Kent County Council are working to Develop a Mental Health Commissioning Vision in Kent and you are invited to one of two consultation events taking place on the following dates:

• For: Dartford, Gravesham & Swanley, Swale and West Kent CCG areas - Thursday 10th July 2014 (10:00 – 15:00)
• For: Ashford, Canterbury and Coastal, South Kent Coastal and Thanet CCG areas - Tuesday 15th July 2014 (10:00 – 15:00)

Community based mental health services are currently commissioned by: Clinical Commissioning Groups, Adult Social Care, and Public Health. We are aware that there are gaps in service provision and some duplication across some service areas.

The vision for the future is to commission a simplified care pathway, including a range of core services that are delivered through a new model of key strategic partnerships. These services will be integrated across health and social care and will present choice and diversity, challenge the stigma of mental illness and create the environment where people with mental health needs will recover, thrive and are accepted in their communities. We have already undertaken considerable engagement to develop a range of services.

The purpose of these events is to engage and consult with relevant stakeholders, including service users and their carers, to determine what a model for a strategic partnership will look like and how such a partnership could work collaboratively with others.

The new approach will need to tackle barriers to wellbeing for people with mental health needs living in the community in Kent, and deliver the following outcomes, incorporating the 6 ways to wellbeing:

• Enjoying a better quality of life, (Take Notice)
• Stronger social relationships, connected to the local community (Connect, Give, Care)
• Better chances of maintaining safe and stable housing
• More opportunities to participate in education and gain employment. (Keep Learning)
• More people with mental health problems will have good physical health. (Be active)
• Fewer people will experience stigma and discrimination.
• Reduction in number of suicides
• Reduction in the numbers of people entering care system including the secondary mental health care system
• Giving people more choice about their care
• People with MH problems and their Families/Carers are involved in designing services

If you are interested in attending please complete the booking form and return it to [email protected] for the attention of Nicky Jones, by Friday 27 June 2014.

Confirmation of your place, together with a copy of the programme for the day, will be sent out in due course. Places are limited and will be awarded on a first come first served basis. Please do not arrive on the day without a confirmed place, as for health and safety reasons, we may not be able to accommodate you.

Refreshments on arrival and a buffet lunch will be served during the event. Payment of travel expenses for service users and carers will be met according to current reimbursement arrangements. If you have any specific requirements that you need our assistance with on the day, please let us know on the booking form.

Please note that an advert has also been placed on the Kent Business Portal to publicise these events.