The Oversight Group are currently working on finalising the refreshed National Mental Health Policy 'Vision for Change' and it is expected that the final draft report will be complete before the end of quarter 1,2019.
The draft report will then need to be costed and agreed with key departments who have responsibility for implementing recommendations. It is expected that the final document will be published in quarter 2,2019.
The Terms of reference for the Oversight group follow. The refreshed policy is aligned Slàintecare priorities and takes a whole of population approach to accessing mental health services and seeks to meet the mental health needs of all individuals
'1(g) proposing policy changes that will benefit all those engaging with mental health services. A particular emphasis on social inclusion and the needs of vulnerable groups should be incorporated with a focus on reducing stigma and discrimination'.
Therefore the Oversight Group proposes that policy changes will benefit all those engaging with mental health services. The Terms of Reference for the Group place a particular emphasis on social inclusion and the needs of vulnerable groups, including the Traveller community, which will be incorporated into the final report with a focus on reducing stigma and discrimination. As a result, the report will not include a 'traveller specific' section.
I expect to table the final report for discussion in Dáil Éireann when the policy is finalised.
Terms of Reference for Oversight Group
A Vision for Change - Part II
1. Review and update the existing mental health policy A Vision for Change (2006) having regard to the Expert Evidence Review of international best practice, progress on current service developments in Ireland and the requirement of the Public Spending Code, with a particular focus on:
(a) primary prevention, early intervention and positive mental health, including having regard to the work underway with the Pathfinder Project and the Youth Mental Health Taskforce;
(b) integration of care and delivery systems between primary and secondary services taking account of the move to appropriate 24/7 service supports;
(c) development of E mental health responses;
(d) workforce planning, forecasting and skill-mix including mechanisms to attract and retain staff within existing national HR policy;
(e) emerging needs of vulnerable groups, people with co-morbidities and specialist needs informed by the relevant clinical programmes; and
(f) development of research, data and evaluation capability to ensure achievement of best mental health outcomes can be demonstrated with the resources available.
(g) proposing policy changes that will benefit all those engaging with mental health services. A particular emphasis on social inclusion and the needs of vulnerable groups should be incorporated with a focus on reducing stigma and discrimination.
2. Identify and consult on cross-sectoral and cross-societal responsibilities in the context of (1) above.
3. Align as far as possible the refreshed policy with existing national policies and implementation arrangements that have been developed since the publication of A Vision for Change (2006).
4. Conduct a consultative process with key stakeholders to inform proposals.
5. Produce, for submission to the Department of Health, an updated draft policy framework which sets out current and future service priorities within a time-bound implementation plan, for consideration by Government as a successor policy to A Vision for Change (2006).
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In accordance with the Public Spending Code, all Irish public bodies are obliged to treat public funds with care, and to ensure that the best possible value-for-money is obtained whenever public money is being spent or invested. The Public Spending Code imposes obligations, at all stages of the project/programme life-cycle, with the stages of the project defined as follows:
- Appraisal: assessing the case for a policy intervention
- Planning/Design: a positive appraisal should lead on to a considered approach to designing how the project/programme will be implemented
- Implementation: careful management and oversight is required for both capital and current expenditure. Ongoing evaluation should also be a feature of current programmes
- Post-Project or Post-Implementation Review: checking for delivery of project objectives, and gaining experience for future projects.
