Decision details

This document sets out the case for Bath and North East Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group (the CCG) and Bath & North East Somerset Council (the Council) to implement a new model of Mental Health provision.

RESOLVED (unanimously) that the Health and Care Board agreed that the Clinical and Commissioning Group and the Council work with existing system leaders to deliver the new Thrive model of Mental Health provision in B&NES.

The CCG and the Council recognise that the creation of a new model of mental health provision is a bold and transformational step.  However, services cannot continue to be delivered in the same way because in the long term this is unaffordable, unsustainable and, most importantly, will not deliver the preventative, collaborative and personalised service that local people and professionals have asked for. 

There are many strengths in existing community mental health services locally with strong examples of innovation and partnership working across system leaders and third sector organisations. Under the preferred proposal, the Thrive model of care would be commissioned to start 19/20.  Thrive supports the provision of mental health services using a whole-system, population-based approach which focuses on the mental health and mental illness needs of different groups of people as well as the needs of individuals. It enables integration across health, education, social care and voluntary sector, with a central focus on delivering improved outcomes for people. The implementation of the Thrive model will also allow for more effective links to place initiatives such as GP Primary Care Networks and will ensure mental health is embedded across all sectors of provision.

The decision is being made in accordance with Urgency Rule 15 of the Council’s Constitution.  It would generally to be an ordinary Health and Care Board decision though due to the need to make the decision before end of March 2019 due to contract expiry it is necessary to use the Council’s urgency procedure.

Option 1: Do nothing

The CCG and the Council recognise that the creation of a new model of mental health provision is a bold and transformational step.  However, services cannot continue to be delivered in the same way because in the long term this is unaffordable, unsustainable and, most importantly, will not deliver the preventative, collaborative and personalised service that local people and professionals have asked for. 

Option 2: Work with existing system leaders to deliver the new model of Mental Health provision

There are many strengths in existing community mental health services locally with strong examples of innovation and partnership working across system leaders and third sector organisations. These include services that have won awards and plaudits from patients, families, carers and communities. 

Under this option, the Thrive model of care would be commissioned to start 19/20.  Thrive supports the provision of mental health services using a whole-system, population-based approach which focuses on promoting mental health across the whole community, including groups who may be at risk of, or have, mental illness.

A population-based approach looks at the mental health and mental illness needs of different groups of people as well as the needs of individuals. It enables integration across health, education, social care and voluntary sector, with a central focus on delivering improved outcomes for people. The implementation of the Thrive model will also allow for more effective links to place initiatives such as GP Primary Care Networks and will ensure mental health is embedded across all sectors of provision.

Virgin Care and AWP as key system leaders have demonstrated commitment to work across the system collaboratively to ensure plans for transforming local services are realised.