28 February 2022

CNWL are excited to announce the launch of the new integrated community hub model in Brent as this will provide more joined up and seamless experiences for people receiving services, and their carers.

The move towards Community Mental Health hubs is part of a national direction of travel to bring together primary and secondary care mental health services, as set out in the NHS long Term plan.

Over the past year, teams in Brent have worked closely with local stakeholders including GPs, local authorities, service users, carers and the third sector; using learning from other CNWL boroughs (who are working to the new model) and the NHSE framework to design and implement this change. 

Under the new model, CNWL has created integrated, local Community Mental Health Hubs where community resources work together as one team (centred around local Primary Care Network of GPs), delivering care based on the needs of the population.

The Community Hubs will provide a range of mental health specialists, such as nurses, therapists, social workers, pharmacists and employment support and navigators. They will work together with GPs to help people recover by providing psychosocial interventions, medicines management, and more.

Additional funding has been used to expand the offer, with the addition of more Community Navigators and Peer Support Workers, and staff that will help provide dedicated support to those with complex emotional needs.

The model is set up to promote simple routes for GPs to obtain mental health advice and support for patients, as well as triage led by highly-qualified mental health staff to make sure patients get to the right person first time. This closer working with local GPs will help to share learning, improve communication and avoid siloed care.

This also builds upon the work done by the current Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs), improving the lives for our patients by:

  • Helping patients into mental health treatment faster when required, preventing relapse.
  • Making sure care is more personalised as the service is tailored to local need of the population.
  • Increasing the consistency of care.
  • Making the process to get help simple with no need to repeat their story. 

This improved service recognises the importance of community and will be working in collaboration with local community organisations to help people connect and make use of their local assets, whilst also addressing social needs such as housing, substance misuse, carers’ support and financial advice.

Ann Sheridan, Managing Director of CNWL’s Jameson Division, says: “this is the beginning of an exciting journey where care is joined up and centred around the service user to help them achieve the best outcomes and enjoy their lives.”

Please find addresses, phone numbers and further details for each hub through the links below: