Published by Redbridge Concern for Mental Health

Funding Opportunity

The London Borough of Redbridge needs to allocate funding it has received from the Department of Health in respect of Mental Health Capital Expenditure. The purpose of the allocation is to facilitate mental health service user access to services.

Capital expenditure can be defined as expenditure where the benefits last more than 12 months. For the most part, this means expenditure on assets such as buildings, equipment or computers which can be used over a long period. Items such as salaries, supplies and purchasing of services, therefore, would not be funded under this programme.

Please email your proposals to: Peter.Spelman@redbridge.gov.uk. The deadline is Monday 1st January 2007.

Redbridge Concern - AGM

We are holding our AGM on Thursday 14th December 2006 at 12.30pm in the Gloucester Room, Ilford Central Library, Clements Road IG1 1EA.

A light buffet lunch will be provided.

Please contact our office if you would like to attend. The number is 020 8925 2435.

Nelmht Patient Survey Report, 2006

The Healthcare Commission has produced a report - which can be downloaded here which documents what patients think about the care and treatment they have received. Read the report and find out how Nelmht are performing.

Nelmht Stakeholder Workshop

Nelmht is holding a series of workshops - on the 6th and 13th December and the 18th January. The aims of the workshops are to help design and refine new ways of working; shape new values and develop services that people really want.

For more information about the workshops - times and venues - please email Caroline.Mathiason@nelmht.nhs.uk or call the PALS free phone line on 0800 783 1853.

A Cut Too Far

Six months after mental health charity Rethink published a report outlining cuts to mental health budgets, they have published a follow-up report which, they claim, reveals the situation hasn't improved. A cut too far: six months on highlights a further £37m of potential cuts across 11 areas of the UK. This is based on the experiences of users, carers and supporters of Rethink.

You can download the report here

Hearing Voices Facilitation Training for BME Groups

Are you interested in supporting or developing a hearing voices group or are you part of one now and want to increase your skills? The London Hearing Voices Network is running a training course starting in January 07 for people from BME groups who want to develop the skills to facilitate a group.

For more information please download the flyer or contact Viv Fongenie on 020 7813 1242

Creative Routes Poetry Competition Launched

Award winning interdisciplinary arts organisation Creative Routes launches its poetry competition Away From The Flock taking the idea of being an outsider as its theme. How does it feel to not be part of the flock? What is it like losing your place in the flock through mental illness? How do you find your way back?

Poems are welcome from survivors of the mental health system and of mental distress. Andrew Motion, Poet Laureate and Creative Routes patron, will announce a shortlist of six at a ceremony on Thursday 11 January at the Young Vic Theatre and the winner will be offered performance opportunities and also have a sheep sponsored in their name for a year.

Please mark submissions 'Away From The Flock Poetry Competition' and send to: Apples & Snakes, Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, SW11 5TN with your name and contact details. Closing date is Friday 29 December 2006.

Introduction of the Mental Health Bill 2006

The Department of Health has published the Mental Health Bill to amend the 1983 Mental Health Act. The Bill and other documents are available on the DoH website. The Bill would introduce supervised treatment in the community to help ensure that patients comply with treatment when they are discharged from hospital, and enable action to be taken to prevent relapse.

The Bill also proposes new rights and extra protection to people who are unable to decide about their care and who may be unfairly deprived of their liberty. These new safeguards will affect about 5,000 people who have a serious mental disorder but up until now have not been covered by existing mental health laws. Known as the 'Bournewood provisions', they include independent checks of whether they should be detained, rights to appeal and a representative appointed to look after their rights.

It will also introduce a new simplified definition of mental disorder and remove the "treatability" test. The "treatability" test has meant that in the past some people who needed treatment to prevent them harming themselves or others did not receive it.

Promoting the mental health and psychological well-being of children and young people

This document reports on progress in improving the mental health and psychological well-being of children and young people. The report highlights some areas on which service providers and commissioners will need to focus if the ten-year objectives set out in Standard 9 of the Children's National Service Framework (NSF) are to be achieved, and offers some models of best practice.

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:rcmh@btconnect.com
Telephone: 020 8925 2435

Company Limited by Guarantee No. 3115971
Registered Charity No. 1065770

Disclaimer

Redbridge Concern for Mental Health does not accept legal responsibility for the contents of this message. 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.