NHS England launches new mental health package

NHS England has published new Prevent Mental Health Guidance to support providers and staff to exercise their statutory and professional duties to safeguard vulnerable adults, children and young people at risk of radicalisation.

The guidance sets out expectations that providers and professionals should take into account when exercising these duties, and is structured into four key components: Prevent responsibilities of mental health providers; Prevent referrals from mental health providers; the role of mental health providers in the Prevent process; and referrals into mental health services from Prevent.

The four components outline the safeguarding pathways that should be in place, best practices of working in partnership with police, considerations relating to detention under the Mental Health Act and expectations to ensure timely access to services to those at risk of radicalisation with mental health needs and considerations for the prioritisation of cases.

NHS England has also launched a new Prevent Mental health e-Learning package.