DHSC Officials Visit OMH to Explore the Future of Community Mental Health
On Wednesday,15th May 2024, officials from the Department of Health & Social Care made a special trip to Somerset to meet with Open Mental Health.
The officials wanted to understand the potential of the OMH community mental health model. As an alliance of local voluntary organisations, the NHS, social care, Somerset Council, and people with lived experience of mental health challenges, OMH is transforming the way mental health services are provided in Somerset.
Understanding OMH’s Innovations
The DHSC officials were keen to take a look at OMH in action so they could see for themselves how this new approach improves accessibility to services, and evaluate its outcomes and effectiveness. This led to a day of thoughtful discussion, the sharing of first-hand experiences, and a thorough exploration of OMH’s diverse resources for mental health support.
A Productive and Eventful Day
In a lively and positive atmosphere, the officials visited three locations: the Victoria Park Community Centre, the Fore Street Hub, and the Balsam Centre.
Beccy Wardle, Associate Director of Strategic Partnerships & Alliances for Rethink Mental Illness, described it as “a really positive day full to the brim with insights from alliance partners.”
The DHSC officials were eager to understand the breadth of the partnership and mental health ecosystem that OMH has developed in Somerset.
Diversity Voice: Engaging Somerset Communities
The first stop was the Victoria Park Community Centre in Bridgwater. Here, the officials were introduced to OMH’s extensive community engagement work. Natalie Dyson from Diversity Voice led this part of the visit, conducting a tour of the building and explaining the efforts OMH makes to reach seldom-heard communities. This session also featured contributions from Mary Onukem, an OMH Community Champion, Angela Kerr from Citizens Advice, and Paula Blight from SWEDA.
Mary Onukem said, “During the visit, I discussed Open Mental Health, the walkabouts we’ve held as part of community engagement, and how Open Mental Health has collaborated with community partners such as Diversity Voice to engage with people seeking asylum. The DHSC Officials focused particularly on the collaborative efforts Open Mental Health has made within the community and the positive impact resulting from the walkabouts.”
The officials were interested to see how the combined work of these partners integrated with OMH’s model of mental health support, and Mary reflected that “The visit was engaging and provided everyone with the opportunity to observe and learn more about the activities and services offered by the host organisation, Diversity Voice. It was an excellent gathering.”
Fore Street Hub: Exploring the Locality Model
Next, the group moved to the OMH Fore Street Hub, where, amongst other things, they discovered more about the OMH locality model. The Hub plays a valuable role in strengthening connections between OMH partners, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, the Integrated Care Board (ICB), and the Council.
The Hub hosts regular drop-in coffee mornings. OMH Expert by Experience Leaders and volunteers, including Robyn Butler, Senior Recovery Navigator at Second Step, set up a room as it would be during one of these events, demonstrating OMH’s community-friendly approach. The re-created coffee morning gave the officials an opportunity to connect with the people that deliver OMH services on the ground and chat in a relaxed atmosphere, making it comfortable for everyone involved. While enjoying coffee and cake, the officials learned more about the benefits of the locality model, how it works and the importance of community crisis links and police collaboration.
The Balsam Centre: A Rural Retreat for Mental Health
The final location was the Balsam Centre in Wincanton, a long-standing community hub. Sue Place, Balsam Centre CEO, guided the DHSC officials through the venue, explaining its history and the connections OMH helps it maintain with other community and statutory organisations. This visit explored the challenges associated with rural mental health services. Discussions here touched on the family safeguarding service and its integration with children’s social care, demonstrating the comprehensive nature of OMH’s services.
Valuable Conversations on the Move
Interestingly, some of the most thought-provoking conversations occurred during car rides between venues. Beccy noted that the lengthy drive to Wincanton provided an opportunity for more reflective discussions. As the officials enjoyed the scenic journey, they talked about the impact of OMH’s work and how our model might be used in other parts of the country.
The officials were particularly interested in recent data suggesting a reduction in mental health bed occupancy in Somerset, which appears to correlate with the implementation of the OMH model. Figures show that the number of admissions into mental health beds fell from 616 in 2022 to 516 in 2023.
Beccy said, “There was a real feeling of pride in what we’ve achieved, but a big transformational change is probably never finished, and we recognise that it’s not done yet. There are still some things we’re not getting right and areas where we need to do better.”
Continuous Improvement and Future Collaboration
Throughout the day, it was clear that the DHSC officials were genuinely interested in what makes Somerset’s mental health transformation so effective. It was noted that OMH’s success lies in its commitment to understanding and respecting its partners’ diverse cultures and ways of working. This approach, coupled with a recognition that reaching OMH’s goals is an ongoing journey, helps to set Somerset apart.
The day ended with a casual discussion over another slice of cake, during which the officials had a chance to ask any lingering questions. This final session reinforced the value of the visit and laid the groundwork for future collaborations. OMH and DHSC will continue to maintain their relationship, sharing best practices and learnings as they evolve.
A DHSC spokesperson said, “We are hugely grateful to everyone involved in OMH who welcomed us to Somerset and took the time to show and explain the fantastic collaborative work underway. What really came through was that your longstanding efforts to build and strengthen partnership working are already having a significant positive impact both for service users and frontline staff. We are looking forward to hearing more about the outcomes being achieved and how the learning from this innovative approach can support other local areas across England to provide more preventative, person-centred and proactive care. Many thanks to everyone involved in our visit.”