SPN NEWSLETTER MARCH 2011
Welcome to our round up of news from the mental health and social care sectors from March. Reforms to Welfare, the Health Service and now possibly to statutory duties are high on the news and policy agenda. To keep you up to date we bring you a round up of what’s new, what’s in the news and what the media is saying about it all.
SPN UPDATE
TRUST FOR LONDON (FORMERLY CITY PAROCHIAL FUND) – POWER UP! THE LONDON PERSONALISATION PROJECT.
The PowerUp! updateincludes details of our Personal Health Budgets consultation forBMEcommunities and our personalisation event held in Wandsworth
PowerUp! interim report
PowerUp! wants to hear from you!
PowerUp! would like to hear from any Londoner who isinterested in the mental health personalisation agenda – as a service user, carer, worker, commissioner or campaigner, particularly those from or working with black and minority ethnic, and lesbian gay bisexual and transgender communities. Email PowerUp! Co-ordinator,Raza Griffiths for more information on
SPN IN THE MEDIA
In the March issue of Mental Health Today magazine, Robert Goemans, SPN Exec Committee Member asks if psychiatry is £1billion well spent.
GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS
DEPARTMENT FOR COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Last week, the Department for Communities and Local Government opened a consultation to examine all council statutory duties as part of a wide-ranging review for secretary of state Eric Pickles. The DCLGis seeking views on which duties are essential and which could be removed. The article can be viewed here
‘FEARS PICKLES CONSULTATION MIGHT DILUTE SOCIAL WORKER ROLE’ (COMMUNITY CARE 14 MARCH)
GOVERNMENT COULD ABOLISH ALL COUNCIL SOCIAL CARE DUTIES (COMMUNITY CARE MARCH 3)
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
FOLLOWING THE LAUNCH OF NO HEALTH WITHOUT MENTAL HEALTH, DAVID BEHAN, DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR SOCIAL CARE, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND CARE PARTNERSHIPS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HOSTS WEBCHAT ON THURSDAY 7 APRIL STARTING AT 1.15PM.
The Department is inviting people to ask questions on both the strategy itself and mental health in general. Questioners are encouraged send questions to the DoH in advance by Thursday 31 Marchusing the following mailbox
CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED TO TACKLE DEMENTIA (MARCH 4)
INTRODUCTION TO THE NATIONAL DEMENTIAL STRATEGY: FIRST VIDEO BLOG FROM ALIISTAIR BURNS IS THE NATIONAL CLINICAL DIRECTOR FOR DEMENTIA FOR ENGLAND.
GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES “RESPONSIBILITY DEAL” ON PUBLIC HEALTH (MARCH)
‘LANSLEY'S HEALTH STRATEGY FLOUNDERS AS MORE ORGANISATIONS REFUSE TO JOIN’ GUARDIAN MARCH 15
‘NEW DRINK CODE SHUNNED BY SIX KEY HEALTH BODIES (GUARDIAN MARCH 14)
PERSONAL HEALTH BUDGETS MARCH NEWSLETTER
DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS
UNIVERSITIES AND SCIENCE MINISTER DAVID WILLETTS ANNOUNCES A NEW £33.5 MILLION PROJECT THAT WILL FOLLOW 90,000 BRITISH CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THE FACTORS AFFECTING THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS OF SOCIETY (MARCH 1). VIEW THE FULL ARTICLE HERE.
NEWS FROM NMHDU
BIRMINGHAM AND SOLIHULL MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION TRUST WIN AWARD FOR PATIENT SAFETY IN MENTAL HEALTH FOR THEIR MULTI-AGENCY WORKING TO PROMOTE PATIENT, STAFF AND PUBLIC SAFETY IN FORENSIC CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH. FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE HERE.
PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING - THE LOCAL PERSPECTIVE, PUBLISHED BY THE NHS CONFEDERATION AND PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NMHDU (MARCH 9)
IMPROVING WELLBEING THROUGH HEALTH LIFE CHOICES
PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH OF BLACK AND MINORITY ETHNIC WOMEN: A REVIEW OF CURRENT PROVISION IN ENGLAND, SCOTLAND AND WALES.
DIRECTORY FOR COMMISSIONERS: BETTER MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR CHIILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
KATIE CHEESEMAN, OF THE NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH DEVELOPMENT UNIT, EXPRESSES HER ENTHUSIASM FOR THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSED CHANGES IN AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN FEBRUARY'S EDITION OF SITRA'S BULLETIN. THE FULL ARTICLE CAN BE VIEWED HERE.
CUTS WATCH
KINGS FUND PUBLISHES REPORT ‘SOCIAL CARE FUNDING AND THE NHS AN IMPENDING CRISIS?’
SOCIAL CARE FACES £1bn FUNDING GAP BY 2015 SAYS KINGS FUND RESEARCH (GUARDIAN MARCH 17)
‘PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS BEING LAID OFF FAR FASTER THAN OFFICIALLY PREDICTED’ (GUARDIAN MARCH 16)
‘MOST SOCIAL WORKERS FEAR PRACTICE STANDARDS DECLINE AS CUTS BITE’ (COMMUNITY CARE MARCH 16)
‘SOCIAL WORKERS URGED TO JOIN PROTESTS AGAINST CUTS’ COMMUNITY CARE 9 MARCH REPORTS COMMENTS ON BLOG BY CHRIS TANSLEY, UNISON VICE PRESIDENT AND A CHILDREN'S SOCIAL WORKER IN NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
‘FUNDING CUTS LEADS TO TIDAL WAVE OF JOB AND SERVICE LOSSES’ (COMMUNITY CARE MARCH 9)
‘CHILDREN’S SERVICES TAKE A HIT OF £1BILLION’ (CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE NOW MARCH 8)
CHILD POVERTY ACTION GROUP MOUNTS LEGAL CHALLENGE TO WELFARE REFORM (GUARDIAN MARCH 7)
LIST OF PROJECTS ACROSS LONDON BEING HIT BY THE CUTS
Many of them have a direct impact on mental health e.g. theYouthReach Youth Counselling Service in South London (mainly funded by Greenwich Council) Newham Asian Women's Project and Haringey Advisory Group on Alcohol (funded mainly by Haringey Council)
MARCH AND LOBBY ON PARLIAMENT BY DISABLED PEOPLE – INCLUDING PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS, DIAGNOSES
HOW HAVE THE CUTS AFFECTED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES?
‘CHARITIES ATTACK NEW LIMITS ON EMERGENCY WELFARE LOANS’ (GUARDIAN MARCH 3)
RESEARCH, REPORT AND EVENTS
NEW REPORT. RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE: AFRICAN, AFRICAN-CARIBBEAN AND SOUTH ASIAN WOMEN’S NARRATIVES OF RECOVERING FROM MENTAL DISTRESS, PUBLISHED BY THE MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION IN COLLABORATION WITH SURVIVOR RESEARCH (MARCH 23)
For more information, click here
To download the report and other related documents, click here
"WHAT MAKES A MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE GREAT? VIEWS OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE USERS, CARERS, STAFF, TRAINEES AND VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT FOR RESEARCH PROJECT
The project "Mental Health: Person to Person" - developed together by staff and service users - is led by Dr Sue Holtum in the Department of Applied Psychology at Canterbury Christ Church University.
To find out more and send your views and experiences anonymously, visit the project web site at
‘BMA VOWS TO PUSH FOR CHANGES TO HEALTH REFORM BILL’
AS REPORTED BY YOUNG MINDS, BMA RESEARCH LINKS CANNABIS USE TO PSYCHOSIS
AFIYA TRUST RESPONSE TO PUBLIC HEALTH WHITE PAPER
INVOLVE SEEKS INDEPENDENT RESEARCHER TO UNDERTAKE AUDIT OF NIHR (NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH RESEARCH) MENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH NETWORK (MHRN) STUDY SERVICE USER INVOLVEMENT PLANS– CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS 30 MARCH
INVOLVE ISSUES DEMENTIA THEMED CALL
INVOLVE SEEKS VIEWS ON STRATEGIC PLAN
SAMARITANS LAUNCHES FACEBOOK DRIVE TO ENCOURAGE SUPPORT FOR SUICIDAL FRIENDS
RETHINK DELIVERS NEW SUPPORT LINE FOR VETERANS WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS
RETHINK CALLS ON GOVT TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING TO POLICE OFFICERS
The recommendation is part of the charity’s response to the government’s consultation on the sentencing and rehabilitation green paper which closed 4 March.
NEW TOGETHER EXHIBITION EXPLORES FEMALE OFFENDERS’ EXPERIENCES OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. LONDON UNTIL JUNE 10
FERNS ASSOCIATES RECC (RACE EQUALITY AND CULTURAL CAPABILITY) TRAINING FOR TRAINERS PROGRAMME UPDATE
RECC training continues to develop
Further information and booking form are available here
PDF May 2011 RECCT4T Accredited Open Courses two page (1).pdf
PDF RECC course info May2011-2.pdf
RECC T4T 2011 Booking Form for open courses.doc
NON-HETEROSEXUAL PEOPLE SUFFER MORE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS – REPORT FROM PYSCHIATRISTS AT UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON.
bRITISH JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY 198 143-148. cHAKRABORTy A, Mcmanus S, bRUGa ts, bebbington P & king m
‘Spirituality in Your Trust’ NATIONAL SPIRITUALITY AND MENTAL HEALTH FORUM CONFERENCE Friday 6 May 2011
In the context of the responsibility on Trusts to provide religious, spiritual and culturally competent care, this conference comes at a key time for those seeking to improve their practice and find new ways of working with the values that are at the heart of spiritual care in mental health services. The event is aimed mainly at those working in spiritual care and those who share their commitment to person-centred practice in mental health services. Cost £35.
For a flyer and draft programme:
flyer2011 conference 6 May new flyer.doc
2011 conference 6 May programme updated (2).doc
CARERS WEEK 2011 HAVE YOUR SAY - TAKE PART IN THE ANNUAL CARERS SURVEY
Every carer in the UK is invited to take part in the annual carers survey, just launched, and the results of which will form the core of Carers Week 2011, being held from 13-19 June.
Please circulate details to all your networks, publicise in every way possible and spread the word. Help us to ensure that every carer has the opportunity to take part that carers’ voices are heard loud and clear, and that Carers Week 2011 reflects The True Face of Carers.
Take part in the survey at
TIME TO CHANGE’S NEW CAMPAIGN CALLS FOR PEOPLE TO START TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH
TIME TO CHANGE SEEKS MEDIA VOLUNTEERS
Campaigning initiative Time To Change is looking for people from all walks of life who would like to become media volunteers in 2011 and lend their voice to eliminating mental health prejudice. To register your interest email
SCIE CELEBRATES WORLD SOCIAL WORK DAY (MARCH 15) WITH A BLOG FROM PATRICIA KEARNEY, OUR HEAD OF FAMILY & CHILDREN'S SERVICES.
MEDIA ROUND-UP
‘ALMOST HALF OF HOSPTIALS LEAVING PATIENTS IN MIXED SEX WARDS’ (TELEGRAPH, MARCH)
‘BMA TELLS LANSLEY TO HALT REVOLUTION (E HEALTH INSIDER MARCH 15)
‘COUNCILS COVERTLY CHANGING ADULT CARE ELIGIBILITY LEVELS’ (COMMUNITY CARE 14 MARCH)
‘NHS REFORMS FACE OVERHAUL AFTER LIB DEM REBELLION’ (GUARDIAN 13 MARCH)
‘WORK CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT ASSESSED AND FOUND LACKING’ (GUARDIAN MARCH 7)
‘GLASS CEILING KEEPING BLACK STAFF FROM TOP SOCIAL CARE JOBS’ COMMUNITY CARE (MARCH 2)