21 Not Addressed

Expand Section 75 use to enable wider budget pooling, including housing and education services.

Recommendation
The Government should expand the use of Section 75 of the NHS Act 2006 by enabling and encouraging more widespread pooling of budgets between NHS bodies and local authorities. This expansion should support the inclusion of a broader range of services—such as housing and education— within Section 75 arrangements to facilitate integrated commissioning and service delivery. Clearer governance and greater cross-cutting oversight of these arrangements would allow funding to follow need rather than organisational boundaries, enabling more person-centred, coordinated support for people with SMI. (Recommendation, Paragraph 143)
Government Response Summary
The government partially accepts the recommendation but then responds by discussing the vital role of mental health social workers and how the 10 Year Workforce Plan and upcoming MSF will address workforce planning and clinical standards, completely ignoring the recommendation to expand Section 75 arrangements for budget pooling and integrated service delivery.
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government Not Addressed
The government partially accepts this recommendation. Mental health social workers play a vital role in addressing the wider determinants of health and in supporting people with SMI. Their expertise in social care, safeguarding and community-based support is central to delivering integrated, person-centred care. The 10 Year Workforce Plan will set out a strategic, whole-system approach to workforce planning across the NHS, including neighbourhood teams. As part of this, it will recognise the contribution of a wide range of regulated professions and will consider how the NHS will ensure we have the right people in the right places at the right time. With regards to a named mental health social worker for people with SMI, our upcoming MSF for people with SMI will set consistency in clinical standards across the country so that patients and families get the best quality, evidence-based treatment and support. This will consider the important role that social care plays in meeting the needs of people with SMI.
Addressee Bodies
Department of Health and Social Care
Timeline
Recommendation age 0.7 yr
Report published 02 Dec 2025