The benefits

This new way of working will enhance the ability to support people with complex mental health needs in the community, and will adopt a one team approach to:

• Reduce silo working (not working in a collaborative way). People will receive the care they need first time, by the most appropriate service and organisation. This will stop people falling between the gaps from GPs and specialist care, or ‘bouncing’ between services.
• Create a "no wrong door" approach. Anybody referred by their GP will be reviewed by the enhanced multi-disciplinary team and seen by the most appropriate service, breaking down barriers to care.
• Support people to avoid crisis. Providing timely evidenced-based treatments in the community, such as psychological therapies and offering holistic care for people who might also have physical health problems.
• Provide easy access to specialist mental health care without needing to meet secondary care thresholds and face long waiting lists. People will not have to wait for secondary care assessments while their mental health worsens if they could be supported and managed in primary care.
• Provide support for wider life issues that can trigger mental ill-health. Examples include unemployment, housing, and financial worries. Support will be available as part of a holistic care approach.
• Provide lived experience peer support to help build a person’s knowledge, skills and confidence. This will allow them to better manage their mental health condition and general health and wellbeing, to be able to live independently in the community.