A report provided findings from a study of what worked in preventing and treating poor mental health of children in care. The report made a wide range of recommendations for policy and practice.
Source: Nikki Luke, Ian Sinclair, Matt Woolgar, and Judy Sebba, What Works in Preventing and Treating Poor Mental Health in Looked after Children?, NSPCC/Rees Centre, University of Oxford
Date: 2014-Sep
An article examined perceptions of social justice among people with mental illness who were living in poverty. It said that research participants expressed a need for support of self-determination, and that there were multiple unmet needs, which required a multi-faceted approach in order to address them.
Source: Abraham Rudnick, Phyllis Montgomery, Robin Coatsworth-Puspoky, Benita Cohen, Cheryl Forchuk, Pam Lahey, Stewart Perry, and Ruth Schofield, 'Perspectives of social justice among people living with mental illness and poverty: a qualitative study', Journal of Poverty and Social Justice, Volume 22 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Aug
An article examined potential explanations for mental health service users' greater satisfaction with crisis houses (specialist residential placements in community settings), compared with services delivered in acute settings (hospital wards), and the factors that impeded and facilitated therapeutic relationships in acute settings.
Source: Angela Sweeney, Sarah Fahmy, Fiona Nolan, Nicola Morant, Zoe Fox, Brynmor Lloyd-Evans, David Osborn, Emma Burgess, Helen Gilburt, Rosemarie McCabe, and Sonia Johnson, 'A mixed-methods study exploring therapeutic relationships and their association with service user satisfaction in acute psychiatric wards and crisis residential alternatives', Health Services and Delivery Research, Volume 2 Issue 22
Date: 2014-Aug
A report by a committee of MPs said that achieving the government's agenda to change and improve adult social care would require unprecedented levels of co-ordinated working between government departments, between central and local government, and across local authorities and health bodies. The committee questioned whether expectations were too high, and the report outlined concerns and made recommendations in three areas: for collaboration across all bodies involved in the care system; for better understanding of the capacity of the system and whether money was reaching frontline services; and for the government's oversight arrangements to reflect the overriding importance of quality of care. The committee raised concerns about the nature of employment contracts in the care sector and, in particular, the use of zero-hours contracts and the numbers of staff earning the minimum wage.
Source: Adult Social Care in England, Sixth Report (Session 2014–15), HC 518, House of Commons Public Accounts Select Committee, TSO
Links: Report
Date: 2014-Jul
A report said more research was needed into the nature and prevalence of mental health problems among children and young people from black and minority-ethnic communities, in order to support the planning, commissioning, and provision of appropriate mental health support in England. It said it was also important to recognize the specific needs of different ethnic groups and individuals, and to understand the barriers that deterred young people from accessing mental health services. The report called for commissioners and service providers to work with children and young people to develop evidence-based and culturally appropriate services, including early intervention services.
Source: Paula Lavis, The Importance of Promoting Mental Health in Children and Young People from Black and Minority Ethnic Communities, Race Equality Foundation
Date: 2014-May
The Northern Ireland Executive began consultation on proposals to to give effect to a major recommendation of the Bamford Review into mental health and learning disability services by providing a new, single, legislative framework governing all situations where a decision needed to be made in relation to the care, treatment, or personal welfare of a person aged 16 or over who lacked capacity to make the decision for themselves. The document discussed the draft provisions relating to civil society, and outlined a proposed approach for people within the criminal justice system. The consultation would close on 2 September 2014.
Source: Draft Mental Capacity Bill (NI): Consultation document, Northern Ireland Executive
Links: Consultation document | Associated papers | NIE press release
Date: 2014-May
An article examined support for mental health services users who were 'hard to engage'. It said that: relationships with staff were central to maintaining engagement; there were often negative perceptions of inpatient care; the full ranges of people's needs were often not met; and service users were discouraged by a focus on medication. It discussed the importance of service users' preferences and priorities and concluded that difficulties in sustaining engagement with mental health services did not always mean that people did not want help.
Source: Rosemary Laura Davies, Pauline Heslop, Steve Onyett, and Tony Soteriou, 'Effective support for those who are hard to engage : a qualitative user-led study', Journal of Mental Health, Volume 23 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Apr