Consultation is underway on a proposed new approach to delivering community mental health services in B&NES.

The proposals, put forward by Bath & North East Somerset (B&NES) Council and Bath & North East Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group (B&NES CCG), claim to make sure that people get the right support, in the right place, at the right time.

Since May 2017, the Council and CCG have been looking at the way community mental health services are delivered locally to decide what improvements need to be made. This work has built on the priorities identified in the ‘Your Care, Your Way’ review of community health and care services in 2015–17.

Using face-to-face interviews, online surveys and workshops, more than 600 people, including professionals, service users, carers and voluntary sector representatives, have already given their views on the current services and how they could be improved. Based on this feedback, the Council and CCG are proposing a new approach to delivering these vital services and are consulting with the public to hear their views.

It is proposed that a new ‘Thrive’ model of mental health provision be introduced in B&NES, which will focus on three groups:

• Staying Well – Signposting people to services and equipping them with the skills to self-manage or control mental ill health.

• Getting Help – Supporting people to create a goals-based treatment plan, specialist counselling or medical advice, helping them build resilience through support networks.

• Crisis – Rapid and intensive evidence-based intervention, extensive treatment, risk management and crisis response.

It is proposed that a population-based approach is taken to the delivery of care, focusing on promoting mental health across the whole community, including groups that may be at risk of, or have, mental illness. A population-based approach looks at the mental health needs of different groups of people, rather than the needs of individuals. It involves integration across health, education, social care and the voluntary sector.

Dr Daisy Curling, CCG Board Member and Clinical Lead for Mental Health, said: “Community mental health services provide vital support to some of the most vulnerable people in the local community, and it is essential this support is provided in the right place at the right time.

“As part of our review, a huge amount of work has already taken place to get the views of a diverse range of groups and service users, feedback which we have used to shape our new approach to delivering community mental health services.

“The consultation is open until 22nd February, and I would urge as many people as possible to let us know what they think about our proposal for the future of community mental health services.”

You can find out more details about the proposals and to have your say, visit: https://www.bathandnortheastsomersetccg.nhs.uk/get-involved/project/mental-health-services-review and follow the link to the survey. To request an alternative format, email: [email protected] or call: 01225 831861.