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In this month's edition...
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Funding awarded for drug and alcohol services
Public Health England (PHE) has announced the successful applicants for £10 million of capital funding for services that are helping people in England with drug or alcohol problems to recover from their addiction. A proportion of the funding has been awarded to projects that provide tailored education, training, skills and employment support to people in recovery, and to projects that provide safe and secure accommodation. A number of Clinks members have received funding including: ARCH Initiatives, Action on Addiction, CRI, Addaction, Kenward Trust, St. Mungo's Broadway, DISC, The Bridge Project, and more. Find out more and see the full list of successful applicants here
Men's health week 2015
Men’s Health Week 2015 is from the 15th to 21st June and will focus on healthy living for men. Men's Health Forum, who run the Week, are encouraging you to take part: "Anyone can take part in Men's Health Week, especially local organisations, public health teams, NHS and employers. Sign up for Men's Health Week 2015 news and information and we will help you get involved in the week. The Men’s Health Forum will send you extra newsletters with updates on the week and details of how to get resources as soon as they are available." Find out more and sign up here
The rights of people with disabilities, autism, and mental health issues
The Department of Health has launched 'No voice unheard, no right ignored', a consultation to seek views on how to strengthen the rights of people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health issues to enable them to live independently. It explores how people can: be supported to live independently; be assured that their views will be listened to; challenge decisions about them and their care; exercise control over the support they receive with a Personal Health Budget; expect that different health services will organise themselves around their needs; and know that professionals are looking out for their physical and mental health needs. Respond to the consultation here
Assessing mental health needs of military veterans
The Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT) has awarded the NHS with a charitable grant of £75,000 to review the mental health needs of military veterans. The money will fund a national review of health needs assessments for veterans’ mental health, which aims to: understand the health needs of veterans, with a particular focus on mental health and the interactions between mental health and other health needs; understand the gaps in the current health needs assessment evidence base and how these might be addressed at local and national levels; inform NHS England’s commissioning intentions; and guide the development of FiMT’s mental health strategy and charitable grant donations programme. Find out more here
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Commissioning masterclasses for health and care services
NCVO, Regional Voices and Involve Yorkshire & Humber are holding nine commissioning masterclasses [from 14th April to 29th May, various locations, free] for senior managers and trustees of voluntary sector health, wellbeing and social care organisations. The courses aim to help you understand the new funding landscape, alongside networking with commissioners and similar organisations. Learn more about the funding, policy and commissioning context in health, prevention, wellbeing and care services; build stronger contacts and relationships with health commissioners; and better understand what is required to establish a coherent and ‘sellable’ service delivery offer and how to adapt your business practices to be 'tender-ready'. Find out more and book here
Care for offenders with a learning disability
'The 14th international conference on the care and treatment of offenders with an intellectual or developmental disability' is a National Autistic Society two day conference [15th - 16th April, Leeds, from £185] for reflection and sharing for services providing care for offenders with a learning disability and/or developmental disabilities, including autism, both in the public and independent health and social care sectors and the Criminal Justice System. Find out more here
Consultation events on approach to inspections of healthcare in secure settings
Clinks is holidng two meetings with our members [21st April, Leeds and 5th May, London] to discuss a forthcoming consultation on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) approach to inspecting healthcare services in secure settings. CQC are responsible for inspecting all healthcare services in England, including those in prisons, YOIs and immigration detention centres. They will shortly be launching a consultation on their planned new approach to inspections in these settings. The meetings will be a chance to discuss the consultation questions, share experiences and raise any issues, in order to inform Clinks’ response to the CQC. For more information or to register your interest, please email hazel.alcraft@clinks.org
Award ceremony for mental health services
The MHPF Mental Health Voluntary Sector Awards 2015 ceremony [22nd April, London, £35] will aim to highlight the best in service delivery and practice for people with mental health issues, and recognise the role of the voluntary sector in meeting the needs of vulnerable people in crisis. The ceremony will include a three course lunch with guest speakers. Organisations from across the mental health voluntary sector have previously been invited to submit entries to this year’s awards, across six categories: Strengthening Citizen Voice, Employment, Integration, Personalised care and support in mental health, Prevention, and Crisis Care. Find out more and book here
Mental health in prisons
'Mental Health & Learning Disabilities in Prison' is an AMIMB workshop [7th May, Birmingham, free] that will discuss the potential contributions of Independent Monitoring Board members in monitoring how the mental health needs of prisoners are met in day to day practice in the current context of NHS commissioning and provision. During the day, attendees are encouraged to discuss their experiences of mental health needs amongst prisoners that have been difficult to resolve. Speakers include Dr Kimmett Edgar, Prison Reform Trust; Dr Adrian Grounds, University of Cambridge; Professor Jenny Shaw, University of Manchester; Professor Geoff Shepherd, Centre for Mental Health; and Ms Jenny Talbot OBE, Prison Reform Trust. Find out more and book your place here
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Care and specialised housing funding
Applications are now open for phase 2 of the Care and Support Specialised Housing Fund (CASSH) to develop accommodation for adults who need support in order to live independently, be it due to old age or disability. Specialist housing developers and providers are being invited to bid for a share of up to £155 million. Priority will be given to applications for housing for people with learning disabilities or mental health issues. Bidding is open to all organisations who are, or intend to become, qualified as Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) investment partners, including community groups. The HCA is now accepting bids for schemes across England, and The Greater London Authority will shortly be accepting bids within London. The deadline for applications is 29th May. Find out more here
Improving the health of homeless people
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and the Greater London Authority are now inviting organisations to bid for a share of £55 million funding to improve the health of homeless people. Funding is available for two projects: the 'Homeless Change' project aims to provide tailored hostel accommodation to improve the physical and mental health outcomes for rough sleepers and support them towards independent living; and the 'Platform for Life' project aims to provide stable, transitional, shared accommodation for young people who are homeless or in insecure housing. Bidding is open to all organisations who are, or intend to become, qualified as HCA investment partners, including community groups. The deadline for bids is the 12th June. Find out more here
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Health and care services for women offenders
Clinks have published the results of our recent survey of voluntary sector health and social care services for women in contact with the Criminal Justice System. We found many fantastic examples of organisations working together to meet the health needs of these women, both directly and through proactively supporting them to engage with other health services. Despite this, the responses highlighted a number of areas where more support is needed, including mental health, trauma-informed services, support for those with complex but low-level needs and/or dual diagnosis, and addressing challenges in sharing information and making referrals between services. Click here to read the report
Support for people requiring adult safeguarding services
'Adult safeguarding and domestic abuse: a guide to support practitioners and managers' is the second edition of a guide published by the Local Government Association, which aims to help councils and their partners give better informed and effective support to those requiring adult safeguarding services because of domestic abuse. It addresses situations where an adult who has care and support needs is being harmed or abused by an intimate partner or close family member in a way which could also be defined as domestic abuse. Download the guide here
Children's mental health and wellbeing
The Department of Health has published ‘Future in mind – promoting, protecting and improving our children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing’, a report on the work of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Taskforce. The report makes a number of proposals the government wishes to see by 2020, and sets out how much of this can be achieved through better working between the NHS, local authorities, voluntary and community services, schools and other local services. Download the report here
Access and waiting time standards for mental health services
NHS England has set out guidance for Clinical Commissioning Groups for how to introduce new access and waiting time standards for mental health services. It explains what the new standards are, the case for change, and the data collection approach in four areas: early intervention in psychosis, improving access to psychological therapies, liaison psychiatry, and eating disorders; and sets out the expectations of local commissioners for delivery during the year ahead working with providers and other partners. Find out more and download the guidance here
How partnerships can improve the health of local communities
'Local leadership, new approaches' is a Public Health England report that looks at how local authorities and health teams are working together to improve the health of local communities through prevention and early intervention. The report features seven case studies; each one describes a particular programme or close partnership between a local authority and local public health or health care teams, often with the additional support of the voluntary sector. Download the report here
Improving male health
The National Children’s Bureau (NCB) has published two reports on 'Improving Male Health for the Next Generation' presenting findings from their recent research looking at how men and boys approach their own health needs. 'Findings from NCB's survey for men' looks at men's approaches to getting help and advice on health issues, and what men think might help to improve health outcomes for the next generation. 'Findings from NCB's focus groups with boys' explores boys' attitudes to health and looking after themselves. Download the reports here
Case studies on local authorities improving health and wellbeing
'Public health transformation twenty months on: adding value to tackle local health needs' is a compilation of case studies, published by the Local Government Association, looking at local authorities' progress on improving health and wellbeing and tackling health inequalities. They show a range of ways in which public health in councils is approaching its new roles, including re-commissioning substance misuse services in the East Riding of Yorkshire, and support for young offenders in Lambeth. Download the report here
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Support for CCGs to use grant funding
NHS England has launched a Bitesize Guide to Grants for the Voluntary Sector and a model Grant Funding Agreement, both aiming to support Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) to better understand grant funding. The Bitesize Guide outlines the benefits and principles of providing grant funding for the voluntary sector and suggests practical steps commissioners can take to use grants in the most effective ways to support local priorities. The Grant Funding Agreement is a non-mandatory grant agreement which CCGs are able to use and adapt as required. Download both resources, and accompanying documentation, here
Directory of London health and wellbeing forums
LVSC have produced a 'Directory of health and wellbeing forums in London' to signpost voluntary sector organisations in the capital. It comprises health and wellbeing, equality, faith/interfaith, mental health, BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) and LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) forums and provides a link into specialist expertise in aspects of community health in specific localities. The aim is to expand the directory to include other specialist interest forums. Download the directory here
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About Clinks Offender Health Bulletin
This regular bulletin provides Clinks members with the latest news for voluntary sector organisations involved in the health and care of offenders. It currently has 2,477 subscribers.
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Designed, composed and circulated by Ben Watson, Clinks.