Early Implementation Sites

Field Testing the Workforce Flexibilities

“Implementing the New Statutory Roles and Responsibilities within the Strategic Context of NWW”

Background:

The Mental Health Act 2007 received Royal Assent on the 19th July 2007. The timetable for implementation of the MHA 2007 is November 3rd 2008. The Act introduces significant changes to statutory roles and introduces two titles, the Approved Mental Health Professional and the Approved Clinician within which we have the Responsible Clinician.

Both Health Trusts and Local Authorities are required to be Act ready at the date of implementation. In implementation terms this means that transition arrangements have been carried out, and that appropriate provisions are in place beyond the introduction of the legislation. However, service provider organisations will have greater flexibilities in the future to consider skill mix within both these important and critical roles. These opportunities are numerous and below are listed some of the potential advantages:

  • Choice around who the most appropriate clinical lead can be with regard to responsibilities for service users subject to compulsion
  • Resolution of workforce shortages where issues of recruitment and retention are key concerns
  • Cost effective workforce planning and service delivery
  • Reduced reliance on locum staffing
  • Resolution to time delays in rural settings
  • Significantly improved career pathways for non-doctors
  • The enablement of the principles of new Ways of Working in Mental Health and the opportunity to fully utilise the Creating Capable Teams Approach to achieve a more appropriate skill mix to meet service user needs

Field Testing:

The project is engaging with mental health service providers across England to assist and support the development of non traditional professionals into the new roles at an early stage. The project will offer to support and advise organisations in identifying opportunities for the use of these flexibilities, and then work with them in ensuring the infrastructure is in place at the time of implementation, or just after the amendments go live in October 2008.

Objectives:

  1. Establish early implementation of preparatory development and training to assist transition for existing MHA practitioners
  2. Work towards enabling the development of non social work AMHP’s and non medical Approved /Responsible Clinicians at the point of introduction of the legislation
  3. Carry out an analysis of service user needs with specific attention on urban, rural and high density BME populations across each EI site, to examine what skill mix and role development would be appropriate and how the MHA flexibilities can be implemented
  4. Create an opportunity to “field test” the challenges that these role developments present in the work place. Utilise this key intelligence to support the wider introduction of new roles across the country.
  5. Carry out this work in the context of the wider NWW agenda rather than in isolation.

Methodology:

  1. Identify service provider organisations in both regions ensuring we engage organisations within each of the NIMHE regions.
  2. Ensure organisations are fully signed up to the programme and have support at Board level
  3. Engage the involvement of both the NIMHE Mental Health Act regional implementation leads and workforce leads within SHA’s.
  4. Identify participating organisations and establish action plans.
  5. Establish support networks and mechanisms for ongoing support to participating organisations through web based facilities and e mail networks/telephone communication.
  6. Provide ongoing support throughout the duration of the project
  7. Produce a final report at the end of the project pre Act implementation.

Project Plan:

The project plan can be downloaded here.

If your organisation is interested in joining the field testing programme, please contact Chris Merchant.


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