultation was detailed and thorough and has clearly shown us the way forward for mental health services in the city.  Services will now focus on early intervention, emergency care and outreach - services that users clearly stated should be prioritised."

Chair of the Joint Committee, Councillor Val Stevens, said: "Both Manchester City Council and the PCTs have been working hard to come up with the best strategy possible to improve the quality of care for people with mental health problems in the city. I'm confident these plans will deliver those significant improvements."

Laura Roberts, Chief Executive of Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust added: "This is a landmark decision, and ultimately means we will be able to deliver a more effective service to users and carers across Manchester. 

"With £4 million of additional funding available each year to help implement the changes, the process will be well-resourced.  In particular, we anticipate that extra posts will be created, and existing staff will have new opportunities to develop their skills.

"Inevitably, implementing the changes will bring many challenges for our 1,300 dedicated staff. We are therefore embarking on a detailed staff consultation programme, to ensure everyone is well informed and actively involved in implementing the changes as smoothly as possible.

"The next 12 months will place heavy demands on the Trust, but I know that everyone involved will work hard to achieve the goal of providing the highest quality care to patients and service users."

Under the new proposals, more specialised community mental health teams will be created, supported by specialist services, including new teams for people who struggle to work with mainstream services (assertive outreach), people in crisis (crisis resolution and home treatment) and those experiencing their first episode of psychosis (early intervention). A new mental health assessment unit - called PEARL - based at Accident and Emergency in Central Manchester will be developed to provide emergency psychiatric care. This proposal was warmly welcomed during the consultation and provides Manchester with the UK's first specialist mental health accident and emergency unit.

For people who will transfer to the new services, clear transition plans will be put in place to ensure that their current care is not disrupted. An equality impact assessment has been carried out on the proposals and the Equality Impact Assessment Group will meet in six months time to review progress.

Local Implementation Team (LIT)

Who runs the LIT?

The LIT is administered by the Joint Commissioning Team (JCT).  The Joint Commissioning Team is responsible for commissioning (buying and monitoring) mental health services in Manchester.

What is the purpose of the LIT?

The LIT exists to enable Manchester residents to be involved in the shaping and development of mental health services.

Can I get involved?

Yes! You don't need to have any experience to get involved and we welcome new members to the LIT.  the LIT meets quarterly, but if you need to contact us in the meantime, you can find our contact details below.

Who decides what will be on the agenda?

The LIT: this means you!  Although the JCT administers the LIT and is able to offer advice and guidance on what subjects to discuss at each event, you are encouraged to help set the agenda.

Contact details:

Joint Commissioning Team, Mauldeth House, Mauldeth Road West, Manchester, M21 7RL (Tel: 0161 958 4077  Fax: 0161 958 4073)

Find out dates of meetings

Mental health in Manchester

Manchester Public Health Development Service has developed an Internet portal site for mental health information. It aims to give easy access to a range of information on the web through a contents page listing.

The emphasis is on practical information of use to people who need it for their own mental health or to pass on to people who do.

Categories of information include mental health conditions, treatments and medication, local services, practical advice (like money, accommodation, the law), self-help and local community resources. It is hoped these categories will guide people (in 3 clicks of a mouse where possible) to items of information that have been selected for quality and plain language.

The site has been designed by Manchester Community Information Network and funded by Central Manchester Primary Care Trust.   www.mentalhealthinmanchester.org.uk or www.mhim.org.uk

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