Published by Redbridge Concern for Mental Health

Redbridge Dementia Befriending Service

This new innovative project is seeking volunteers to befriend people who have dementia. We will provide: training and preparation for volunteering; ongoing encouragement; travel and out of pocket expenses and support to develop your skills.

To find out more please come along to our Information Day on Friday 18th September from 10.30am to 12.30pm at the Dementia Resource Centre, 372 Chadwell Heath Lane, Romford RM8 4YD

If you would like to come along, please contact Lesley Harrison (Redbridge Concern for Mental Health) on 020 8925 2435 or Alison Gordon (Dementia Resource Centre) 020 8708 9150.

Standards for Carers

NELFT are launching Quality Standards for Carers and are asking carers to help them with the implementation and evaluation process. The standards themselves are quite 'broad' but it is anticipated that a thorough and comprehensive audit process will provide the evidence and level of accountability needed to enforce changes.

If you would like to help NELFT implement and monitor the carers' quality standards, or to take part in other areas of involvement, please complete the registration form and send it to:

Val Leahy, User and Carer Involvement Co-ordinator, Practice Improvement Directorate, Goodmayes Hospital, Barley Lane, Goodmayes, Essex. IG3 8XJ

Alternatively you can contact Val on 0844 600 1200 ext 4229 or via email: valerie.leahy@nelft.nhs.uk

A future vision for mental health

This report sets out a new vision for the future of mental health and well-being in England. It outlines the priorities that The Future Vision Coalition believe should underpin mental health policy for the next decade. The National Service Framework for Mental Health comes to an end later this year and the Department of Health is working towards a replacement through its New Horizons programme.

This report is the result of the Future Vision Coalition's work on what the next stage of mental health policy should be. It sets out four policy principles and a range of actions for the short-term (a year), medium-term (5 years) and long-term (10 years).

You can read and download the report here

Funding to challenge discrimination at a local level

Open Up Initiatives are now looking for original ideas from people from a diverse range of backgrounds about how to challenge discrimination on a local level.

Open Up Initiatives are groups and individuals working to raise awareness about mental health and challenge discrimination in their local area. We select 16 groups or individuals to become an Open Up Initiative (2 in each region of England) and work with them over a period of one year. The scheme helps people to get their Initiatives up and running through providing an average of £2500 towards expenses - plus training, mentoring and promotions support.

Deadline for applications is 5pm on Saturday 15th August 2009. Applicants must be 18 and over.

You can find out more about the scheme here

Care Quality Commission

People detained under the Mental Health Act should be given better care. So says the final biennial report from the Mental Health Act Commission.

The report provides an overview of the care provided to people detained under the Act. MHAC found examples of people receiving good care during their visits to services and meetings with patients. But the report also indicates that there is variation across services.

You can download a copy of the report here

Jon Abrams
Web Site Editor
Redbridge Concern for Mental Health
98-100 Ilford Lane
Ilford, Essex, IG1 2LD
Web Site: www.rcmh.org.uk
Email:jon@redbridgeconcern.org
Telephone: 020 8925 2435

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Registered Charity No. 1065770

Disclaimer

Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Redbridge Concern for Mental Health unless otherwise specifically stated.