Abbreviation MHPF Legal status registered charity | Formation 2005 Headquarters London | |
Motto The leading voice representing voluntary sector mental health service providers across England Type non-governmental organization | ||
The Mental Health Providers Forum (MHPF), based in London, is a registered charity and the representative body for voluntary sector mental health organisations in England, 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.
MHPF 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 Strategic Partners Programme with the Department of Health, NHS England and Public Health England.
MHPF developed from meetings of the chief executives of the leading mental health charities, and was registered as a company in 2005. The membership of the Forum consists of voluntary sector organisations providing mental health services in England. The current Chief Executive (since April 2012) is Kathy Roberts, who has a background in health and social care and the voluntary and community sector. She succeeded Dr Ian McPherson, previously Director of the National Mental Health Development Unit. The first Chief Executive of the Forum was Judy Weleminsky who led the organisation from December 2005 to January 2011.
In 2008 MHPF, with Triangle Consulting, worked with service users and MHPF members to develop the Mental Health Recovery Star, 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. It is now being used by many mental health trusts in England.
MHPF 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 MHPF published a report outlining successful housing models and a national forum is now established.