The team at Barnsley Street, including Look Ahead staff and colleagues from East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) and Tower Hamlets Mental Health Alliance celebrated the running of the service for a year with a conference.
Hosted at Tower Hamlets Town Hall, the conference brought together around 135 people including commissioners, clinicians, third sector and social care workers, and representatives of partner organisations such as the National Housing Federation (NHF). The one-day programme, shared and reflected on the positive impact of Barnsley Street and its role as England’s first neighbourhood mental health centre, driving transformative changes to the way mental health support is offered in England.
Some of the insights presented on the day included:
- The joined up nature of the service has improved support and trust between staff and people the service supports.
- Barnsley Street has reduced pressure on ELFT’s local hospital and GP resources.
- The service’s offer of drop-in appointments means individuals do not have to wait as long for the support they need.
The day was a great success with the audience engaging with the service team and learning about how the key partner organisations work together and what they bring to the table, stories from individuals supported by the service, and Q&A panels.
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