Ideally we would like to avoid labels altogether, but sometimes specific references are needed to focus on what is relevant for particular people.
Across the whole system different terms are used for different purposes. On a personal level people may prefer to use different words, words may have a different cultural significance or may unintentionally exclude people. For example, someone who has an unpaid caring role may be a family member, but they may be a friend or neighbour. From their point of view the term family carers, or families might seem to exclude them as carers. With regard to mental health, different terms are used legally or medically, or are preferred by different individuals or groups.
We have therefore tried to use terms reflected in current policy where consultation has taken place, but acknowledge and respect that there may be different views about terminology.
The National Mental Health Development Unit
The National Mental health Development Unit (NMHDU) is the agency charged with supporting the implementation of mental health policy in england by the Department of health in collaboration with the NHS, local Authorities and other major stakeholders.
Department of Health personal health budgets pilot programme
The Department of Health's personal health budgets team works with 73 PCTs, in 66 sites, who have provisional pilot status as part of the programme. Twenty of these sites have been selected for an in-depth study, as part of a wider evaluation exploring the potential of personal health budgets to benefit different groups of people and how pCTs can make them work. The pilot programme will run for three years until 2012. Further information is available at www.personalhealthbudgets.org.uk
Department of Health putting people first national delivery programme
The Department of health's putting people First national delivery programme works with key stakeholders across local government, NhS, the third sector and professional and regulatory organisations, to support the implementation of the shared vision ofputting people First (DH, 2007), through a radical reform of public services enabling people to live their own lives as they wish, confident that services are of high qaulty, safe and promote their own individual needs for wellbeing and dignity. Further information is available at www.dhcarenetworks.org.uk/Personalisation
The National Development Team On Inclusion (NDTI)
The National Development Team for Inclusion is a not for profit organisation concerned with promoting inclusion and equality for people who risk exclusion and who need support to lead a full life. We have a particular interest in issues around age, disability and mental health. The NDTi was commissioned to write this framework on behalf of the Department of Health and the NMHDU. Further information is available at www.ndti.org.uk
