RSS feedCreating a Vital Link!
Posted by MST on March 8, 2010 | 4 Comments | 
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MST recently launched Vital Link, a new engagement body that will function as a link between service users of adult mental health services and NHS Lambeth.
The aim of Vital Link is to give service users and carers a voice so that they can influence the decisions made by NHS Lambeth and help improve adult mental health services in the borough.
Commissioned by NHS Lambeth, Vital Link is made up of sixteen service users and carers and will become a central point through which members can share their opinions on the mental health services they receive.
More voices heard
The members, working for up to two years, will also facilitate focus groups with other users and carers. They will conduct questionnaires, help organise consultation events and act as role models for those who are part of the recovery model/process. All the feedback will be passed onto NHS Lambeth.
Lambeth’s executive director of public health Dr Ruth Wallis says: “Lambeth has a higher prevalence of mental health needs than comparative boroughs, and this makes mental health one of our key priorities. Common mental illness like depression is widespread, affecting up to 10 per cent of our population.” She continued: “Vital Link will provide us with a means to ensure we are providing services fit for purpose”.
Addressing worklessness
The project will also partner with other employment and volunteering agencies in Lambeth in order to help representatives and participants become involved with Vital Link, and will create pathways back into the working community. There will be up to fifteen long and short term volunteer positions which will be available each year to help support the group.
Proud of the responsibility
Mark Austin, Managing Director of MST, said: “Carers and the people who use services are the people who know those services best and are best placed to improve them. Vital Link co-ordinates this and gives the best possible chance for those improvements to happen. At the same time it directly improves the chances of service users getting jobs.”
He added: “This service is a major opportunity to change the lives of users of mental health services across Lambeth. We are proud to have been given this responsibility by Lambeth NHS and are determined to really make it happen.”
To find out more about Vital Link or to discuss how we can help you set up a similar service with you, please contact Naomi Graham on 020 7501 2314.
Filed Under: General
Comments (4)
Hello, I am a very interested to hear about when you meet etc. please could you let me have info about meetings. I am also available for short term volunteer work at the moment, having been made redundant from this trust in June.
Thanks alot,
Lorraine
Hi Lorraine
Really good to hear from you and to hear that you’re interested in Vital Link. The group currently has 20 service user and carer representatives and meets monthly. These meetings are for vital link representatives to feed back on the work they have been doing. I am happy to send you the minutes of the meetings so you can see what kind of thing we have been talking about. If you are interested in applying to become a representative or tohelp out with volunteering I can send you some more information and also have a chat on the phone if that sounds ok to you? We are also having an event on 3 November at Stockwell YMCA to which I would like to invite you. My number is 0207 5012314 and I would be really ahappy to speak with you or to get your email address so that I can send you some more information.
I hope to hear from you soon
Best wishes
Naomi
I am a mental health service user in lambeth,and am disappointed that the cmht’s are not listening to service users like myself. I have no real support in the community and feel abandoned,when all i’m trying to do is help myself to have a better life. I would be interested in joining vital link,and becoming a volunteer. I’ve been in and out of the mental health cycle for 28 years..and it saddens me to see more and more people like myself, being left in dispair!!!
could you let me know how i can try and help others and myself through vital link!!
There are so many changes happening in the system at the moment, i don’t know if the same is happening to vital link.
Thank you
I’d like to thank Juliette for posting on this news article. I have responded personally via email, but thought I should post information for any other readers.
Vital Link are very much aware of the effect of the changes on the lives of individuals using mental health services within Lambeth.
The hope is that by representing the views of people use those services and their carers, we are able to positively influence the restructure of services in Lambeth – so that they are better able meet the needs of people who use them.
There are no vacancies within Vital link at present, but this is expected to change some time next year. In the meantime, we would be happy to register any interest so that we can keep you updated on our activities and on opportunities to have your say on mental health services in Lambeth.
I am also happy to talk to anyone interested in Vital Link. Please phone me on 020 7501 2314 or email me at lucas.teague@mst-online.org.uk.
Lucas Teague, Vital Link Coordinator