Community Mental Health Services

Health and Social Care Committee Open Inquiry
Opened: 17 Dec 2024 Parliament page
The Committee is undertaking an inquiry into community mental health services. The inquiry will examine what good looks like from the perspective of service users and their families/carers. The Committee would like the inquiry to shine a light on case studies of innovative practice and high-quality care across the country, … Read more
30 Recommendations
2 Conclusions
1 Report
5 Oral sessions
3 Letters
5 Events
Activity timeline 11 events
19 Mar
2026
Report published
19 Mar
2026
Correspondence
19 Mar
2026
Correspondence
11 Mar
2026
Report published
2 Dec
2025
Report published
12 Nov
2025
Correspondence
10 Sep
2025
Oral evidence
21 May
2025
Oral evidence
23 Apr
2025
Oral evidence
12 Mar
2025
Oral evidence
12 Feb
2025
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 5 sessions
10 Sep 2025
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Oral Evidence
Caroline Allnutt · Department of Health and Social Care Gareth Harry · NHS England The Baroness Merron · Department of Health and Social Care
21 May 2025
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Oral Evidence
Darlington Kudakwashe Zvionere · Black Minds Matter UK Janine Smith · Navigo Health and Social Care CIC Karyn Kirkpatrick · KeyRing Living Support Networks Michael Crilly · Social Health & Community Inclusion at Life Rooms (Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust) Mr Abdirahim Hassan · Coffee Afrik CIC Mr Jake Mills · Chasing the Stigma Professor Belinda Lennox · University of Oxford Professor Stephen Pilling · University College London
23 Apr 2025
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Oral Evidence
Christian Taylor Christina Taylor Councillor Lorraine Francis · Bristol City Council Duncan Tree · Association of Mental Health Providers Penny East · Think Ahead Peter Devlin · Essex County Council Stephen Parker · Turning Point
12 Mar 2025
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Oral Evidence
Dr Emma Tiffin · Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care Board Dr Lade Smith CBE · Royal College of Psychiatrists Elizabeth Sutton Eve Mair Jane Yeandle · Somerset NHS Foundation Trust Rt Hon Sir Norman Lamb · South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Samantha Allen · North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board Steve Forsyth · Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust
12 Feb 2025
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Oral Evidence
Chris Frederick Dr Courtney Buckler · National Survivor User Network Francesca Harry Dyson · The McPin Foundation Ian Callaghan Lucy Schonegevel · Rethink Mental Illness Miss Kadra Abdinasir · Centre for Mental Health
Title HC No. Published Items Response
4th Report - Community Mental Health Services HC 566 2 Dec 2025 32 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
11 results
Clear
3 Recommendation Accepted in Part
4th Report - Community Mental Heal…
Current mental health services fail to provide person-centred, holistic care
Service users, their families, carers and loved ones have been clear: high- quality care must be person-centred, responsive to the full range of needs individuals experience, and ensure involvement of their wider networks. Current services too often fall short—focusing narrowly … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts, launching 6 national pilots of community-based mental health centres with £473 million capital funding. These pilots aim to provide integrated, person-centred care, with an evaluation due in 2026 to inform future models.
Department of Health and Social Care
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4 Recommendation Accepted in Part
4th Report - Community Mental Heal…
Stigma and discrimination undermine equitable and culturally appropriate mental health services
Experiences of stigma, discrimination, and lack of culturally appropriate or personalised support were frequently reported, particularly by racialised communities, neurodivergent individuals, and those with disabilities. 74 Where care was described as high-quality, it was inclusive, responsive, and tailored to individual … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts, stating that future expansion of community mental health centres will be informed by pilot learning and tailored to local needs. However, there are no current plans to extend the pilot phase beyond 12 months, pending an independent evaluation.
Department of Health and Social Care
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7 Recommendation Accepted in Part
4th Report - Community Mental Heal…
Significant gaps persist between Community Mental Health Framework ambitions and implementation
We believe the Community Mental Health Framework sets out the right vision for Community Mental Health Services. However, evidence submitted to this inquiry reveals significant gaps between its ambitions and its implementation across England. We want to see a renewed … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation, committing to develop the Modern Service Framework (MSF) for SMI through genuine co-production with lived experience experts and engaging relevant sectors. However, it shifts focus from the Community Mental Health Framework's implementation gaps and the need for evaluation, to the development of the MSF.
Department of Health and Social Care
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9 Recommendation Accepted in Part
4th Report - Community Mental Heal…
Fragmented mental health system requires sustained investment and cultural shift for transformative community care.
Delivering real change and achieving parity of esteem in mental health care requires dismantling the current fragmented system and reimagining service design and delivery. The 24/7 Neighbourhood Mental Health Centre 75 pilots seem to be genuinely transformative. The experience from … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts, focusing its response on improving the transition from children and young people’s mental health services to adult services for 0-25 year olds. It commits to strengthening continuity of care and eliminating rigid age-based thresholds with a new developmental service specification, but does not explicitly address sustained, ringfenced investment or a broader cultural shift for large-scale reform.
Department of Health and Social Care
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17 Recommendation Accepted in Part
4th Report - Community Mental Heal…
Create clear, actionable plan to deliver comprehensive mental health offer for 0-25 year olds.
Despite nearly a decade of commitments, the transition from Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services (CYPMHS) to Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS)—including Community Mental Health Services (CMHS)— remains a cliff edge and continues to fall short of what young … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts, committing service development funding for 2026-2029 to support growth in specific services like IPS, NHS Talking Therapies, and MHSTs. It requires ICBs to meet the Mental Health Investment Standard but does not provide a clear, actionable plan for a comprehensive 0-25 year old offer or addressing the transition 'cliff edge'.
Department of Health and Social Care
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18 Recommendation Accepted in Part
4th Report - Community Mental Heal…
Publish and implement urgent national access and waiting time standards for integrated care.
We heard that one way to track progress on integration would be through the establishment of national access and waiting time standards. The absence of national standards contributes to inconsistent access and undermines parity with physical health. NHS England should … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts, committing to requiring ICBs to meet the Mental Health Investment Standard and publishing a new Mental Service Specification for SMI to ensure clinical consistency. However, they will not make further legislative changes regarding mental health spending and do not commit to publishing national access and waiting time standards.
Department of Health and Social Care
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24 Recommendation Accepted in Part
4th Report - Community Mental Heal…
Prioritise alliance models embedding VCFSE organisations in community mental health service design and delivery.
NHS England and Integrated Care Boards should prioritise the development of alliance models that embed voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations in the design and delivery of community mental health services. This should include clear expectations for co- … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts the recommendation, acknowledging the value of alliance models and stating NHS England is promoting partnership working for VCFSE inclusion. Future guidance will continue to emphasize co-production and the role of community assets in delivering mental health services.
Department of Health and Social Care
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26 Recommendation Accepted in Part
4th Report - Community Mental Heal…
Fundamental problem persists in mental and physical health resource distribution.
We echo Lord Darzi’s assessment that there is a fundamental problem in the distribution of resources between mental and physical health. While we recognise the welcome increase in real-terms mental health spend this year, we were disappointed to see the … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts, committing to require ICBs to protect mental health spending in real terms for financial years 2026-2029 via the Mental Health Investment Standard. However, it declines to make further legislative changes regarding mental health spending at this time, citing existing provisions for annual statements.
Department of Health and Social Care
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27 Recommendation Accepted in Part
4th Report - Community Mental Heal…
Monitor impact of integrating Service Development Funding into core funding and provide formal update.
While integrating Service Development Funding into core funding may offer flexibility, we believe it also introduces uncertainty around continued prioritisation and investment in these services, and could have a detrimental impact upon the progress of the transformation of services. We … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts the recommendation, stating NHS England already monitors relevant impacts through published data and ICBs meet the Mental Health Investment Standard. Additionally, service development funding has been secured for 2026-2029 to support growth in key mental health services.
Department of Health and Social Care
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28 Recommendation Accepted in Part
4th Report - Community Mental Heal…
Retain the Mental Health Investment Standard and legislate it as a statutory requirement.
We recommend the Mental Health Investment Standard be retained beyond 2025–26. The Government should commit to the Standard by the end of this calendar year to give systems greater certainty. Then, the Government should legislate to make the Standard a … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts the recommendation, committing to retain the Mental Health Investment Standard by requiring ICBs to protect mental health spending in real terms for financial years 2026-2029. However, it explicitly states it will not legislate to make the Standard a statutory requirement at this time.
Department of Health and Social Care
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31 Recommendation Accepted in Part
4th Report - Community Mental Heal…
Include mental health social workers in the 10 Year Workforce Plan with workforce projections.
Social workers make an essential contribution to tackling the broader determinants of health and mental health outcomes, yet we heard they are often deprioritised when budgetary pressures arise. The Government should recognise the important role of mental health social workers … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts, acknowledging the vital role of mental health social workers and stating they will be recognised in the 10 Year Workforce Plan. However, it does not commit to specific projections for workforce increases or ensuring every person with SMI has a named mental health social worker.
Department of Health and Social Care
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Government Response AI assessment · 32 of 30 classified
Accepted 4
Accepted in Part 11
Acknowledged 3
Deferred 2
Not Addressed 11
Rejected 1
Total 30 recs + 2 conclusions
Correspondence 3 letters
19 Mar 2026 Correspondence from DHSC - Mental Health Expected Spend
Parliament page
19 Mar 2026 Correspondence from DHSC SofS - Mental Health Expected Spend
Parliament page
12 Nov 2025 Correspondence from Baroness Merron re Follow up on 10 September session
Parliament page