Getting involved in other ways

There are lots of ways to get involved without having to be part of the Network (although we'd very much like it if you became a member!). We will promote opportunities to get involved because you are the ‘expert by experience’. All Local Authorities and NHS Trusts have a ‘duty to involve’ so it is their responsibility to not only ask how people want services but also to show how that involvement affected decision making.

We are here to help so please contact us if you want further information or to discuss how to get involved with ourselves, or with the organisations below we can provide with the answers (or if we don’t know the answers we will know someone who does!)

Network Surveys and Consultations

The South Staffordshire Network for Mental Health currently are asking people to complete the following surveys, click on the link to download the survey:

South Staffordshire District Emotional Wellbeing Support Group
Your Views November 2010 

Please send completed surveys to sunetwork@ssnmentalhealth.co.uk or use our freepost address and send to
SSNMH
FREEPOST MID 23594 
Lichfield
Staffordshire
WS13 6LL
 

South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust (SSPCT)

The SSPCT commission and provide many services you'd expect from the NHS, they comission hospitals, GP Surgeries, pharmacists and provide a long list of community services inside and outside of hospitals. South Staffordshire PCT serves a population of over 600,000 people and has an annual budget of £681,000,000. It is located within the boundaries of Staffordshire County. Although mostly rural, the PCT contains a number of towns and cities including Burton upon Trent, Cannock, Lichfield, Stafford, Tamworth and Uttoxeter.

Please click on the link on the left hand menu for more information on becoming involved with the PCT or click on the following link to go straight to the Consultation page:

Current Consultations and Events

 

South Staffordshire & Shropshire NHS Foundation Trust (SSSFT)

The Trust provides mental health, learning disability & specialist children’s services across South Staffordshire and mental health & learning disability services in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Powys. They also provide some services on a wider regional, or national basis.

Most Secondary Mental Health Services (including Community Mental Health Teams and Acute Inpatient Care) are provided by the SSSFT.

Please click on the link on the left hand menu for more information on becoming involved with the SSSFT.

Staffordshire County Council Social Care & Health - Staffordshire Cares

The county council provides the 800,000 people of Staffordshire with services such as schools, libraries, social services, trading standards, highways and planning. They provide and jointly commission many of the adult care services in Staffordshire.

Please click on the link on the left hand menu for more information on how you can be more involved with the County Council.

Department of Work & Pensions and Job Centre Plus

Working on a national level, the Department for Work and Pensions is responsible for welfare and pension policy. It is the biggest public service delivery department in the UK and serves over 20 million customers. The DWP is responsible for many of the welfare benefits available for people unable to work due to severe and enduring mental health problems. 

Jobcentre Plus is a part of Department of Work and Pensions. It is a government agency that supports people of working age from welfare into work, and helps employers to fill their vacancies. 

The Department of Work and Pensions consult on many policies and services it provides, you can find out more here:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/consultations/

The benefit increases for 2011 have been announced:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_193032
 


District and Borough Councils and SCIO

Local councils often consult residents on local planning and delivery, often on land use, health matters, spending, etc.
They often work closely with Community and Voluntary Services (CVSs) to ensure wide promotion. The CVSs through an organisation called SCIO (Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Consortium of Infrastructure Organisations) represent many charities and third sector organisations, who in turn represent many people receiving services on various partnership boards.