Directory

Access tools

Set Text size

A

|

A

|

A

Set Contrast

A

|

A

|

A

Text only
Translation
Listen

News

CHIEF INSPECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES VISITS POOLE

PHOTOCALL: Poole Mental Health Resource Centre, Brownsea Centre, Constitution Hill Road, Poole
2.15 pm, Friday 9 June 2000
Denise Platt, Chief Inspector of Social Services will meet Service Users, voluntary workers and social workers from Poole’s Mental Health Resource Centre.

Poole’s highly praised Social Services will be visited by the Chief Inspector of Social Services, Denise Platt CBE, on Friday 9 June 2000.

As part of her visit, Denise will meet staff and with service users from Poole’s Mental Health Resource Centre, which provides information, advice, sport and community facilities as well as a drop-in centre 2 days per week for people suffering mental health problems.

Nationally, 1 in 10 people experience some form of mental health illness during their lives. Mental Health care provides help for people experiencing a wide range of conditions including schizophrenia, depression and post natal depression.

Cllr Mrs Jane James, Chairman of the Social Services Committee, said: "This visit is a wonderful opportunity for us to show just how much Poole has achieved since becoming a Unitary Authority. Staff in Poole have worked with great dedication to listen to the community so that we can tailor our services to meet local people’s needs. Whilst this has been recognised in each of our SSI inspection reports, we are not complacent and will continue to work to ensure we provide the services people in Poole want".

Poole’s Mental Health Services were evaluated in February this year following a visit by the Mental Health Act Commission which oversees the implementation of the Mental Health Act. During the visit, Commissioners were impressed with the progress made since the last visit in 1997 and were particularly "impressed with the commitment and professionalism of the staff".

-ends-

Editor’s notes:

The Mental Health Resource Centre, funded by the Borough of Poole, is run by the National Schizophrenia Fellowiship. Established in 1998, the centre is one of a number of projects working to provide services for people with mental health problems.

Other projects include a service which provides practical support to help people with a mental illness live independently and a Carers Support Worker to help relatives or friends who care for a person with a mental illness.

In addition to offering advice on Social Services to Ministers, Denise Platt is responsible for the strategic development and management of Social Services Inspectorate (SSI) which:
· inspects the quality of social care services
· provides policy advice within the Department of Health
· assesses the performance of local councils with social services responsibilities
· manages the Health Department’s links with social services and other social care agencies

-ends-

Fred Davies, Policy Director, tel: (01202 633203)