NHS North West

NHS North West supported a collaborative programme that focused on mental health improvement – the Mental Health Improvement Programme (MHIP). The programme ran from April 2009 - Sept 2010 (18 mths) and invited all stakeholders in mental health particularly service users of all ages, carers and those with a non professional interest in mental health to get involved in the  initiative.

Foundations for the programme were first laid in two regional reports: ‘A Better Future in Mind’* and ‘Healthier Horizons’. The programme also builds on ideas and initiatives that stem from other key documents including:

• Vision 2015 – the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) coalition report 
• National Dementia Strategy 
• Lord Bradley's review of people with mental health problems or learning disabilities in the criminal justice system and 
• Sir Jonathan Michael's independent inquiry into health services for people with learning disabilities

* Note that where the page www.northwest.nhs.uk/projects/mental_health_commission is referenced this link no longer works; the information can now be found at: For pg 7 & 14 here: http://www.northwest.nhs.uk/whatwedo/mentalhealthinthenorthwest/innovative%20initiatives.html and for pg 8 & 10 here: http://www.northwest.nhs.uk/whatwedo/mentalhealthinthenorthwest/reports.html

Programme principles and governance

The Mental Health Improvement Programme welcomed all stakeholders in the North West to work together – including service users of all ages, carers and those with a non-professional interest in mental health issues.

The SHA acted as an investor, system enabler and shareholder rather than as direct day to day manager of the programme. The development and co-ordinated delivery of the programme was supported by a programme director and programme office responsible for ensuring effective programme management. John Boyington who chaired the NHS NW Commission was NHS NW lead for Mental Health and the Programme Director for the MHIP.

Working with other improvement programmes

The MHIP worked with existing improvement programmes and initiatives in the region including the Government Office of the NW, the NW Development Agency, the NHS NW Improvement and Leadership Academies, workforce commissioning and the SHA Quality Board.

Programme content

Three broad areas of work were developed following a review of the key recommendations of the reports referred to above. These included:

• Strengthening commissioning 
• Strengthening user, carer and public engagement, and 
• Developing the workforce