London Development Centre

National Institute for Mental Health in England

Inclusion

London Mental Health and Employment Partnership

The London Mental Health and Employment Partnership is committed to working with all the key organisations that have a role and influence in promoting mental health and employment across the London.

Membership includes;

  • Greater London Authority
  • Job Centre Plus
  • Learning and Skills Council
  • LondonCouncils
  • London Development Agency
  • London GPs
  • London Healthcare Commission
  • London Mental Health Trusts
  • London Primary Care Trusts
  • London Skills and Employment Board
  • Mental Health Service Users
  • NHS London
  • Regional Public Health Group London
  • Representative bodies of business/employers
  • Trade Unions
  • Voluntary and Community Sector.

The Partnership recognises that there are significant regional and local differences concerning levels of poverty, poor mental health and unemployment.  The Cabinet Office’s document “Reaching Out: An Action Plan on Social Exclusion” called for the need to establish “dedicated regional teams to provide further support for the implementation of good practice around the employment of those with severe mental health problems” (Action 23, 2006).

Supporting this client-group’s needs is crucial.  The Partnership is working to be more inclusive and address the needs of all of those who experience mental illness.

In response to the Cabinet Office’s guidance, the London Development Centre established the Mental Health and Employment Partnership in October 2007. This Partnership comprises a broad representation of regional and local government agencies to provide a practical programme of focused activity across the Capital.

In striving towards improved outcomes for people with the range of mental illness, the Partnership has set a number of practical objectives for the next twelve-months that work alongside an action plan orientated around three themes focusing on Increasing Influence, Increasing Profile and the London Mental Health and Employment Partnership becoming the “Go To Organisation” in terms of helping to achieve:

  • Better recruitment outcomes for people with mental illness, including the use of evidence based practice in job brokering.
  • Increased retention rates, including improved sickness absence management in the workplace. 
  • Promotion of mentally healthy workplaces and an increased emphasis on exemplar employers within the public sector.
  • Increased opportunities to promote education as a pathway into and within employment
  • An increase in volunteering for people with mental illness.

On 10th July 2008 the London Mental Health and Employment Partnership will be holding A Call to Employers Conference, in partnership with Stand to Reason, hosted and sponsored by Herbert Smith. To find out more about the work of the partnership contact Shaun Crowe.