Kent County Council (KCC) has launched a six-week consultation to hear the public’s views on the proposed Mental Health Promoting Independence Service.
KCC is proposing to combine the Supporting Independence Service and the Housing Related Support services, to create a more joined up system for helping people with mental health issues to lead independent lives.
The council currently supports people living with mental health issues by providing a range of services and different types of support. The consultation is about the future of two specific services – Supporting Independence Service (SIS) with a current budget of £2.8 million and Housing Related Support (HRS) service with a current budget of £2.5m.
Both contracts end in September 2017 and the council says this provides the opportunity to combine the budget allocated to these separate services to create a new service, which will better meet the needs of people with mental health needs in a more efficient way.
The new proposal means that this can be achieved through enabling providers to meet people’s needs in a more responsive way so that people receive the support they need, when they need it – and will be less likely to go into crisis or get stuck in the system.
The proposal will allow providers to work with patients, tailoring support to meet their needs – and will provide the flexibility to increase or decrease, where appropriate, the level of support a mental health patient receives, without having to go through some of the processes currently in place.
KCC invites the public to give their views on the consultation by Friday, 24 March 2017.
Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors
Duncan Lewis is the UK’s largest provider of Legal Aid Mental Health Services and can advise mental health patients on a wide range of issues – including access to NHS mental health services and detention under the Mental Health Act.
Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors regularly visit NHS hospitals to advise on mental health law – and are available across England and Wales at short notice for hospital and police station appointments.
In some cases, Duncan Lewis mental health solicitors may be able to advise the nearest relative or carer of a mental health patient on a range of issues, including initiating treatment reviews where appropriate.
For expert legal advice on mental health law, call the Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors Helpline on 020 3114 1124.