Our work with mental health

On this page:

Identifying priorities in the mental health justice system
Regional work
National work
Achieving best value for money
Working with the Tribunal Service Mental Health
How can I raise an issue?

Identifying priorities in the mental health justice system

For the 08/09 financial year, targets for mental health efficiencies centre on building a close relationship with our partners in the mental health justice system and identifying priority areas to tackle together.

Regional work

LSC regional mental health leads have achieved:

regular meetings with counterparts in the local Tribunal Service Mental Health Operations Teams (TSMH; formerly MHRT)
raising the profile of the work amongst providers and continuous gathering of feedback, including dedicated meetings with individual providers
tackling local issues with the Tribunal Service
increased knowledge and understanding of the mental health justice system including observation of tribunals
promotion of more effective interaction with the Tribunal Service by providers, including use of their secure email system, dedicated application forms and complaints procedure
investigation of local NHS structure, along with first contact with Mental Health Act Administrators (MHAAs).

National work

Centrally, regional leads, along with the Mental Health Unit and Mental Health Policy Team, have achieved:

2 productive workshops which have identified national priorities including reviewing reasons for adjournments, efficient listings and effective provision of reports
representation of provider and client interests at Tribunal Service management meetings
questionnaire sent to all MHAAs in England and Wales and responses analysed
initial meetings with the NHS Confederation to devise strategy for working more closely with local NHS bodies.

The LSC and Tribunal Service Mental Health will shortly be jointly reviewing the reasons for unnecessary adjournments in order to identify joint action that can be taken to improve the system for our providers and clients.

Achieving best value for money

We are looking at how we and our partners in the mental health justice system can achieve best value for money and continue to increase the numbers of people helped.

We are working with the Tribunal Service Mental Health and the National Health Service in England and Wales to improve efficiency and effectiveness for the benefit of:

clients
legal representatives
justice partners.

Working with the Tribunal Service Mental Health

Relationship managers, policy makers and specialist caseworkers based in Liverpool and Nottingham have met with representatives from the Tribunal Service Mental Health (TSMH) and the Administrative Justice & Tribunals Council.

Liz Ralph Operations Manager at the Tribunal Service Mental Health has said that the benefits the tribunal service have got from the initiative include, "Communication links to solicitors eg promotion of using correct forms, a platform to raise problems with solicitors and also a platform to obtain feedback from solicitors on process".

Lead LSC staff in each region will be meeting with their counterparts at the TSMH on a regular basis.

How can I raise an issue?

To raise an issue with regard to efficiency and/or effectiveness of the Tribunal Service Mental Health in your region, please contact Contract Manager Stuart Lee providing:

the issue(s) you are raising
the region(s).

Whatever your interest in the tribunal we are keen to receive your views.

>back to top

Last updated: 22 December 2008