Bracknell

Expanding Bracknell direct payments, promoting respite services improving information about and awareness of mental health services and giving further support to carers are just some of the proposed changes to mental health care services outlined in a new strategy consultation paper to ensure the right level of care, support and advice is available in the borough.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council asked people using mental health care services and their carers as well as residents, healthcare professionals and voluntary group representatives what they thought was good about mental health care services, not so good and what could be improved during a survey in the summer.

The survey covered social care services offered by the Bracknell Council including home support, respite care, and support for carers not medical care offered by health care trusts in the area.

Results Findings showed services offered by the Bracknell Community Mental Health Care Team were valued but it was felt they could be expanded; support from the voluntary sector including a programme called STEP forward - which helps people with mental health conditions find employment - was seen as a great asset; day time and evening activities organised through the New Horizons project were viewed as very positiveVoluntary sector organisations were also valued, but people said further access to employment and activities should be explored.

Respondents said they valued good relationships between Bracknell Council and other organisations to provide good support and that direct payments were a good way of giving easy access to leisure facilities but this way of funding care and support should be expanded.

A lack of information on how to get support was seen as a stumbling block; support for people who had a less severe mental health condition being hard to access and letting people know what respite care they were entitled to were also areas highlighted in the survey that could be improved.

Bracknell Council has used the feedback has been used to shape a draft adult mental health commissioning strategy - which will set out improvements and priorities for mental health support services offered by the Council care in Bracknell Forest from 2007 to 2012, once it is formally adopted. This does not cover mental health medical care and assessment, which is offered by Berkshire Health Care Trust .

The draft Bracknell strategy pledges to:

* Work more closely with GPs and the health service; address the needs of people with less severe mental health conditions.
* Provide more readily available information on services that are available to carers and people with mental health problems;
* Work with housing providers to address the accommodation needs of vulnerable adults.
* Expand the direct payment scheme;
* Have a person-centred approach when planning care
* Address the support needs of Black and Minority Ethnic groups as well as a host of other things.

To ensure the strategy sets out the right care and support needed in Bracknell Forest for people using support services and their family and carers the Council is asking for residents, carers, health service professionals, and voluntary organisations, as well as people with a mental health problem to feedback on the priorities and action points via the consultation document.

Glyn Jones, Assistant Director of Bracknell Community Care, said: "Ensuring we have the right care and support for adults with mental health problems is very important and we have already listened to what people using the services, their carers and care professionals have told us works well and what needs improving.

To ensure we are meeting the community's need we are asking for further feedback to ensure what we are proposing for the future of mental health care services is what the people of Bracknell Forest really want."

Cllr Dale Birch: Executive Member for Bracknell Adult Services, Health and Housing, added: "We want to make sure the right level of care and support is available to people with mental health problems which is why the consultation on this strategy is very important.

"If you have views on mental health care support and services please submit them through this consultation as it's essential so we can accurately shape the services we provide over the next five years according to what is needed."

The consultation will run until Friday, November 30 and is available online at www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/liv-your-views-on-mental-health-services or by calling the commissioning team on (01344) 352000.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council