Third sector mental health
What services are available in the Stirling area?
Stirling Council and NHS Forth Valley jointly commission and support a range of mental health services from organisations in the local third ( “voluntary” ) sector.
The services provided are interventions designed to support people with diagnosed mental health problems in a “pathways to recovery” approach to their mental health.
These organisations are:
Third sector provider |
Referrals accepted from: |
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Action in mind
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Artlink Central
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Open door
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Referrals can only be accepted from NHS Community Mental Health Services and Stirling Council Social Services Mental Health team |
How do people get access to the services provided by these organisations?
Health and Social Care providers may refer people to one of these organisations for a period of service to support them in making improvements in their mental health through, for example:
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Who might be referred?
To be eligible for the service someone must:
- Normally reside in the Stirling area
- Be between the ages of 18 and 65 years
- Be assessed by a relevant health or social care agency as needing low level intervention support in dealing with a diagnosed mental health problem
When someone has been referred, how does it work?
Together, the organisation and the individual agree at an initial stage what sort of outcomes people can expect if they sign up for the service. The services are designed to be very practical and to contribute to an individual’s confidence-building and social interaction to support them on their way to improved mental health.
The services do not replace statutory mental health services but support them in a way that should help the individuals to take control of their recovery.
Referring agencies may be asked to nominate a key worker to deal with any liaison between themselves and the third (“voluntary”) sector provider in relation to supporting the individual referred for services.
After an agreed period of time, the organisation and the individual using the service, perhaps in conjunction with mental health services, will consider whether it is time for the individual to:
- Move on to more independent activities
- Move on to other, more appropriate services
- Seek an extension of the existing service
The last option must have the approval of the Officer Monitoring Group.
What is the Officer Monitoring Group?
Stirling Council Social Care and the NHS Community Mental Health Services monitor the services delivered by these organisations to ensure that the services are of good quality and successful in achieving results for the people using them. The Officer Monitoring Group has been established to do this.
The key members of the Officer Monitoring Group are team leaders in Stirling Council Social Care and NHS Community Mental Health Services and care managers and other mental health staff will link with them regarding services and service users.
The Officer Monitoring Group (OMG) meets regularly to monitor the services delivered to people and to support the providers in maintaining a high quality of service.
Staff from NHS Community Mental Health Services and Stirling Council Social Care(Mental Health) maintain contact with the providers to offer support to the providers to ensure people’s mental health issues are addressed appropriately while they are using the third sector service.
What does it cost?
If people meet the eligibility requirements for this service and there is availability within the third sector organisation, there is currently no charge for this service to the person referred or to the referring agency. Stirling Council and/or NHS Forth Valley pay for these services under contract with the providers. Please note that this may change in the future. Providers may ask service users to contribute to some costs e.g. teas and coffees, social activities organised within the groups being supported by the service but this would be entirely voluntary.
Where can I get independent advice about these services?
Stirling Users Network (StUN) is an organisation set up and run by people using mental health services. StUN is a service user-led organisation and it engages with both Stirling Council and the NHS in relation to services. StUN links with the Officer Monitoring Group on matters relating to service quality and service user feedback and consultations. To email StUN, please click here.
For further information contact:
Social Care Commissioning and Contracts Team
Room 227 New Viewforth
Stirling Council
Stirling
FK8 2ET
Telephone: 01786 442857
Additional resources
Non-statutory mental health in Stirling area brochure
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