Mental Health (Hansard, 1 March 2004)

§ Mr. Denham
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many carers of people with mental illness have received(a) a written assessment and (b) a written copy of the care plan of the person they care for, broken down by mental health trust; [154825]
(2) what steps he has taken to (a) publicise the rights of mental health carers to an assessment of their own needs and (b) inform local carers' groups of the allocation of the caters grant; and if he will make a statement. [154826]

§ Ms Rosie Winterton
The national service framework (NSF) for mental health provides rationale and evidence base for a national standard for mental health services relating to carers of people with mental health problems.
In accordance with the NSF for mental health standard six, all individuals who provide regular and substantial care for a person on the care programme approach should have an assessment of their caring, physical and mental health needs repeated on at least an annual basis. People who provide regular and substantial care for a person on the care programme approach are also entitled to have their own written care plan which is given to them and implemented in discussion with them.
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The importance of support for carers was further emphasised in the "NHS Plan (2000)" and in the "Priorities and Planning Framework 2003–06" issued to local services.
Information about the number of carers with a written assessment and the number of carers with a copy of the care plan of the person they care for is not collected centrally.
The care co-ordinator under the care programme approach should inform users and carers of the carer's right to request an assessment and ensure co-ordination of users' and carers' assessment plans. The Department and the mental health charity Rethink also published a booklet entitled "A Commitment to Carers" which highlights the right to a carer's assessment.
Local councils are notified annually of their allocations of the carers grant in the local authority social services letter. Details are also published on the Department of Health carers website at www. carers.gov.uk.

§ Keith Vaz
To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether staff working in mental institutions in NHS hospitals(a) complete diversity training before they start their employment and (b) undergo regular diversity training. [155602]

§ Ms Rosie Winterton
The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 makes it clear that local services must deliver appropriate training to staff. We reinforce this message in our consultation document "Delivering Race Equality: A Framework for Action."
The National Institute of Mental Health in England's national workforce programme is developing a set of shared capabilities that all staff should possess as part of their education and training. One of these is to respect diversity and to provide care and interventions in ways that respect and value diversities including age, race, culture, disability, spirituality, gender and sexuality.

§ Tim Loughton
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance has been issued by his Department to mental health trusts regarding control and restraint policies towards patients; and which mental health trusts have adopted these new procedures. [155629]

§ Ms Rosie Winterton
To assist trusts, in February 2004, the National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) issued "Developing Positive Practice to Support the Safe and Therapeutic Management of Aggression and Violence in Mental Health In-patient Settings".
The NIMHE will be developing proposals for a national accreditation and regulation scheme for trainers and programmes of education and training.
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence will also be publishing guidance later this year relating to management of violence.
For those detained under section of the Mental Health Act 1983, trusts should follow the guidance laid out in the Mental Health Act 1983 Code of Practice.
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Section 19.12 of the Code of Practice states that: Any restraint used should: be reasonable in the circumstance; apply the minimum force necessary to prevent harm to the patient or others; be used for only as long as is necessary; be sensitive to gender and race issues.
Trusts should regularly audit their control and restraint procedures consistent with the framework of clinical governance. The management of trust performance is the responsibility of strategic health authorities. Information is not captured centrally about this. However, the Mental Health Act Commission reviews the operations of the Mental Health Act and copies of the commission's biennial report are available from the Stationery Office.

§ Mr. Burstow
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to reorganise mental health trusts; and if he will make a statement. [154444]

§ Ms Rosie Winterton
The Department has no plans to reorganise mental health trusts.