A joint inspection of adult services has considered the outcomes and experiences of adults living with mental illness in the Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership area.
The inspection found strengths in how integrated health and social care services are positively supporting people’s health and wellbeing outcomes. Inspectors also identified some areas which could improve.
Inspectors found that most people living with mental illness in Inverclyde had positive experiences of health and social care services that contributed to good outcomes for their health, wellbeing and quality of life.
The partnership’s vision focused on inclusion and compassion. It was committed to supporting mental health and wellbeing for all citizens. Longstanding integrated and co-located services provided a good basis for the provision of seamless services.
However, inspectors also found that the partnership needed to agree and implement an approach to identifying and addressing improvements in mental health services. It should develop processes for capturing information about the outcomes of people living with mental illness, to support improved outcomes for people and unpaid carers.
The partnership should also support staff in mental health services to identify and respond to the needs of unpaid carers of people living with mental illness. It should also ensure that staff are confident in the principles and practice of self-directed support, to maximise choice and control for people and unpaid carers.
The partnership should strengthen its oversight and governance of social work practice, with particular reference to the statutory functions of mental health officers.
Ann Gow, Deputy Chief Executive of Healthcare Improvement Scotland, said: “The partnership was aware that it needed to focus attention on its mental health services and had already taken some steps to do so, with the appointment of new staff and the development of a new strategic plan. The recently refreshed NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde strategy for mental health services and the implementation processes supported by Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership, provides a timely opportunity to further support improvement.”
Jackie Irvine, Chief Executive of the Care Inspectorate, said: “The inspection found strengths in how integrated health and social care services are positively supporting people’s health and wellbeing outcomes in Inverclyde. However, the partnership needs to work collaboratively to develop robust improvement and commissioning plans for its mental health services. It needs to put in place suitable structures and processes to support implementation of its plans. Given the partnership’s key strengths and its early response to the findings of the inspection, we have a good level of confidence that it will be able to make the improvements required. This will contribute to more consistent and sustainable positive health and wellbeing outcomes for adults living with mental illness and their unpaid carers.”
The full report can be read here.