The Commissioning Friend for Mental Health Services

This Guide to Commissioning Mental Health Services is the second in a series of guides developed by the National Primary and Care Trust Development Programme (NatPaCT) to assist Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and Local Authorities in the vital role leading ‘Whole System Commissioning’ of health and social care. The structure and content has also been informed by a wealth of input from the National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) whose aim is to improve the quality of life for people of all ages who experience mental distress. This Guide has been designed to support PCTs and Local Authorities in understanding how to use their commissioning activities as a key part of improving the mental health of the communities they serve.

(Published January 2005, 162 pages)

From segregation to inclusion: Commissioning guidance on day services for people with mental health problems

This guidance is designed to assist commissioners of mental health services in the refocusing of day services for working-age adults with mental health problems into community resources that promote social inclusion and promote the role of work and gaining skills in line with current policy and legislation. This is good practice guidance for commissioners and it progresses the implementation of the developmental standards as set out in 'National Standards: Local Action'; published by the Department of Health in 2004.

(Published February 2006, 28 pages)

Practice-based Commissioning in the NHS: The implications for mental health

This paper looks at the implications of GP practices commissioning mental health services, and the risks and benefits to the patients who use the services.

(Published November 2004, 8 pages)

Choosing health: supporting the physical health needs of people with severe mental illness (commissioning framework)

This document provides best practice guidance to help PCTs plan for, design, commission and monitor services that will deliver improved physical health and well-being for people with severe mental illness. It describes appropriate leadership for a physical healthcare programme, roles and responsibilities of those involved and provides case studies.

(Published August 2006, 38 pages)

Payment by results: opportunity or threat for mental health commissioners?

Parsonage argues that payment by results represents both an opportunity and a threat for mental health commissioners. On the positive side, it offers PCTs the chance to exert more leverage in the system, for example in the planning and design of services and, where supply conditions permit, in promoting choice and contestability. On the downside, it requires them to manage more risks, particularly financial risks.

Primary Care Mental Health, 2005, vol. 3, no. 4, p. 271-273 (available via your local NHS Library)

Improving user/carer involvement in commissioning and reviewing mental health services.

Increasingly there is greater emphasis on user/carer involvement in the delivery of mental health care. There are five levels of participation from none at all to partnership and optimal involvement. A two-year pilot steering group was established by a health authority in December 2000 and criteria for independent evaluation agreed. These included the context, data collection, analysis and report, and recommendations based on the findings to increase user/carer involvement in all aspects of mental health service delivery.

Mental Health Review, 2006, vol. 11, no. 1, p. 16-2 (available via your local NHS Library)

10 High Impact Changes for Mental Heath Services

The 10 high impact changes were first launched in 2004. Now, building on the success of the original work, this guide sets 10 High Impact Changes for use across mental health services. The scope is wider but our aim of improving quality and efficiency of care for each and every service user remains the same and will continue to guide our service improvement activity through 2006 and beyond. The 10 high impact changes aim to improve quality of care but they are also about improving the efficiency of services – making the best use of resources to benefit service users. In this sense the drive to increase efficiency provides a more streamlined and effective service tailored to individual service user needs.

(Published June 2006, 57 pages)

Other Documents or Websites of Interest

Commissioning framework for health and well-being

Kings Fund Hot Topics - Mental Health