Commissioning mental health services in a resource-constrained healthcare service requires understanding of the mental health system from GP-led clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) that are able to engage with mental health professionals to ensure high quality patient care.

Constraints on the NHS budget mean the new commissioners are required to consider their referral and management, so that the right services are offered to mental health service users at an appropriate time. CCG commissioning of mental health services requires the knowledge of a social model of recovery, so funding is allocated to preventive work and promoting mental health. The ability of CCGs impacts on the thresholds of what mental health services can deliver. Health becomes an economic driver in itself.

Proposed workforce impact

• More engagement between commissioners and the psychiatry workforce
• Psychiatrists engaging with clinical commissioning groups to ensure that mental health services are represented
• Two-tier system model

Sources or references

• DH, (2012), Functions of clinical commissioning groups.
• Joint Commissioning Panel for Mental Health, (2012), Guidance for commissioners of primary mental health care services.
• Mental Health foundation, (2011), Commissioning Mental Health Services.
• NICE, (2012), Commissioning stepped care for people with common mental health disorders.

Additional research questions

• How will GP-led consortia acquire the expertise to commission mental health services appropriately?
• How can commissioners ensure mental health services are patient centric and recovery focused?

Some of the information in this section is provided by stakeholders and expert groups, and does not necessarily represent the views of the CfWI.