Recommendations & Conclusions
11 items
3
Recommendation
4th Report - Community Mental Health Se…
Accepted in Part
Service users, their families, carers and loved ones have been clear: high- quality care must be person-centred, responsive to the full range of needs individuals experience, and ensure involvement of their wider networks. Current services too often fall short—focusing narrowly on diagnosis, overlooking physical health, and failing to support people …
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Service users, their families, carers and loved ones have been clear: high- quality care must be person-centred, responsive to the full range of needs individuals experience, and ensure involvement of their wider networks. Current services too often fall short—focusing narrowly on diagnosis, overlooking physical health, and failing to support people with housing, employment, and social connection. People are more than a diagnosis and the support they are given must reflect this through integrated approaches that take account of the whole person, the enduring nature of severe mental illness, and recognise the vital role played by families and carers. (Conclusion, Paragraph 49)
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Government response AI summary
The government partially accepts, launching 6 national pilots of community-based mental health centres with £473 million capital funding. These pilots aim to provide integrated, person-centred care, with an evaluation due in 2026 to inform future models.
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Department of Health and Social Care
4
Recommendation
4th Report - Community Mental Health Se…
Accepted in Part
Experiences of stigma, discrimination, and lack of culturally appropriate or personalised support were frequently reported, particularly by racialised communities, neurodivergent individuals, and those with disabilities. 74 Where care was described as high-quality, it was inclusive, responsive, and tailored to individual needs. Equity must be integral to the delivery of high- …
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Experiences of stigma, discrimination, and lack of culturally appropriate or personalised support were frequently reported, particularly by racialised communities, neurodivergent individuals, and those with disabilities. 74 Where care was described as high-quality, it was inclusive, responsive, and tailored to individual needs. Equity must be integral to the delivery of high- quality community mental health services. (Conclusion, Paragraph 55)
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Government response AI summary
The government partially accepts, stating that future expansion of community mental health centres will be informed by pilot learning and tailored to local needs. However, there are no current plans to extend the pilot phase beyond 12 months, pending an independent evaluation.
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Department of Health and Social Care
7
Recommendation
4th Report - Community Mental Health Se…
Accepted in Part
We believe the Community Mental Health Framework sets out the right vision for Community Mental Health Services. However, evidence submitted to this inquiry reveals significant gaps between its ambitions and its implementation across England. We want to see a renewed commitment by the Government to realise the Framework’s ambitions. As …
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We believe the Community Mental Health Framework sets out the right vision for Community Mental Health Services. However, evidence submitted to this inquiry reveals significant gaps between its ambitions and its implementation across England. We want to see a renewed commitment by the Government to realise the Framework’s ambitions. As the Government seeks to further transform services, it must avoid repeating past mistakes and ensure lessons from previous reforms are fully learned. We believe that refusing to evaluate progress in the round is at best complacent and at worst irresponsible. (Conclusion, Paragraph 73)
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation, committing to develop the Modern Service Framework (MSF) for SMI through genuine co-production with lived experience experts and engaging relevant sectors. However, it shifts focus from the Community Mental Health Framework's implementation gaps and the need for evaluation, to the …
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Department of Health and Social Care
9
Recommendation
4th Report - Community Mental Health Se…
Accepted in Part
Delivering real change and achieving parity of esteem in mental health care requires dismantling the current fragmented system and reimagining service design and delivery. The 24/7 Neighbourhood Mental Health Centre 75 pilots seem to be genuinely transformative. The experience from Trieste, and early evidence from Barnsley Street, show that radically …
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Delivering real change and achieving parity of esteem in mental health care requires dismantling the current fragmented system and reimagining service design and delivery. The 24/7 Neighbourhood Mental Health Centre 75 pilots seem to be genuinely transformative. The experience from Trieste, and early evidence from Barnsley Street, show that radically different, individualised, community-based care gets results. We also heard that the model shows possible cost savings for the wider system. Realising large- scale reform will depend on sustained and ringfenced investment to enable stretched Integrated Care Boards to take the action needed. This must be matched by a profound cultural shift across the system from clinicians to commissioners to government. (Conclusion, Paragraph 91)
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Government response AI summary
The government partially accepts, focusing its response on improving the transition from children and young people’s mental health services to adult services for 0-25 year olds. It commits to strengthening continuity of care and eliminating rigid age-based thresholds with a new developmental service specification, but …
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Department of Health and Social Care
17
Recommendation
4th Report - Community Mental Health Se…
Accepted in Part
Despite nearly a decade of commitments, the transition from Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services (CYPMHS) to Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS)—including Community Mental Health Services (CMHS)— remains a cliff edge and continues to fall short of what young people need. The Government, NHS England, and Integrated Care Boards …
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Despite nearly a decade of commitments, the transition from Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services (CYPMHS) to Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS)—including Community Mental Health Services (CMHS)— remains a cliff edge and continues to fall short of what young people need. The Government, NHS England, and Integrated Care Boards must treat this issue as a national priority. We recommend that they create a clear, actionable plan as part of the formal response to the report, to deliver the promised “comprehensive offer for 0–25 year olds.” (Recommendation, Paragraph 114)
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Government response AI summary
The government partially accepts, committing service development funding for 2026-2029 to support growth in specific services like IPS, NHS Talking Therapies, and MHSTs. It requires ICBs to meet the Mental Health Investment Standard but does not provide a clear, actionable plan for a comprehensive 0-25 …
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Department of Health and Social Care
18
Recommendation
4th Report - Community Mental Health Se…
Accepted in Part
We heard that one way to track progress on integration would be through the establishment of national access and waiting time standards. The absence of national standards contributes to inconsistent access and undermines parity with physical health. NHS England should publish and implement these standards as a matter of urgency. …
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We heard that one way to track progress on integration would be through the establishment of national access and waiting time standards. The absence of national standards contributes to inconsistent access and undermines parity with physical health. NHS England should publish and implement these standards as a matter of urgency. (Recommendation, Paragraph 120)
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Government response AI summary
The government partially accepts, committing to requiring ICBs to meet the Mental Health Investment Standard and publishing a new Mental Service Specification for SMI to ensure clinical consistency. However, they will not make further legislative changes regarding mental health spending and do not commit to …
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Department of Health and Social Care
24
Recommendation
4th Report - Community Mental Health Se…
Accepted in Part
NHS England and Integrated Care Boards should prioritise the development of alliance models that embed voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations in the design and delivery of community mental health services. This should include clear expectations for co- production from the outset and mechanisms to ensure smaller and …
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NHS England and Integrated Care Boards should prioritise the development of alliance models that embed voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations in the design and delivery of community mental health services. This should include clear expectations for co- production from the outset and mechanisms to ensure smaller and peer- led organisations are actively included in decision-making and funding arrangements. (Recommendation, Paragraph 158) 78
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Government response AI summary
The government partially accepts the recommendation, acknowledging the value of alliance models and stating NHS England is promoting partnership working for VCFSE inclusion. Future guidance will continue to emphasize co-production and the role of community assets in delivering mental health services.
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Department of Health and Social Care
26
Recommendation
4th Report - Community Mental Health Se…
Accepted in Part
We echo Lord Darzi’s assessment that there is a fundamental problem in the distribution of resources between mental and physical health. While we recognise the welcome increase in real-terms mental health spend this year, we were disappointed to see the overall share go down. We hope this is a one-off …
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We echo Lord Darzi’s assessment that there is a fundamental problem in the distribution of resources between mental and physical health. While we recognise the welcome increase in real-terms mental health spend this year, we were disappointed to see the overall share go down. We hope this is a one-off and we would ask for a clear commitment from government towards parity of esteem between mental and physical health. (Conclusion, Paragraph 175)
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Government response AI summary
The government partially accepts, committing to require ICBs to protect mental health spending in real terms for financial years 2026-2029 via the Mental Health Investment Standard. However, it declines to make further legislative changes regarding mental health spending at this time, citing existing provisions for …
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Department of Health and Social Care
27
Recommendation
4th Report - Community Mental Health Se…
Accepted in Part
While integrating Service Development Funding into core funding may offer flexibility, we believe it also introduces uncertainty around continued prioritisation and investment in these services, and could have a detrimental impact upon the progress of the transformation of services. We urge the Government and NHS England to monitor this impact, …
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While integrating Service Development Funding into core funding may offer flexibility, we believe it also introduces uncertainty around continued prioritisation and investment in these services, and could have a detrimental impact upon the progress of the transformation of services. We urge the Government and NHS England to monitor this impact, and would like a formal update on this in their response to this report. (Recommendation, Paragraph 178)
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Government response AI summary
The government partially accepts the recommendation, stating NHS England already monitors relevant impacts through published data and ICBs meet the Mental Health Investment Standard. Additionally, service development funding has been secured for 2026-2029 to support growth in key mental health services.
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Department of Health and Social Care
28
Recommendation
4th Report - Community Mental Health Se…
Accepted in Part
We recommend the Mental Health Investment Standard be retained beyond 2025–26. The Government should commit to the Standard by the end of this calendar year to give systems greater certainty. Then, the Government should legislate to make the Standard a statutory requirement, clearly defining its scope, measures for evaluation and …
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We recommend the Mental Health Investment Standard be retained beyond 2025–26. The Government should commit to the Standard by the end of this calendar year to give systems greater certainty. Then, the Government should legislate to make the Standard a statutory requirement, clearly defining its scope, measures for evaluation and accountability for systems in meeting it. (Recommendation, Paragraph 185)
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Government response AI summary
The government partially accepts the recommendation, committing to retain the Mental Health Investment Standard by requiring ICBs to protect mental health spending in real terms for financial years 2026-2029. However, it explicitly states it will not legislate to make the Standard a statutory requirement at …
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Department of Health and Social Care
31
Recommendation
4th Report - Community Mental Health Se…
Accepted in Part
Social workers make an essential contribution to tackling the broader determinants of health and mental health outcomes, yet we heard they are often deprioritised when budgetary pressures arise. The Government should recognise the important role of mental health social workers by including them in the upcoming 10 Year Workforce Plan. …
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Social workers make an essential contribution to tackling the broader determinants of health and mental health outcomes, yet we heard they are often deprioritised when budgetary pressures arise. The Government should recognise the important role of mental health social workers by including them in the upcoming 10 Year Workforce Plan. This should include projections for increases to the workforce to ensure that every person with an SMI has a named mental health social worker. (Recommendation, Paragraph 200)
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Government response AI summary
The government partially accepts, acknowledging the vital role of mental health social workers and stating they will be recognised in the 10 Year Workforce Plan. However, it does not commit to specific projections for workforce increases or ensuring every person with SMI has a named …
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Department of Health and Social Care