The report, Stability Beyond Care, commissioned by Citizens Advice, finds welfare advice provided by specialist voluntary sector providers can improve mental wellbeing, reduce stress, prevent homelessness and speed up discharge from mental health hospitals.
Andy Bell, chief executive at Centre for Mental Health, said: ‘Welfare advice should be a part of any mental health service anywhere. High quality advice, provided by properly trained and managed workers, makes mental health services better and more efficient. The forthcoming Modern Service Framework for serious mental illness in England is an opportunity to embed welfare advice as a core offer, not an added extra. It should be available in every neighbourhood mental health service, and every inpatient unit, provided by expert organisations like Citizens Advice so that it is reliable and independent.'
The report calls for dedicated funding for welfare advice services in all community mental health and inpatient settings.
Rebecca Gray, director of The NHS Alliance's Mental Health Network, said: ‘The findings of this report highlight how intrinsically linked mental illness is with social challenges such as debt and housing problems.
‘Supporting someone to get well goes far beyond clinical care. Integrating welfare advice into clinical settings – and bringing clinical expertise into non‑NHS community spaces – helps address the needs of people. Yet, despite some of the innovations in integrated support being cost effective in the long-term, it can be tough to introduce and maintain as financial constraints tighten.
‘It is vital that we have joined up services and funding. The move to strategic commissioning and neighbourhood health has real potential to drive the work demonstrated in the report. We hope that these findings can lead to more integrated welfare advice in NHS services where needed and that this is designed around what best meets the needs of local communities. Additionally, we hope that commissioners, working with local government, recognise the benefits this could bring.'
