Association of Mental Health Providers

Association of Mental Health Providers
AbbreviationAMHP
Formation2005 as Mental Health Providers Forum; relaunched in May 2017 as Association of Mental Health Providers
TypeNon-governmental organisation
Legal statusRegistered charity
PurposeThe national voice of mental health charities providing services in England and Wales
HeadquartersLondon
Location
Region served
England and Wales
MembershipVoluntary and community sector mental health service providers
Chief Executive
Kathy Roberts
Websiteamhp.org.uk

The Association of Mental Health Providers (AMHP), known until May 2017 as Mental Health Providers Forum (MHPF),[1] is a registered charity based in London[nb 1] and the representative body for voluntary and community sector mental health organisations in England and Wales, working nationally and regionally to influence practice and policy. It aims to improve the range and quality of mental health services by increasing the involvement of the voluntary sector in delivering them, working in partnership with the wider sector and government agencies. Specific projects include the promotion of innovation in the sector, evidencing best practice to achieve the best outcomes for individuals and supporting recovery.

The Association leads a collaboration of voluntary mental health organisations including the Centre for Mental Health, National Survivor User Network for Mental Health (NSUN), the Mental Health Foundation, Mind and Rethink Mental Illness in the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Health and Wellbeing Alliance with the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England and Public Health England.

The Association's membership consists of voluntary sector organisations providing mental health services in England. The current Chief Executive (since April 2012) is Kathy Roberts,[2] who has a background in health and social care and the voluntary and community sector[2] and was appointed a MBE in the 2024 New Year Honours.[3] She succeeded Dr Ian McPherson, previously Director of the National Mental Health Development Unit. The first Chief Executive of the Forum was Judy Weleminsky,[4][5] who led the organisation from December 2005 to January 2011.

The Association has increased its work to bring the views of mental health service providers into national policy and strategy discussions, working closely with members to inform and implement the 2011 No health without mental health cross-government mental health strategy. An area of focus from 2014 has been housing provision for people with mental health needs. In September 2014, AMHP published a report outlining successful housing models[6] and a national forum is now established.

Mental Health Recovery Star

In 2008 the Association, with Triangle Consulting, worked with service users and the Association's members to develop the Mental Health Recovery Star, part of a family of "Outcomes Stars",[7] which was recommended by the Department of Health New Horizons programme and has been developed for use in adult mental health services. The Recovery Star is a key-working tool that enables staff to support individuals they work with to understand their recovery and plot their progress. It is also an outcomes tool that enables organisations to measure and assess the effectiveness of the services they deliver.[8][9] It is now being used by many mental health trusts in England[10][11] and has also been adopted for use by the Mental Health Recovery Service in Queensland, Australia.[12]

Digital mapping tool

In 2023, the Association introduced a digital mapping tool to measure mental health provision across England.[13][14]

See also

Other UK mental health charities

Notes

  1. ^ It is registered in England with the Charity Commission as Voluntary Sector Mental Health Providers Forum, charity 1120222.
    "Voluntary Sector Mental Health Providers Forum". Charity overview. Charity Commission. Retrieved 7 October 2022.

References

  1. ^ Hanif, Dania (5 May 2017). "Announcement of Relaunch" (Press release). Association of Mental Health Providers. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Kathy Roberts". Association of Mental Health Providers. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
  3. ^ "New Year Honours 2024: Awards to Cheshire residents". Nantwich News. 30 December 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  4. ^ Pati, Anita (30 November 2005). "Forum launched to assist work with mental health". Third Sector. London. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  5. ^ Working our way to better mental health: a framework for action (Cm 7756) (PDF). HMSO. December 2009. ISBN 978-0-10-177562-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 January 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  6. ^ Chapman, Ian (September 2014). "Housing Models: Examples of Innovative Practice and Design" (PDF). Mental Health Providers Forum: National Alliance of Voluntary Sector Mental Health Providers. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  7. ^ "Recovery Star: The Outcomes Star for mental health and well-being". Triangle Consulting Social Enterprise Limited. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  8. ^ Dickens, G.; Onifade, Y.; Sugarman, P. & Weleminsky, J. (2012). "Recovery Star: validating user recovery". The Psychiatrist. 36 (2): 45–50. doi:10.1192/pb.bp.111.034264. ISSN 0955-6036. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  9. ^ "Recovery Star". Mental Health Partnerships. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
  10. ^ "Recovery Star". Forensic and Prison Services. Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  11. ^ "Recovery Star". Advice & Support: Service users, carers and families. Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  12. ^ Lloyd, Chris; Lee Williams, Philip; Machingura, Tawanda; Tse, Samson (August 2015). "A focus on recovery: using the Mental Health Recovery Star as an outcome measure". Advances in Mental Health. 14: 57–64. doi:10.1080/18387357.2015.1064341. ISSN 1837-4905. S2CID 74337036. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  13. ^ Lydon, Cora (29 March 2023). "New mental health services mapping tool launched". Digital Health. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  14. ^ Say, Mark (15 March 2023). "AMHP launches interactive map on English mental health services". UK Authority. Retrieved 30 December 2023.

Further reading