Annual review 2007/08

In your area

Yorkshire and North East

Making a difference

We have 30 Rethink services in the region, and our teams have worked relentlessly over the last year to continue to provide high quality services. There are 14 registered Rethink Groups in our region too and after a concerted effort in 2007 the total now stands at 1157.  This year we plan to continue to grow our membership and to expand our services still further.

Making it happen

• Sunderland Advocacy Service has worked with people in a hospital setting, and in the community, to access mental health services since 2007. South Durham Advocacy Service and Stockton Hall Advocacy Service have also been working to provide independent advocacy support to the people who need it.
  
  
• Hull and East Riding Carers Service marked Carers Week 2007 by visiting Community Mental Health Teams and Mental Health Services in their area in a bus loaded with balloons, T-shirts and publicity materials. Sheffield Carers Service Staff and Carers also visited a Health Day event at Norfolk Heritage Park.

• We were asked to complete a nationally recognised Health and Safety questionnaire to demonstrate Rethink’s approach to Health & Safety as part of our Supporting People requirements.
  
  
• The REACT Project is a unique footballing initiative that helps tackle mental health problems through a tailored programme of sport. It’s forged successful links with community programmes at a number of the Regions professional football clubs, and competed in the World Mental Health Football Day at David Beckham’s Soccer Academy in London.
  
  
• Wakefield Housing were approached to undertake a 12 month Pilot Service to provide housing related support for people with mental health problems who are not in receipt of mental health services.

Making an impact

• There has been a continued growth in the number of referrals received by our new advocacy services and much work has been done to develop community outreach services.
  
  
• The events during Carers Week encouraged participation by carers in shaping their services, and acknowledged the stronger voice carers have been given over the last 10 years.
  
  
• We received organisational accreditation to the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment (CHAS) scheme following our work with the questionnaire and data collection of good Health and Safety practice.  This official approval is a national benchmark of Health and Safety which many commissioners are requesting from service providers.
  
  
• The REACT Project has been awarded the Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP) Positive Practice Award.
  
  
• The Pilot Project in Wakefield has received positive feedback and is already supporting a number of people who, with support, could stay out of in-patient services. 

Moving forward

• We’ll develop a Rethink Regional Advocacy Dilemmas Group, in order for Advocates to gain peer support and to share good practice.
  
  
• We’re planning similar successful events to take place during Carers Week 2008.
  
  
• Working with Rethink’s Service Improvement Team, Rethink’s Independent Health and Safety Consultant and the Service Governance Group, we’ll help Rethink to keep its CHAS accreditation.
  
  
• We expect that funding for the Pilot Project in Wakefield will be extended beyond the 12 month duration up to 2010.

Moving you forward
If you would like to know more about our service in Yorkshire and the North East please contact the Regional Office, on 01924 372853.