Involving the Community and Voluntary Sector in ICS Mental Health

Integrated Care System (ICS) is a local partnership of NHS; Local Authorities; and partners who can deliver a sustainable health and care system for the people across North East and North Cumbria (NENC). There are six strategic health focused groups. The Mental Health group is chaired by John Lawlor, CEO Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne And Wear NHS Foundation Trust.

The reason for the multidisciplinary groups existence is:

The socioeconomic and human costs associated with mental ill health are well publicised and the priorities identified by the mental health work stream focus on addressing health inequalities and delivering parity of esteem to prevent illness, promote wellbeing and improve the outcomes for people who experience mental ill health.

There are 7 priority work streams within the Mental Health strategic group:

• Child health
• Zero suicide ambition
• Employment
• Optimising Health Services
• Long term conditions and persistent physical symptoms
• Older people
• Improving the physical health of people in receipt of treatment for a mental health or learning disability condition

This group would like to expand its scope and understand how the Voluntary Sector Organisations would like to interact with; be involved with; and influence this group and the region’s mental health agenda.

The event seeks to attract senior staff from VSO organisations to discuss their views on how this sector would like to engage with the ICS Mental Health Steering Group. It is an opportunity to understand the priorities of the ICS and develop some ground rules for engagement with the ICS MH group.

The event is not restricted to the people involved in the initial scoping exercises but should include staff from VSOs wishing to improve the delivery of mental health care.