Adult Care, Housing and Public Health Market Position Statement: Adult Care Market and Demand

Key messages for the market

• Mental health conditions (both primary and secondary) are treated via a range of community and hospital based services by Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH). These range from talking therapies for common mental health conditions to community mental health teams and hospital wards for secondary conditions. The local Government Association states: “Councils support and influence mental health and wellbeing in a myriad of ways. We need to move away from just focusing on mental illness to helping everyone stay mentally well. This means overhauling our attitudes and approach to mental health and mental health services, increasing investment in prevention, early intervention and life-time support.”
• In 2023 a Mental Health Recovery – Flexible Purchasing System (FPS) was established. The FPS will comprise of a number of separate lots. Each lot will specify a community service with the principle of mental health recovery at its core. The community services in scope include supported living, day opportunities and preventative services. Lot 1 of the FPS which specifies supported living accommodation based services has been established and there are currently 3 providers appointed. The Mental Health Recovery – Flexible Purchasing System Lot 1 remains open to applications from suitably qualified providers. 24
• The Council seeks more suitable provision in the Borough. A programme of commissioning and procurement activity is underway to create a high standard care and support market which has the relevant capacity and capability to meet the needs of adults with mental ill health. The services being developed have a strong focus on mental health recovery, enabling and independent living.
• The Council invites domiciliary care providers with a mental health specialism to join Lot 4 of the Home Care and Support Service FPS.
• The Council intends to continue to promote the use of personal budgets for specialist mental health provision and increase the support from personal assistants.
• There is a requirement for cost-effective alternatives to traditional forms of support for adults who require mental health recovery support i.e., long and short term supported living (24-hour services), floating support services.
• The Council is keen to expand specific mental ill-health provision for long term dispersed accommodation to ensure move on from temporary short-term accommodation is facilitated.