Having agreed a three-year extension to our contract (until march 2028) we are now reviewing everything that we do and how we do it. We will continue to focus on working much more in
the community, tackling inequalities and providing evidence of the impact that we are having – all while trying to live within our means, and supporting the people we work with to do the same in these difficult times.
Community focus
We’re committed to having more of our staff working with people out in the community, alongside GPs and local voluntary and community groups. Our successful PCAN (Primary Care Alliance Network) is doing just that, with Alliance staff meeting regularly across Lambeth with their GP colleagues and other professionals, such as the new Mental Health Practitioners, based in GP surgeries. They’ve been joined by new posts including:
- transitions workers – to support young people with mental health issues and their families/carers with the often difficult transition to adulthood
- community reablement workers – to help people to get better and stay that way to avoid readmission.
- ‘mind and body’ workers – to support more people to stay well in their own homes and communities, both mentally and physically.
Our workforce
We know that people who feel happy and cared for are better able to deliver care. We want to ensure that everyone working for the Alliance works and is treated in the ‘Alliance Way’ – a kind, caring and respectful approach that builds on the strengths and assets of the people we support, including their caring networks to meet their needs in the best, least restrictive way.
We will deliver our new workforce plan, co-designed with staff, that includes plans to embed kindness and compassion in all our work, improve our cultural awareness and ensure that all of our staff can realise their full potential and make it easier to recruit and promote people.
Equalities
Our highest priority is to ensure that people from all our communities – regardless of their ethnicity, gender or beliefs – have the same access, experience and outcomes from our services. Building on our award winning CAPSA (Culturally Appropriate Peer Support and Advocacy) service and pioneering PCREF (Patient and Carers’ Race Equity Framework) approach we aim to ensure Lambeth mental health services are trusted, welcoming and effective for all. For more details see the Equalities section of this report.
Service development and innovation
We’re reviewing our services to ensure that they deliver the support that people need in the Alliance way: person-centred, asset based, compassionate and respectful, whilst continuing to ensure they remain relevant and provide value for money.
We will continue to develop our new services – Individual Placement and Support), Culturally Appropriate Peer Support and Advocacy and Staying Well, including Primary Care Alliance Network – to maximise their impact and effectiveness across the whole of Lambeth.
We will continue to innovate, working with those we support, staff, GPs, community and voluntary groups and providers to develop better ways of meeting increasingly complex needs and growing demand., At the same time as increasing integration and community delivery wherever this makes sense.
Can you help us?
We have a short survey that anyone who use our services is invited to complete. It will take less than three minutes and will tell us how well we are doing and what we need to improve.