Creating a Vital Link!

Posted by MST on March 8, 2010 | No Comments |  Print This Post |  Email This Post

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 2202.