Links

MHPF has been established to promote quality care outcomes for people receiving mental health services. In meeting our objectives we have formed alliances and are working in partnership with many organisations and networks who share our aims.

This page includes links to the websites of organisations we support as well as links to official government websites relevant to the care industry.

To request additional entries to this list please click here.
If you wish to link to MHPF website please click here.

ACEVO - Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations

ACEVO is the only professional organisation in the third sector that is dedicated to chief executives. ACEVO works to connect, develop and represent the sector leaders. 1800 full members are responsible for heading organisations that collectively employ 200,000 staff members.

ALI - Adult Learning Inspectorate

ALI is a government body responsible for raising the quality of education and training for people aged over 19 or over in further education colleges and wall work-based learning for people aged 16 or over.

The Audit Commission

The Audit Commission is an independent body responsible for ensuring that the public money is used economically, efficiently and effectively.

CAT - The Health and Social Care Change Agent Team

The Health and Social Care Change Agent Team (CAT) was set up in 2002 to help health and social care communities tackle the problem of patients staying in hospital longer than necessary. Since then the remit has grown and the CAT now provides advice and support on a wide range of issues that affect the care of older people including assessment, commissioning and intermediate care.

CCC

CCC is a broad-based, independent coalition of commercial, charitable and public service organisations with a shared interest in providing better long-term care for older people. CCC has been acting as an advocate for managed change since it was established in 1992 as the Continuing Care Conference with the objectives of:

• increasing awareness and developing understanding of long-term care of older people as a political issue
• raising the standards of care available to older people
• developing the standards of financial products used to fund long-term care

Chartered Management Institute

The Institute of Management was granted Royal Charter in February 2002 and became the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). The main purpose of CMI is to encourage and support lifelong development of managers and to raise the level of competence and qualifications in management.

Chipmunkapublishing - The Mental Health Publisher

A London based social enterprise that works with organisations across the private, public and voluntary sector to successfully publish and promote factual and creative literature, which destigmatises mental health. 95% of its titles are written by people with mental health issues, and include anthologies, the voices of carers and academic texts. All books are available to order online.

CHAI - Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection

CHAI (Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection) encompasses all of the current and proposed work of the Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) and the Mental Health Act Commission (MHAC), the national NHS value for money work of the Audit Commission, and the independent healthcare work of the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC).

The CHAI Inspectorate will:

• Encourage improvement in the quality and effectiveness of care, and in the economy and efficiency of its provision;
• Carry out investigations into serious service failures;
• Report serious concerns about the quality of public services to the Secretary of State;
• Publish annual performance ratings for all NHS organisations and produce annual reports to Parliament on the state of healthcare;
• Collaborate with other relevant organisations including the CSCI;
• Carry out an independent review function for NHS complaints.

CRB - Criminal Records Bureau

CRB is an executive agency of the Home Office set up to help organisations make safer recruitment decisions. It provides access to criminal record information, helping employers in the public, private and voluntary sectors identify candidates who may be unsuitable for certain work.

CSIW - Care Standards Inspectorate for Wales

The Care Standards Act received Royal Assent in July 2000 and provides the powers for the National Assembly for Wales (the Assembly) to establish a new comprehensive social and health care regulator — the Care Standards Inspectorate for Wales (CSIW).

CSCI - Commission for Social Care Inspection

The Commission for Social Care Inspection brings together the work previously undertaken by the Social Services Inspectorate, the SSI/Audit Commission joint review team and the social care functions of the National Care Standards Commission.

The CSCI Inspectorate will:

• Carry out local inspections of all social care organisations - public, private, and voluntary - against national standards and publish reports;
• Register services that meet national minimum standards;
• Carry out inspections of local social service authorities;
• Publish an annual report to Parliament on national progress on social care and an analysis of where resources have been spent;
• Validate all published performance assessment statistics on social care;
• Publish the star ratings for social services authorities.

CSIW - Care Standards Inspectorate for Wales

The Care Standards Act received Royal Assent in July 2000 and provides the powers for the National Assembly for Wales (the Assembly) to establish a new comprehensive social and health care regulator — the Care Standards Inspectorate for Wales (CSIW).

CST - Care Standards Tribunal

CST is the judicial body which, amongst other jurisdictions, considers appeals from social service providers and managers brought against decisions made by the CSCI and Healthcare Commission.

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DFES - Department for Education and Skills

DfES is the government department responsible for increasing access to education and ensuring people are able to develop and equip themselves with the skills, knowledge and personal qualities needed for life and work.

DH - Department of Health

DH is the government department responsible for driving forward change and modernisation in the NHS and social care, as well as improving standards of public health.

DTI - Department of Trade and Industry

DTI is the government department responsible for creating the best environment for business success in the UK.

Elderly Accommodation Counsel (EAC)

EAC's national Advice Line (020 7820 1343) is a free and independent service to help older people decide how best to meet their housing, support and care needs. The charity's website offers a similiar online service and includes access to EAC's unique national databases of both care homes and retirement housing.

MHPF is working closely with the EAC to increase the homes listed on the Care Options database

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GSCC - The General Social Care Council

GSCC is the regulatory body for the social care workforce in England.

H&SE - Health & Safety Executive

HSE are responsible for the regulation of almost all the risks to health and safety arising from work activity in Britain.

The Health and Social Care Change Agent Team (CAT)

The Health and Social Care Change Agent Team (CAT) was set up in 2002 to help health and social care communities tackle the problem of patients staying in hospital longer than necessary. Since then the remit has grown and the CAT now provides advice and support on a wide range of issues that affect the care of older people including assessment, commissioning and intermediate care.

ISI - Independent Schools Inspectorate

ISI operates on behalf of Ofsted and is responsible for improving the quality and standards of education and childcare in independent educational establishments.

KC - Knowledge Community

Knowledge community (KC) is a website that is aimed at anyone with an interest in bringing about positive change for people with health and social care needs. It brings together a wide range of people, groups and organisations by enabling them to connect, share information, learn and work together through the use of its free and easy to use online communication tools.

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Liberty

Liberty is one of the leading human rights and civil liberties organisations in the UK. As part of its work the organisation provides advice and assistance on human rights issues to members of the public, to voluntary sector organisations and to lawyers through its specialist advice services.

The advice service for voluntary sector organisations can be contacted in the following ways:

1. online at www.secure-website.com/liberty-human-rights.org.uk/Charity%20query%20form; or
2. telephone on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10am to 12pm and Mondays between 2.30pm and 4.30pm on 0845 122 8621; or
3. post or fax by completing an advice form available at www.yourrights.org.uk/vas/advice-form-charities.doc and returning to Liberty at 21 Tabard Street, London Se1 4LA or faxing to 020 7407 5354.

These details and contact information for the other advice services can be found at Liberty’s dedicated advice website at www.yourrights.org.uk. This website also contains detailed information about the law in frequently requested areas.

(Advice can only be given on matters arising in England and Wales)

LSC - Learning & Skills Council

LSC is responsible for funding and planning education and training for over 16-year-olds in England.

MHRA - Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

MHRA is the Executive Agency of the Department of Health protecting and promoting public health and patient safety by ensuring that medicines, healthcare products and medical equipment meet appropriate standards of safety, quality, performance and effectiveness, and are used safely.

NACC - National Association of Care Caterers

The National Association of Care Caterers is a member organisation which promotes the standard of catering within the care sector. NACC provides a forum for debate and the exchange of information, sets benchmarking standards and commissions research.

NICE - National Institute for Clinical Excellence

NICE is a special health authority within the NHS. Its role is to provide patients, health professionals and members of the public with authoritative, robust and reliable guidance on current NHS best practice.

Northern Ireland Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety - Social Services Inspectorate

The Social Services Inspectorate work with others to ensure that social work and social care services are responsive to the needs of the population in Northern Ireland and are of the highest standards in keeping with the resources available.

OPAAL (UK) - The Older People's Advocacy Alliance

OPAAL(UK) was formed in 1999 as a registered charity which provides a strategic lead in the development of independent advocacy for older people.

OFSTED - Office for Standards in Education

Ofsted is a non-ministerial government department whose main aim is to help improve the quality and standards of education and childcare through independent inspection and regulation, and advice to the Secretary of State.

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Residential Forum

The Residential Forum was founded in 1994. Its purpose is to promote the achievement of high standards of care for children and adults in nursing homes, residential homes ands schools and contribute to improving the quality of service to the public. Members of the Forum are people of standing and experience drawn from the public, private and voluntary sectors, as well as some who can speak for services users and carers.

The Scarman Trust

A national charity committed to helping people bring about changes within their communities in a way that is self-directed. The organisation provides funding and practical assistance to support the positive can-do approach of committed citizens, in order to bring about changes that have a fundamental impact on the life chances of many more.

SCIE - Social Care Institute for Excellence

SCIE is an independent organisation that aims to raise standards of practice across the social care sector and to develop and promote knowledge about what works best in social care.

Scottish Commission for Regulation of Care

The Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care (The Care Commission) is a new national organisation set up under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 to regulate and inspect Scottish care services.

Skills for Care

Topss England became Skills for Care on 1 April 2005. Skills for Care is led by employer networks and other care interests specifically concerned with adult social care. The organisation works with the Children’s Workforce Development Council and together will be England’s part of ‘Skills for Care and Development’ the UK-wide sector skills council (SCC) for social care.

Social Care Association

The Social Care Association was established as a membership based organisation in 1949. It is the major independent professional association operating in social care. It works across all statutory, voluntary and private sectors. Its major aim is the promotion of good practice in all settings.

Social Exclusion Unit

The Social Exclusion Unit was set up in 1997 initially within the Cabinet Office and from May 2002 as part of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. The work of the SEU includes specific projects to tackle specific issues and wide ranging programmes to assess policy and identify trends.

TOPSS - Training Organisation for the Personal Social Services England

Topss England became Skills for Care on 1 April 2005. Skills for Care is led by employer networks and other care interests specifically concerned with adult social care. The organisation works with the Children’s Workforce Development Council and together will be England’s part of ‘Skills for Care and Development’ the UK-wide sector skills council (SCC) for social care.

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