Many people who are users of mental health services have a range of needs that are of a social nature. These needs may well be complex and inter-related, sometimes involving problems of social exclusion such as unemployment, homelessness or isolation, or perhaps a crisis in relationships with carers or family. Conversely, research shows that issues of mental distress effect not only users of specialist mental health services but are commonly experienced by users of services across the full spectrum of social care services.

Social care services strive to empower people to deal with these difficulties and to provide support where it is needed. They are delivered by local councils, voluntary and independent organisations. Increasingly, social care is characterised by partnership between social services and many agencies across Government and the voluntary sector, but also there is also a strong trend towards closer integration of health and social care services. Amidst all this complexity and change it is critical that mental health remains firmly on the agenda of the social care sector.

NIMHE is working to champion social care perspectives through its social care fellows who are jointly appointed with the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE), and social care and social inclusion colleagues in the NIMHE Regional Development Centres.

How to get involved

Please contact one of the social care fellows - see panel right.