The Reach Out project is a joint initiative run in partnership between Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT), the organisation which provides physical and mental health, learning disability and adult social care services across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent and Shropshire, as well as Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (BSMHFT) and St Andrew’s Healthcare.
The project was ‘highly commended’ in the Community or Primary Care Services Redesign - North/Midlands/East category at the 2018 HSJ Awards held at the Intercontinental O2 in London last night (21 November).
Neil Carr, Chief Executive of MPFT said: “It is a fantastic achievement for the Reach Out team to be highly commended at the HSJ Awards, which are one of the largest celebrations of healthcare excellence in the world, recognising and promoting the finest achievements in the NHS.
“It is important for a sustainable and effective future healthcare system that we have strong and productive partnerships across the region and MPFT are delighted to be part of this innovative approach with BSMHFT and St Andrews to secure mental health services which will make lives better for the communities we serve.”
The team running the Reach Out project are conducting a two year pilot within Adult Secure Care, implementing a new model of care. The programme will bring patients who are currently in secure care outside of the West Midlands closer to home, family and friends. There are around 550 adults across the West Midlands who are detained in medium or low secure care and, 35 per cent of these are out of area.
The project aims to provide those who no longer need secure care with support in the community by enhancing the existing forensic community service and building links with third sector providers.