Mental Health
Queen’s Speech: Mental health laws to be overhauled
Government will reform mental health laws to make it harder to detain people and to stop the disproportionate use of the laws against BAME communities.
Taking Integrated Care Systems to the next level
Phil Hope of the Health Devolution Commission looks at emerging best practice approaches for Integrated Care Systems, including five key financial design principles that reflect collaboration rather than competition.
Doing the right thing for children
With the direction of the Government’s policies for schools and SEND becoming clearer, the new president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services Steve Crocker speaks to Ann McGauran about his priorities for the next year.
No child should be at the mercy of a postcode lottery
We need a national conversation about the way our mental health system fails too many children and a review of CAMHS is required, says the new president of the ADCS, Steve Crocker.
Councils should be funded to co-design child mental health hubs - report
Councils across the country should be funded to co-design open-access hubs to support young people’s mental health, a new report by think-tank Reform has suggested.
We can’t take the pain of dementia away, but we can make it easier
East Hampshire DC's second 'dementia festival' day and its directory aren’t big budget items and aren’t directly providing healthcare – 'but they are directly helping people in our communities', says Gill Kneller.
Extra money for refugee trauma recovery
Refugees minister Lord Harrington has suggested additional funding may be provided to councils to help Ukrainians’ recovery from physical and mental trauma.
A fresh vision
A new report from Newton and the County Councils Network presents a vision for what the future of children’s social care could be and defines an optimised model for delivering it, say Luke Tregidgo and James Maker.
Social workers: how to recruit and retain the best
Using mental health as a key starting point, Penna’s Sonia Tanda offers some top tips on how to retain your key workers.
Hammersmith & Fulham’s ‘exemplary’ work supporting refugees
Lord Alf Dubs says the job of welcoming refugees ‘is much greater than just a roof over their heads’ and he reflects on the support given by Hammersmith & Fulham LBC to those traumatised by war.
Cost of living crisis needs fixing – fast
Local government will have to brace itself for the rising tide of need, going back to offering support as it did after the 2010 financial crash – only this time after a decade of austerity and two years of a pandemic, says Heather Jameson.
What does living with COVID really mean for local government?
We’re not just living with the virus itself, but with the knock-on effects, says Zina Etheridge.
HMJ: People report ‘poor’ experience of using mental health services
People’s experience of mental health care is at their lowest point in eight years, a new survey has revealed.
Labour 'will prioritise early intervention'
The next Labour government will prioritise early intervention and provide open access mental health hubs to children in every community, says shadow minister for education Kate Green.
A bold local route to better mental health
Local Living Well sites put people with complex mental health needs in control of their support and encourages them to set their own recovery goals. The programme is proud of its success, says Tally Daphu.
Breaking down the walls
Children need their communities, but communities need their youngsters too. And, as Chloë Darlington explains, councils are leaving one of their greatest strengths untapped.
Pursuing happiness
At last, the Treasury wants us all to be happy, says Dan Corry. ‘A brilliant early sign that the Treasury means this is if the forthcoming and long-awaited multi-year Spending Review pushed these concepts hard’, he adds.
Mental health top reason for staff absences
Mental health has been the top reason local government employees have taken time off work over the last 32 months.
Easing COVID pressures in south London
The South London Listens partnership has brought together councils, the NHS, Citizens UK and others to address the pandemic-related pressures residents have told them they face. The process has been demanding but inspiring, says Sir Norman Lamb.
‘Tell me what you want, what you really, really want’
Frazer Thoubard looks at how recruiting the right candidates is set to become more challenging than ever – so anticipating what the market wants is going to be vital to future success.
