A new project aimed at improving the multiagency response to vulnerable people in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland has secured more than £400,000 of funding.
The Integrated Vulnerability Management Initiative is being led by Leicestershire Police in conjunction with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner to improve partnership working to manage vulnerable people with complex health needs who regularly seek out policing services.
The project, which will be run under the governance of the Mental Health Partnership Group, has successfully applied for funding worth £444,462 from the Commissioner’s Strategic Partnership Development Fund. Sir Clive set up the fund in 2015/16 and has set aside up to £2m over the next two financial years to support and develop new strategic partnerships, collaborations and joint working across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to improve efficiency and promote innovative ways of working to achieve common goals.
The two-year Integrated Vulnerability Management Initiative aims to generate co-commissioned services and focuses on demand reduction by targeting those members of the public who regularly come into contact with police as well as improving services for vulnerable people and victims of crime.
It will also see the creation of a Multiagency High-Need Management Conference (MAHNMC) to identify risk and harm, the launch of a Mental Health and Vulnerability Proactive Team, re-development of existing mental health and vulnerability teams and the development of a Mental Health Community and Partnership Engagement and Education Strategy.
Announcing the funding, Sir Clive said: “Effective partnerships not only provide opportunities to reduce costs they can also highlight new ways of working that can help to prevent crime and reduce demand on an already overstretched service.
“Experience shows us that many of the people who repeatedly come into contact with police require emergency health and complex social care intervention rather than a police response and have committed no crime. By joining up our efforts and improving cross-organisational communication, we can improve understanding of the role of the police and ensure that vulnerable people find it easy to access the help most beneficial to their needs.
“Reducing crime is just one way of freeing up valuable police resources, we can also support victims more effectively to help them recover from the harm caused and importantly reduce the likelihood of repeat victimisation in the future.”
Leicestershire Police’s Assistant Chief Constable, Phil Kay said: A large proportion of work done by frontline officers involves dealing with the most vulnerable people in society, many with mental health issues.
“This is an evidence-based programme which is based on best practice from around the world. Continuing to work with partners in an integrated way will mean the best possible service is given to those most in need.”
The funding application has been formally approved by the Strategic Partnership Board and Sir Clive will liaise with the Mental Health Partnership Manager to agree a delivery plan for each project which will include regular performance and financial monitoring.
Alex Crisp, Mental Health Partnership Development Manager for the OPCC, said: “The IVM initiative takes some of the best practice internationally around the policing response to mental ill health and vulnerability and applies it to the UK environment.
“The model utilises existing innovative models such as Leicestershire’s Mental Health Triage Car and develops the concept of service integration across a broader range of response.
“Where possible the IVM initiative allows services to adopt a more proactive approach to addressing the needs of complex clients. The initiative will build a foundation of integrated partnership working on which we expect further relationships to be built to provide a more effective and efficient service to the community.”
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Posted on Monday 9th May 2016