User Involvement Services for Carers Counselling/Information
Community Support Policy & Campaigns
Mental Health Aberdeen Annual Report 2007/2008
History Founded in 1950, under the name of Aberdeen and North East Association for Mental Health, MHA was one of the earliest local mental health associations. Its objectives then, as now, were to provide support services for people facing challenges in relation to their mental health, educate the public about mental health issues and promote mental wellbeing. It was among the first to provide community care. Its first residential project, a group home for discharged psychiatric patients, was opened more than 35 years ago and was the first in the area. We have been providing day services continuously for over 30 years. The Counselling and Information Service was established over 25 years ago and was the first of its kind in Scotland. Services were developed in response to need and have evolved over the years. New projects have grown out of earlier ones. Proposals were often initially turned down for funding because the ideas were ahead of those of funders (e.g. Day Centre, Crisis Beds, Single Supported Tenancies). There is a long history of involving service users in the management of projects (at least 20 years) and we still hold service user involvement as one of our top priorities. Other key themes throughout MHA's history have been the recruitment and training of volunteers and co-operation with other organisations to achieve common goals. MHA hosted and fostered emergent organisations and a range of other self-help groups. We have provided representatives to serve on planning groups set up by the statutory authorities and provided comments on consultative documents at local and national level. Over the years, MHA has organised a number of conferences with eminent speakers. We took the lead in organising annual events and information for Mental Health Week for 17 years, from 1977-1994, when the task was taken over by a group headed by Grampian Health Board. We have also sought to influence policy at both local and national levels. Twenty two years ago MHA was the first voluntary organisation in Grampian to be invited to join a local joint planning group for mental health services and we continue to provide representatives on such groups. We also submit evidence in response to both local and national consultations on mental health and related issues. MHA has a long and distinguished history. We are proud of our achievements and remain committed to continuing to lead innovation in mental health in the North East of Scotland.
|
|
Chairman's Report |
|
As I come to the end of my term as Chairman, I marvel at the success of Mental Health Aberdeen. Despite severe challenges we deliver:
To do this we listen and respond to people in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire and work in partnership with others – our funders, service users and carers. Partnership will be even more central to our work in the future. The challenges are real. Sustaining our work, giving our staff and volunteers the training and support they deserve, keeping services and premises fit for purpose and innovating requires money, as well as skilled management, in a complex and fast changing environment. We are working hard to improve funding from some statutory sources and to generate more voluntary income. Neither of these is easy, not least in the current financial climate, but we are determined to succeed. The Board this year commissioned an independent review and strengthened governance; we have subsequently adopted a new Business Plan and our strategic direction is clear. Our new Chief Executive, Astrid Whyte, in whom I have the greatest confidence, will work closely with my successor and our committed Board Members. We will build on the progress we have made during my term of office, securing vital mental health services for the future and extending help to even more people in the North East of Scotland. I wish them well and hope that you will support them.
|
Ed Gillespie, Chairman
|
Chief Executive's Report |
|
My first few months in post have been both demanding and stimulating, and the learning curve has been steep. The support of such an experienced Chairman has been invaluable and I am most grateful to Ed Gillespie for this and for his input to MHA over the past few years. He has made a considerable contribution and the agency is stronger for his input. In the short term, there has been a great deal to do in relation both to internal issues such as budgets and staffing; integration of services in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, and to external matters relating to partnerships with funders and others. The support and input from John Davidson of Positive Approaches, Consultancy & Training Ltd, during this time has been invaluable. Support from MHA managers, staff and volunteers alike has been of an exceptional standard and has been crucial to our success. I am deeply grateful to them and I know that Board Members share this sentiment. The Independent Review carried out by John and the subsequent Business Plan referred to by the Chairman enabled us to be sure that our own house was in order and that our strategic direction was clear so that we were well placed to meet our obligations to others. We now intend to renew and strengthen our external partnerships, to meet shared objectives and mutual challenges. The review has, among other things, led to changes in governance arrangements that allow us to take greater advantage of Board Members’ strengths, skills and knowledge and to enlist the support of others outwith the Board. Very importantly it has also reinforced our commitment to involve service users and carers at all levels: we are busy implementing this commitment. Already, we have built upon existing user groups. We have made particular efforts to support an organisation-wide service user forum, which will meet on a regular basis. We are also working to involve service users in Board working groups and to have service user participation at Board level itself. Carers will be similarly valued and involved. Our approach is a positive one - we seek to promote positive mental wellbeing and to use a recovery model in our service delivery. For those unfamiliar with this term, it means that whilst not everyone affected by mental illness will become symptom
free, they will be helped to regain as much control as possible over their lives, improving their quality of life and their To achieve our aspirations for local people, we have to further develop our own in-house capacity to effectively support and develop services – our management, workforce development, ICT, premises and systems – and to work closely with others. We have stepped up our fundraising and in certain cases, where commissioned services have not been fully funded, we are working hard to achieve full cost recovery in line with government policy. It is very pleasing that despite their own major funding constraints, our local authority and NHS partners continue to work constructively with us to do all they can to improve matters. The review also highlights our successes and the high quality of so much of our work. A positive challenge for us is not just to sustain this (though that is not easy) but to build on our skills and experience and extend services to more people – to a younger age group and both within and beyond our current geographical area of operation. There is exciting potential. Please read this Annual Report. See how much is achieved with so little funding, and imagine how much more we can do to improve people’s lives with your support and that of others in our community! |
Astrid Whyte, Chief Executive
|
Mental Ill-Health Social Isolation Service User Involvement Carers Employment Policy and Campaigning
|
|
Patrons
· Honorary Members · Directors · Office Bearers |
|
PATRONS Peter Stephen, Lord Provost of Aberdeen |
OFFICE BEARERS 2007-2008 President
---
External Auditors Bain Henry Reid
|
HONORARY ADVISORY MEMBERS Anne Begg MP DIRECTORS Alexander C Argo |
|