Episode 31 - Innovating in partnership with the voluntary sector for better mental health services

Autumn’s Integrated Care Podcast Series kicks off this week with a deep-dive into Somerset ICS’s journey to substantially improve mental health services through NHS, local authority and VCSE partnership. Their way of working, “a masterclass in positive risk taking and leadership” as Jane Yeandle from Somerset NHS Foundation Trust puts it, has seen a model influenced by co-production and an innovative approach to commissioning. It’s all guided by people with lived experience of navigating complex systems. The ‘no wrong door’ approach has maximised the mental health support available to individuals while creating a significant feelgood factor across the system.