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Promising prospects for Cumbria's Mental Health Services

A Social Services Inspectorate report about the services provided for people with mental health problems is released today. Inspectors praise the Council's commitment to delivering service improvements with Health and other partners. The overall judgement is that Cumbria Mental Health Services has `Promising Prospects' and `serves most people well'. 

The report evaluates implementation of national and local objectives relating to the needs of adults of working age with mental health problems. It also looks at the outcomes for service users and their carers. Inspectors present it to the County Council's Individual Support Consultative Forum today at the Grange Hotel, Grange-over-sands. County Councillor John Mallinson, Cabinet spokesman for Care and Social services responded positively in a statement this morning. John McMullon, Head of Adult Services responds in person to the Inspectors at the meeting, presenting an action plan based on the Inspectors recommendations. 

The Inspectors were particularly interested in Cumbria's response to the new national policy agenda, for mental health services. Inspectors praise much of Cumbria's work, notably; 

  • Members of staff are courteous, respectful, well informed and reliable. 
  • Most users and carers were satisfied with the service they receive. 
  • Social Services is actively engaged and working well with partner organisations 
  • An effective vulnerable adults policy is in place. 
  • Integrated working with Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT) 
  • Impressive progress implementing carers assessments 
  • Excellent work with carers. 
  • Service users and carers are very well involved in the development and review of services. 
  • Service users, carers and voluntary groups are well involved in a wide range of consultation exercises. 
  • Evidence of the implementation of equality and anti-discriminatory practice 
  • There is a range of excellent public information leaflets. 
  • The key elements of effective commissioning were in place and financial management was effective 
  • Clear accountability for budgets and a robust line management arrangements.        

It also identifies areas for improvement. They include; 

  • The development of a 24-hour service, assertive outreach work and crisis intervention work. 
  • Development of service equity regardless of location. 
  • Better data collection and sharing of information across agencies. 
  • More use of Health Act flexibilities to pool budgets. 
  • Develop policies and procedures with partners for dual diagnosis cases, investigation of serious incidents and working arrangements between staff.