Part 1 Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010
Gwent Primary Care Mental Health Support Service (PCMHS)
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What is Part one of the Measure?
The aim of Primary Care Mental Health Support Services as defined within Part 1 of the Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010 is to strengthen the role that primary care plays in delivering effective mental health care and treatment, by ensuring that there will be local primary mental health support services. These will be delivered by Local Health Boards and local authorities in partnership. It is expected that these services will operate either within, or alongside, existing GP practices.
Part 1 of the Measure requires that the following elements be delivered as part of local primary mental health support services:
Comprehensive mental health assessments for individuals who have first been seen by a GP. (Individuals may be referred into the primary care service by secondary mental health services);
Treament, by way of short-term psychological interventions, delivered individually or in group settings. Such treatment may include counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy, solution-focussed therapy, stress management, anger management and education.
Provision of information and advice to individuals and their carers about treatment and care, as well as ‘signposting’ them to other sources of support including third sector organisations.
Support and advice to GPs and other primary care workers to enable them to safely manage and care for people with mental health problems.
Supporting the onward referral and co-ordination of next steps with secondary mental health services, where this is felt to be appropriate for an individual.
These services are ‘age blind’ and so aimed at individuals of all ages who are experiencing mild to moderate, or stable severe and enduring mental health problems.
What services will be provided by PCMHS
Taking into account the expectations and guidance from the Welsh Government, the Gwent PCMHS will offer a range of evidence-based, time limited interventions to treat common mental health problems in all age groups. The interventions available will include a mix of guided self-help, group work and individual therapy. These interventions are likely to include:
counselling,
a range of psychological therapies, including cognitive behavioural therapy and solution focussed therapy,
stress management,
family and parenting work,
behavioural or social interventions
Links to other agencies and organisations
The service will also develop strong links with third sector organisations across Gwent.
Where will the PCMHS services operate?
It is expected that all the PCMHS services will as far as possible work alongside GPs and primary care staff, providing interventions to service users within the practice setting. It is acknowledged however that for a number of small GP practices the lack of available space may be a barrier to this taking place. Where this is identified as an issue, alternative arrangements for providing assessments and interventions will be identified which will be suitable to the GP and service user/s.
Each PCMHS service will develop close links with local Third Sector Organisations such as Gwent Area Voluntary Action (GAVO) or MIND, as well as other agencies that can provide help and support to people, for example Citizens Advice Bureau or Family Centres.
What is an ‘age blind’ service?
The mental Health Measure requires that PCMHS services are delivered to people of all ages – children through to older adults. As a result the PCMHS service will initially be made up of staff from CAMHS, adult and older adult services. Expertise will be shared to enable assessments and age appropriate interventions to be provided. Also links will be maintained with specialist secondary mental health services so that where a person may need a greater level of support or care, the transition to that service can take place without any unnecessary delays.
Who can refer to PCMHS service?
Your General Practitioner is the preferred route for all referrals, although other professionals may be able to refer, such as from a secondary mental health team, In order for PCMHS staff to provide a service your GP must first be informed.
Unfortunately self referrals to PCMHS are not permitted under Part 1 of the Measure
Will PCMHS services be ‘gate keepers’ for secondary mental health services?
No. There is nothing preventing a GP from referring directly to a Secondary Mental Health Team if the doctor believes there is a high level of risk or complexity of illness that may require specialist assessment and possible treatment. However it is expected that as the PCMHS service develops GP’s will discuss any direct referrals to secondary care with a PCMHS staff member ahead of making the referral to identify if there might be other more appropriate interventions available.
How will PCMHS performance be monitored?
Local authorities and LHB's will be accountable for the performance of the local primary mental health support services. In addition to locally agreed performance management information, they will ensure that information is routinely collected for the Welsh Government in relation to:
Number of practitioners per 20, 000 population (all ages).This refers to all clinical staff not just those eligible to carry out assessments under the Measure.
- Number of assessments undertaken.
These must be assessments that are the result of a GP or secondary care referral
- Waiting time for assessment (in calendar days).The target set by WG is for all assessments to take place within 28 calendar days
Waiting time for interventions, where indicated (in calendar days).
The time between the assessment and first intervention. There is no specific target set by WG but there should be no undue delays
Number of completed interventions
This includes any completed intervention; treatment, referral on, information provided
User, carer and GP satisfaction levels
This information will probably be collected annually
Mental Health (Wales) Measure Part 1 - The Service Users' View
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