The Mental Health commissioning Programme has identified a significantly increased emphasis on supporting the QIPP agenda and on contributing to the development of information and tools to support effectiveness in mental health commissioning within the changing policy and system reform context for health and social care. This includes work at National level with partner organisations and Regionally to support practical implementation and best practice.
The Quality and Productivity Challenge Agenda:
At present mental health is not specifically included in the 12 national workstreams. However, the SHA's, NHS Confederation, Royal Colleges, ADASS and NMHDU are currently undertaking national collaborative work on three mental health QIPP initiatives intended to support regional initiatives, and these are also being validated with a view to formal inclusion within the national QIPP programme. The three detailed areas of work are:
- Reducing Out of Area treatment costs (including medium & low secure) and improving outcomes secured.
- Acute care pathway. Reducing the variation of mental health bed day usage bringing all areas into the upper quartile of national performance by improving adherence to evidence based interventions reducing admissions, length of stay and delayed discharges.
- Physical health & Wellbeing-reducing inappropriate health costs arising from medically unexplained symptoms/co-morbid physical long term conditions, through pathway redesign.
Collaborative Programmes
Collaborative work across NMHDU work programmes has progressed well the titles of the pieces of work are below, more details are available on appropriate pages of the website
Promoting Well-being and Public Mental Health
Improving Access to Psychological Therapies
Improving Health, Supporting Justice & Safeguarding
Mental Health & Equalities
Personalisation
Housing and Employment (Social Inclusion)
ADASS/Social Care
The Programme continues to enjoy an excellent relationship with ADASS. The importance of the social care perspective and the personalisation approach being strengthened are important elements of what the Programme brings to the debate about new commissioning arrangements. This strong relationship is underpinned by the continued joint appointment of a secondee and provides significant opportunities to connect to and support relevant areas of ADASS work around the White Paper
System Reform
Workshops for Commissioners on System Reform and mental health PbR took place in London and Leeds, over the summer. These events were requested and funded by DH MH Policy and PbR teams with speakers from DH, ADASS and NMHDU. A total of some 200 MH Commissioners from across the country attended these workshops. Concern has recently been expressed that to date discussions with MH Commissioners around PbR has taken place within the existing (PCT) commissioning architecture. This is being addressed by the Programme as part of the overall engagement process with GP Commissioners
MH Outcomes
Over the last 9 months the Programme has been working with the Mental Health Improvement Partnership and Commissioners in the North West to support commissioning for outcomes. The project draws strongly from the Social Inclusion Outcomes Framework (SIOF). Commissioners have been working with NHS and 3rd sector providers to adapt the framework to fit the needs of their services.
Involvement of service users & carers in the commissioning cycle
This project which involves a partnership with NHS NW, SCIE and a third sector organisation continues to progress well with delivery of best practice guidance expected in December 2010. The lead organisation "Making Space" is now working with 8 PCTs in the region and an expert advisory group has also been established for the project.
Further work
Royal Colleges and NHS Confederation
Mental Health Payment by Results (PbR)
Medium Secure Services and QIPP