This year's theme, “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change”, underscores NLFT's commitment to placing service users at the heart of its operations. Insights from those who use their services are instrumental in shaping and enhancing mental health provisions.
Initiatives like the care planning service user reference group, which brings together service users, carers, and staff as equal partners, are key to this co-production approach. This collaborative model was central to the development of the new 12-bed crisis house, Daleham Gardens, in Belsize Park, where experts by experience helped shape the building's environment and artwork to foster a welcoming and recovery-focused atmosphere.
Similarly, the Mental Health Crisis Assessment Service (MHCAS) at Chase Farm Hospital, which opened this summer, was significantly influenced by people with lived experience. This service offers a dedicated alternative to A&E for individuals in mental health crisis, providing specialist assessment and support in a therapeutic environment.
For those using forensic mental health services, being heard is paramount. NLFT acknowledges that many have experienced stigma and being spoken about rather than with. Earlier this summer, individuals with lived experience from across North London Forensic Collaborative services convened to celebrate the progress made in improving care for others through their involvement.
NLFT actively encourages service users to join its Involvement Register to review, shape, and improve services, ensuring their input remains at the core of the Trust's offerings.
