A new pilot scheme will be starting in 2025 to support the mental health needs of the community in Bethnal Green. Dr Judith Littlejohns, GP and Integrated Care Board (ICB) Clinical Lead for Adult Mental Health for Tower Hamlets, explains more.

What is the Barnsley Street Neighbourhood Mental Health Centre?

The Barnsley Street Neighbourhood Mental Health Centre is one of six pilot sites across England developing a mental health service which aims to offer relationship focused

continuity of care for a community of around 30,000-50,000 people. It will be open to residents who live within the local area from 8am to 8pm for booked appointments, unplanned walk-ins, one-to-one chats and therapeutic group activities.

What will the benefits be for residents?

The hope is that residents with mental health needs will be supported by a single local mental health team who will be able to get to know them well and help them co-produce their own person-centred care plan. This consistency of relationship is also hoped to reduce the need for multiple specialist referrals with their repeated assessments, and reduce the need for extensive risk assessment documentation.

What are the roles and responsibilities of partner organisations on the project?

The site is owned by local charity Look Ahead, who also run supported housing and other community services at the same location. Look Ahead will have staff present 24/7 to welcome people as they arrive, and for those staying in guest beds overnight.

ELFT will be providing the clinical staff, and the local authority will continue to provide the social workers who will remain embedded in the neighbourhood team.

Additional third sector organisations will continue to provide the community connectors and employment support, and hopefully use the group space to provide a range of therapeutic groups.

There is some primary care involvement in the planning group so far, and we see opportunities for more of this in the future. This is because the population served by the BSP will be the same catchment area as the local Primary Care Network.