What is happening to community mental health services and care in Leeds?
Community mental health services and care in Leeds are changing to be more responsive to people’s needs. Improvements are being introduced in three areas of the city to start with and mean that care and support will be provided at the right time and close to your community in a place that is convenient to you.
The changes will make sure that all parts of the health and care system, including voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations work together in teams.
The improvements were designed and planned by the NHS in Leeds, people with lived experience, including carers, voluntary and community organisations and Leeds City Council.
If you don’t live in one of these areas, care and support will continue to be provided as it is now until we are able to introduce these new ways of working.
Why are changes being made to community mental health care and support in Leeds?
Community mental health services are being improved to make it easier for people with complex and ongoing mental health needs sometimes to get the care or support they need. You can see more information by clicking on the following link to the MindWell Leeds website.
These changes are being made through a process called Transforming Community mental Health and are being introduced gradually across the city during 2024/2025.
Transformation of community mental health care and support is a national and regional NHS priority. For more information click on the following links:
- NHS Mental Health Implementation Plan 2019/20 – 2023/24
- West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board
- Leeds Integrated Care Board
If you don’t live in one of these areas, care and support will continue to be provided as it is now until we are able to introduce these new ways of working.
What does transforming community mental health services mean – in simple terms?
Improvements are being made to transform community mental health care across Leeds during 2024/25 will mean that you (or the person you care for) will be able to:
- Access community mental health care and support when and where you need it
- Move through the system more easily and have access to ongoing care and support to help your recovery.
- Manage your condition or move towards recovery on your own terms, surrounded by your family (if that is what you want), your carers and social network, supported in your local community.
- Be active part in your community in a way that feels comfortable for you.
If you don’t live in one of these areas, care and support will continue to be provided as it is now until we are able to introduce these new ways of working.
How are the changes being made to community mental health care and support?
Improvements, such as new therapy services have been introduced across Leeds during the past year.
Community mental health teams, of professional and community support workers, started working in three areas of the city in March 2024. The areas are:
- West Leeds (served by West Leeds Primary Care Network – PCN)
- HATCH (served by Burmantofts, Harehills and Richmond Hill PCN and Chapeltown PCN)
- Leeds Student Medical Practice (LSMP) and The Light PCN
We will use the next few months to get feedback from you, your carers and our staff to help us to introduce new teams across the rest of Leeds by the end of 2025.
If you don’t live in one of these areas, care and support will continue to be provided as it is now until we are able to introduce these new ways of working.
Who will benefit from the changes being made?
The changes are being introduced for adults aged 18 and older.
National and regional mental health changes don’t include children; But we will pay attention to how young people access and use our service when they are ready to move to adult community mental health care and support.
If you don’t live in one of these areas, care and support will continue to be provided as it is now until we are able to introduce these new ways of working.
How will the improvements to community mental health care and support work in Leeds?
Leeds already has many services provided by lots of different health, social and voluntary sector organisations supporting people who are living with mental and emotional health difficulties.
These improvements will provide joined up community mental health and social care services and support for people living in the city.
You can find out more about the improvements by clicking on the following links to the MindWell Leeds website.
If you don’t live in one of these areas, care and support will continue to be provided as it is now until we are able to introduce these new ways of working.
What are multi-disciplinary teams?
These are teams of professional and support colleagues from the many organisations providing community mental health services and care. For example,
- Psychiatrists
- Psychological therapy practitioners
- Mental health nurses, pharmacists and practitioners
- Social workers
- Support workers in housing, employment, money matters
- Roles providing peer support and working with you to aid your recovery.
Click on the following link for a more detailed list.
These are simply called Teams on the MindWell website.
If you don’t live in one of these areas, care and support will continue to be provided as it is now until we are able to introduce these new ways of working.
What will the working hours be for the teams?
The teams will be working from 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Once the teams have been working together for some time, we will have a clearer picture of demand and pressure points on the services and may need to make changes if necessary.
If you don’t live in one of these areas, care and support will continue to be provided as it is now until we are able to introduce these new ways of working.
How will I be referred to the new community team?
Referrals into the new teams will continue to be made as they are now. We will work with you (or the person you care for) to understand your needs and how they can be met in the best way for you. We will respond to referrals within a day or two.
If you don’t live in one of these areas, care and support will continue to be provided as it is now until we are able to introduce these new ways of working.
What happens when I am referred?
If you (or the person you care for) are referred for care and support staff working in primary care and community mental health teams will have a ‘helpful conversation’ with you to find out what you will need. You won’t have to repeat these discussions with several people. This is part of the ‘triage’ process and means we want to know about your experiences and the events that have led to your referral so we can identify how to help you and who will provide that help and support.
If you don’t live in one of these areas, care and support will continue to be provided as it is now until we are able to introduce these new ways of working.
Will everyone be referred into the new care and support services?
No, because it may not be necessary or appropriate. In this case we will provide information about the best resources for you (or the person you care for) to contact for advice or guidance, for themselves or somebody else. For example, if your needs can be met by a GP, you need an urgent crisis response or you have a primary problem with dementia or require a memory assessment.
If you don’t live in one of these areas, care and support will continue to be provided as it is now until we are able to introduce these new ways of working.
What care and support will be provided to me by the new teams?
Each team is a partnership of people and organisations who will provide personalised care and support designed for, and with, you (or the person you are caring for). This includes:
- Providing mental and physical care and support
- Providing a range of psychological therapies
- Providing social care
- Third sector agencies providing community support
- Supporting you in your community e.g. housing, benefits, employment etc.
- Sharing information only with people directly involved in your care
- Providing support from a keyworker who the person knows, trusts and can work with.
If you don’t live in one of these areas, care and support will continue to be provided as it is now until we are able to introduce these new ways of working.
Click on the following links for more information about the range of care and support our new teams provide.
I keep hearing the phase ‘trauma-informed’. What does it mean?
We understand that past experiences and psychological trauma can affect mental, emotional and physical health. So, instead of asking “what is wrong with you?”, we will ask “what has happened to you?” and “what do you need?”
Click on the following links for more information about the trauma-informed approach to mental and emotional care and support.
If you don’t live in one of these areas, care and support will continue to be provided as it is now until we are able to introduce these new ways of working.
I have heard the word ‘formulation’ used. What does it mean?
A formulation is a way to make sense of your experiences and presenting difficulties. It is made jointly by the mental health worker and you to tell your ‘story’ and is usually written or produced in a visual way.
The formulation is a working document so it can change with new information. It will emphasise the service user’s strengths and can inspire hope for change and recovery.
If you don’t live in one of these areas, care and support will continue to be provided as it is now until we are able to introduce these new ways of working.
I have heard the word ‘intervention’ used. What does it mean?
We use interventions to describe a range of methods and practices used by different members of the team and anybody involved in your care, e.g. your family or carer. These are used to treat a mental health problem and, or, to maintain your mental wellbeing.
If you hear a word or phrase used at any time that you don’t understand, please ask us to explain it to you or to use different words instead.
What is a personalised care plan and will I have one if I am referred?
Everybody who is supported by the team will have a care plan. Depending on your needs it might be a summary of the agreement from the helpful conversation you had with a member of the team. If your needs are more complex and involve several members of the team then your care plan will be more detailed.
Your care plan needs to clearly provide information around your situation, who is responsible for different parts of the plan, agreed boundaries and timescales. The care plan and care planning meetings will involve you, your family and/or friends (if appropriate), and carers. You should be given a copy of your care plan, which should be presented in a way that makes sense and is meaningful to you. You can also ask to review your care plan at any time.
If you hear a word or phrase used at any time that you don’t understand, please ask us to explain it to you or to use different words instead.
What is a keyworker and will I have one if I am referred?
One of the changes we are introducing to improve care and support In Leeds is the new role of a keyworker. Everyone who is getting community mental health help from a multi-disciplinary team will have a named keyworker to help you on your journey.
Your keyworker is your ‘go to’ person if you or your family or carer:
- Have questions about any part of your care.
- Need help and support.
- Want to talk about your treatments and therapies.
They will work with you and your team (including your family if appropriate), providing information and ways of accessing the care and support you have both agreed you need.
Click on the following link to the service user Keyworker leaflet to find out what a keyworker is and how they will work with you (or the person caring for you).
If you don’t live in one of these areas, care and support will continue to be provided as it is now until we are able to introduce these new ways of working.
What happens if my needs change? (e.g. my mental health improves, or I need to access more specialist support from a different service.)
Depending on what you (or the person you are caring for) need, you may be referred outside the team for specialist treatment and support. We will help you to make that move when the time is right. Many people will have a combination of services from inside and outside the team. If another team member becomes involved, you will be offered ‘warm introductions’ to the other service. You will have a personalised care plan that also includes supporting you in your community after you move on from the team.
Information, including your assessment and care plan, will be shared to avoid you having to repeat your story, but this will be done with your agreement.
You can contact the team after you have moved on and will be able to get help if you need it. We will respond to your needs whether you get better or not.
If you don’t live in one of these areas, care and support will continue to be provided as it is now until we are able to introduce these new ways of working.
How will you ensure that people with complex and enduring mental health problems have equal access to housing, particularly in the HATCH are, which has some of the worst housing stock in Leeds?
The Accommodation Gateway service works with people being discharged from acute mental health wards (under 65s, working age adults) or those being cared for and supported by community based mental health teams, to ensure they are moved to accommodation that best suits their needs, in a timely and effective way.
Click on the following links for information more information:
- Accommodation Gateway
- Engage Leeds
- Mental Health Homeless Team
- Housing Options
- St George’s Cro[t
- Beacon Housing
- St Anne’s
If you don’t live in one of these areas, care and support will continue to be provided as it is now until we are able to introduce these new ways of working.
Will asylum seekers be able to access the hubs, even if they are not registered with a GP?
Whatever a person’s immigration status is, all asylum seekers can register with a GP and receive free primary care health services in England. This means that, as long as you live in one of the three areas where these changes are happening, you will also be able to access the teams in the same way as anybody else.
Any asylum seekers who are not registered with a GP, but who need mental health care and support in the community, will be covered by the team nearest to wherever they are staying.
If you don’t live in one of these areas, care and support will continue to be provided as it is now until we are able to introduce these new ways of working.