£800k to help people with mental health problems find work
A health trust in the Black Country which helps people with severe mental illnesses to find work has received nearly £800,000 in funding.
NHS England has handed out the cash boost to the Black Country and West Birmingham Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP) after a successful bid.
The money will be used to expand the service, managed by the Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership Trust, by recruiting six new Individual Placement and Support staff – with a focus on early intervention and care support.
It comes after health chiefs recognised a need to tackle a growing number of people with mental health issues.
The new members of staff at the trust will operate across the Black Country., providing personal support for people with mental health issues.
Specialists will also seek to identify well-suited roles for the people affected.
Dr Helen Hibbs, senior responsible officer for the Black Country and West Birmingham STP, said: " “We know that by improving lifestyles we can improve health outcomes, but we must also improve life chances.
"Supporting people to find or retain employment is key, and this extra funding will help us to support many more people in the Black Country and West Birmingham.”
The roles will be advertised through the NHS jobs website.
It comes after the service in the Black Country was rated as exemplary for its efforts in helping people by the Centre for Mental Health in London.
The STP hopes to help more than 100 people help to find and maintain employment this year.
