The Mental Health Employment Network
Working Notes Number Three - August 2003
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User remuneration and benefits
We repeat below an opportunity to input to Government which arose this month on the employmentlist discussion group. Join the group at:
http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/employmentlist
In the discussion after his speech at the recent Shaping Our Lives conference Health Minister Dr. Stephen Ladyman said:"If we want service user involvement there has to be a way of remuneration and or covering their expenses which has to be squared with the benefits agencies.

Can you through the Shaping Our Lives National User Network (SOLNUN) prepare a paper explaining your experiences and the difficulties that you face and promise that I will look into that and I will discuss it with ministers who work in the department of working pensions who are responsible for the benefit agency, and if there is a way that I can help I will try and find it. It will help me if I had your first hand collated experience through SOLNUN so that I know exactly what I'm talking about when I go in and speak to the ministers".

This is your chance to tell the minister your experiences.We want to tell the minister about the wide range of issues and problems that people on benefits have when trying to be involved in patient / service user groups. It needs to be fairly short but to the point. Please note we may have to edit some of what you say. If you know anybody else who would like to tell us of their experiences they can either e mail us or post it.

Shaping Our Lives National User Network
Unit 57, Eurolink Centre
49 Effra Road London SW2 1BZ
Tel: 020 7095 1159 Fax: 020 7095 1158
mail: information@shapingourlives.org.uk
Members' Priorities

We must apologise for the delayed appearance of the results of our 2002 questionnaire. We had been hoping for a few more responses than the 15 we have so far. However these do represent a significant body of experience. All 16 disclosed their paid workers (totalling 138) Nine groups reported 247 volunteers. Ten groups disclosed a total funding of £2.5m. One group claims 4000 clients and 12 others together report another 1402 clients engaged each year.

In the replies five new topics had been “written in” by three responders. These were:

joint training opportunities
good practice in user involvement
user-led services
lists of potential work organisations
list of potential employees.
regional forums eg on employer relations.
arranging of work placements

Of the 5 topics we had suggested as outcomes from MHEN, the most popular requested, with the total points out of a possible 160 were:

129 pts  A regular newsletter
102 pts  Contact details for other members
92 pts    An up to date non duplicating web site
90 pts    Discussions on good practice
81 pts    Exchange of written practice

Of the 10 contributions from members we had suggested, the most popular requested offers from members were:

101 pts    Responses to MHEN policy surveys
95 pts     an annual subscription of £10
88 pts     attendance at interchange meetings
83 pts     telling members about your successes
76 pts     inviting members to your own events
60 pts     wriitng articles for MHEN's newsletter

Shall we start a web discussion group?

Like lots of other people I am an avid watcher of discussion groups of which there are thousands. An example is the Mental Health employment list featured elsewhere on this page. Worknet members will recognise valuable contributors on this group such as Patience Seebohm. Judy Scott and Bob Grove. MHEN members could join this group to exchange views and information, but why don't we have our own? This would make it easier to collect information especially relevant to the aims of MHEN (see priorities report above)

For a trial period I have started a new group for MHEN and my first message is on employment outcomes, which I would hope will attract further input.You can join this group without receiving torrents of messages, as you can just visit the group when you wish. Or you can elect to get a weekly or daily summary, courtesy of Yahoo.

Join by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mhemp/ and following the instructions for joining

Do go to the Protest against the Bill Conference
11am - 5pm September 20th, Bloomsbury London see their web site for details www.outcryconference.co.uk