The North East Mental Health Development Unit was established on 1st April 2009. Our role is to facilitate service development and improvement, and support the implementation of national policy at a regional and local level. We work with a wide range of organisations to promote better outcomes for people who use mental health services and their carers.

The North East Mental Health Development Unit is funded by the NHS and we are hosted by County Durham Primary Care Trust.  We are accountable to the North East Strategic Health Authority through the North East Director of  Commissioning for Mental Health and Learning Disability Services. 

A steering group oversees the development and delivery of our annual business plan, with senior membership from the NHS, social care and third sector in the region. This group has an important strategic role in supporting the development of mental health services in the North East, and the achievement of better alignment between national policy implementation and regional priorities.

History

Prior to the Unit being set up, the team was known as the National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) programme in the North East, which was the mental health programme within the Care Services Improvement Partnerhsip (CSIP).  CSIP, and NIMHE as part of that organisation, was brought to an end on 31st March 2009. 

National Arrangements

A new national agency - the National Mental Health Development Unit - has been established from 1st April 2009, to ensure national mental health policies brings about real improvements for patients and carers.  This new agency succeeds the National Institute for Mental Health in England.