The Campaign Agenda

Essentials for Recovery and Care

‘The fundamental question for those concerned with high quality services for people with … disabilities, is: “How can we use our resources to assist the people who rely on us to live better lives?”’

- John O’Brien
In ‘What’s Worth Working for? Leadership for Better Quality Human Services’

Care Plan Approach (CPA)
The new version of the Care Plan model should be brought to Kent. – With a care plan ready when the patient is released from hospital: Working to connect the individual with care and support in the community: a route to pathway of hope, support and recovery that embodies a belief in people’s own ability to manage, change and improve the quality of their lives. Working to support wellbeing and personalisation.

Challenge Stigma
Campaign to challenge and change public stigma & prejudice against people who suffer MH problems; -to be service-user directed to ensure it is pertinent. Further information, on national Time to Change campaign click here.

Mental Health Funding
Funding for the Cinderella service must increase. To repair the deficit from MH missing out on increased funding invested in ‘Modernising’ the NHS since the millennium, MH should be freed from the ‘need’ to make 3.5% annual Efficiencies (budget Cuts).

Alternatives to Just Medication
Increase use of alternatives to medication, alone: not just resting on containment of the patient’s condition. This means best use of talking treatments, [e.g. CBT, increased access to psychological services, counselling etc] and creating opportunities for therapeutic activities [e.g. ‘Star Wards’] to aid recovery.
Working with the individual, using tools such as the CPA and the Recovery Star, -including consideration of physical health and social aspects, – to move away from ‘nothing can be done’ to ‘let’s see what we can do to change this.’

Crisis Service: 24hrs a Day
Maintain 24 hour Coverage for a Crisis service to give access to support when it is needed, and ensure that service users & carers concerned are made aware of its availability. – In mid-2009 this condition has not been met.

Proper Police Procedures
Proper procedure when police detain people with mental health problems in custody. Full application of the recommendations of Lord Bradley’s Report.