NSUN newsMember BlogsThis week's blog is by Anne Beales, who recently retired from running Together's Service User Directorate. Anne reflects on the development of the service user voice in the past decade. Her blog is available here. #NSUNthrive10 campaignIt is 10 years since the 'Doing it for ourselves’
service user conference in Birmingham. It was at this conference in 2006 that the vision of the National Survivor User Network (NSUN) was taken forward, leading to funding in 2007 and becoming a fully independent organisation in May 2010. You can also raise money by shopping online with the Giving Machine NSUN is about people 'doing it for themselves' with the right help, at the right time, in the right place. |
Previously shared information available onlinePlease visit our website to find involvement opportunities, jobs and events we shared in previous e-bulletins. This includes our guides to support involvement in reducing the use of restraint in mental health settings. |
Recovery In The Bin: Welfare Rights Training for ESA/ PIPRecovery In The Bin (RITB) is a mental health social justice group. In response to the news about the government recruiting 180 new presenting officers (see article above), they are fundraising to help train 16 volunteers to support people with mental health difficulties before and up to ESA/ PIP tribunals. Welfare Rights training - ESA and PIP (form filling/collecting evidence/over view of tribunal process) - Last few places remaining. |
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Documentary screening - Behind the Locked Door: Mental Health in the Black CommunityAfrican-Caribbean people are 5 times more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, 44% more likely to be sectioned under the Mental Health Act and 29% more likely to be restrained than their white counterparts. People from African-Caribbean communities are over represented among those who lose their lives while in police custody or when detained under the Mental Health Act. SOAS Students' Union and Brent Mind invite you to a screening of ‘Behind The Locked Door: Mental Health in the Black Community’ at DLT Lecture Theatre, SOAS University of London, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG in heart of Central London on Friday May 27th at 6pm. Behind The Locked Door intends to put the discussion of inequality in mental health support, back onto the national agenda, so that all communities can get the support and treatment they rightfully deserve. To book your place, please visit this page |
Consultation on mental health servicesA six week consultation on mental health day services in Westminster has been launched. There is a proposal for a Mental Health Recovery Service that is focused around key workers supporting people towards recovery. People will be supported by key workers including those who are eligible for Adult Social Care funding to use their personal budget to buy therapeutic courses or activities such as befriending. This approach is likely to improve outcomes for people and cost less than current services. To share your views please visit this page |
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Campaign to keep volunteering voluntaryBack in November 2015, the Government announced in its Autumn Statement that the schemes known as Community Work Placements (CWP) and Mandatory Work Activity (MWA ) will end in 2016. These schemes are part of government policies to force unemployed people to work unpaid or face ‘sanctions’ – in other words lose their benefits, for up to 3 years. CWPs were specially aimed at voluntary groups and charities, and often sold as “volunteering”. This camapign aims at persuading charities to avoid involvement with these exploitative practices and make sure they use only genuine volunteers. To support the campaign you can sign the pledge if you haven’t already done so and encourage others to do so. Here’s the link. Nearly 650 voluntary groups have signed the pledge to foreswear workfare and the associated publicity has persuaded many more to avoid involvement with the scheme. For further information please contact mail@keepvolunteeringvoluntary.net including your name and contact number. The campaign organisers will arrange a callback. |
Independent Lives are looking for TrusteesIndependent Lives is a user led charity working towards a society where everyone can live their life independently, regardless of any disability, care need or caring responsibility. Understanding that it would be difficult to convey the meaning of being a Trustee in a few bullet points, Independent Lives have compiled a document which tells you all about the role and also introduces the organisation and some of the people it works with. |
Share your views of the mental health system in the West MidlandsThe West Midlands Combined Authority is seeking the views and opinions of all involved in the mental health system. It is doing this firstly through a Citizens Jury for service users and carers (which has now started its work), secondly via online submissions and thirdly through a series of three Open Space Listening events. Listening events:
Each event will host up to eighty people and will be an attempt to bring together the main stakeholders to try and answer the questions: 1. What do the members of the West Midlands Mental Health Commission need to hear? 2. How can public services be transformed within current spending limits to build wellbeing, keep people mentally well and reduce the impact that poor mental health and wellbeing have on public services, the economy and communities in the West Midlands? To register your interest in attending one of the listening events visit: West Midlands Combined Authority - Open Space Listening events If you are interested in making an online submission visit: West Midlands Combined Authority - Mental Health Commission Submission form For more information on the work of the West Midlands Mental Health Commission chaired by Norman Lamb MP visit: https://westmidlandscombinedauthority.org.uk/what-we-do/commissions/mental-health/ |
NHS Outcomes FrameworkThe NHS Outcomes Framework 2016-2017 sets out the framework and indicators that will be used to hold NHS England to account for improvements in health outcomes. The at-a-glance document lists the indicators along with their status. Five Year Forward View - Local LeadersNHS England has published a list of leaders who will be responsible for delivering the Five Year Forward View in their area (or ‘footprint’, to use the jargon!). They will lead work on Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs), working with local health and care leaders, organisations and communities. Out of 44 STP areas in total, and 41 of the leaders have been named so far. |
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