National Mental Health Act Quality Improvement programme - The PSC & VMI

National Mental Health Act Quality Improvement Programme

This programme is being delivered by Virginia Mason Institute and The PSC in partnership with NHS England

National Mental Health Act Quality Improvement Programme
"I think the programme seems to be about small and large-scale change taking place simultaneously within an organisation, which I think is not always the case – either small QI projects that do not get traction within the organisation, or we focus on large scale transformation without engaging local teams and users of services...

The involvement of people with lived experience is a core part of the project and the feedback has been excellent so far."


Chief Medical Officer, MHA QI Pilot Trust

"The Mental Health Act Reforms are crucial to effecting change within an often oppressive system, led by white euro-centric values. I strongly feel optimistic that - whilst it will be challenging - the programme will contribute to a wider movement of reform and enable a more meaningful and person-centred approach to care delivered under the Mental Health Act."


Chris, Lived Experience Practitioner

"This programme has already significantly made a shift in the culture in terms of freedom to speak up. When I started this programme, I was in fear of saying the wrong thing so we didn't upset or offend people.

Now, through the coaching, tools and techniques we are using, we no longer have that fear on this ward with staff. "


Assistant Director, MHA QI pilot site

"I've been involved in lots of avoidant initiatives in the past addressing topics like inequity and white privilege. But this project is going far beyond lip-service. There is buy-in from the whole senior leadership team of the unit, and not just putting it on staff of colour, to make a difference."


Junior Doctor, MHA QI pilot site

"I’ve learnt from the team that it has been challenging for the team and very welcome from the point of view of our service users who have commented on a shift in power balance.
"


Medical Director, MHA QI Pilot Trust

"There seems to be something about this programme that is helping to get to deeper issues surprisingly quickly... and subtly changing behaviours of staff, rather than relying on processes to improve outcomes."


Chief Medical Officer, MHA QI Pilot Trust

"The training and support offered to Trusts involved in the programme should lead to real cultural change in how services are delivered - and not just changes in laws on paper."


Phil, Lived Experience Practitioner

"It's a bit of an eye opener for what we can actually achieve and change on the ward."


Nursing Associate, MHA QI Pilot Trust

Introducing The Programme

 Introducing The Programme

Working with 52 NHS Trust-run inpatient services to put into practice the principles set out in the reform of the Mental Health Act

Between August 2023 and March 2025, this QI programme will support inpatient services to develop and implement co-produced change ideas that put into practice the principles set out in reform of the Act - tackling inequity of experience faced by groups experiencing significant inequalities under the Mental Health Act.

The programme will:

  • Work with services that provide care of patients detained under the Mental Health Act
  • Provide executive coaching, and service leadership and frontline delivery project mentoring and coaching to:
        1. Support cultural change
        2. Build leadership capacity
        3. Empower staff teams to co-produce and deliver change ideas aligned to the programme aim above
  • Incorporate Lived Experience input at all levels - from co-production of change on the ground, to embedded involvement in the core programme delivery group, to representation on the programme's steering group
  • Share and disseminate good practice and learning coming out of the programme

In line with the guiding principles of the Mental Health Act reforms the  programme is working towards a vision that patients detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act - and the people who support them - experience an equitable partnership with those providing their care, and experience care that is inclusive of their diverse cultures and needs

The Programme takes a phased approach:

Phase 1 (Jan '23 - Jul '23): Programme Design

Phase 2 (Aug '23 - May '24): Pilot Phase

Phase 3 (Apr '24 - Jun '24): Recruitment for wider implementation

Phase 4 (Jul '24 - Mar '25): Wider Implementation - where we are now

See more about our Programme phases

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