What are National Service Frameworks?

• National Service Frameworks (NSFs) aim to set national standards and define service models for a specific service or care group.
• Programmes are set up to support implementation, and performance measures are established against which progress within an agreed timescale is assessed.
• Each NSF is developed by an expert reference group of health professionals, service users, carers, health service managers and other stakeholders.
• The Assembly Government’s original NSF for adult mental health services was published in 2002. Adult Mental Health Services – A National Service Framework for Wales was developed following publication of the Adult Mental Health Services for Wales – Strategy Document. The standards are consistent with guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) and will be delivered through clinical governance mechanisms and monitored by the Commission for Health Improvement and the Performance Management Framework for NHS Wales.

Raising the Standard: The Revised National Service Framework for Adult Mental Health Services in Wales

“Raising the Standard: The Revised National Service Framework for Adult Mental Health Services in Wales” was published on World Mental Health Day, October 10 2005. This replaces the Assembly Government’s original NSF for adult mental health services published in 2002.

The revised NSF aims to “set standards for services in Wales, drive up quality and reduce unacceptable variations in health and social services provision”.

The 8 Standards and 44 Key Actions remain largely the same within the revision however the whole document has been brought up to date to refl ect changes in the commissioning, performance management and inspectorate arrangements since its original publication and further detail has been added to the monitoring information. Further, the document reflects “Designed for Life: Creating World Class Health and Social Care for Wales in the 21st Century”.

Scope of the revised NSF

This NSF covers public health challenges, health promotion and social inclusion, the needs of service users and carers, access to services and provision of comprehensive assessment and treatment. It links with issues for children’s mental health services, older people’s mental health services, drug and alcohol misuse provision and those with mental health problems in the criminal justice system.

Although it focuses on adults of working age, usually people between the ages of 18 and 65, many of the principles apply equally to people over 65 years old. More specific guidance relating to the mental health needs of people over 65 will be in the NSF for older people due to be published in January 2006.

Standards are set for eight key activities:

Social inclusion, health promotion and tackling stigma — Standard 1

Service user and carer empowerment — Standard 2

Promotion of opportunities for a normal pattern of daily life — Standard 3

Providing equitable and accessible services — Standard 4

Commissioning effective, comprehensive and responsive services — Standard 5

Delivering effective, comprehensive and responsive services — Standard 6

Effective client assessment and care pathways — Standard 7

Ensuring a well staffed, skilled and supported workforce — Standard 8

To download a copy of “Raising the Standard” click here.

Hafal has produced a user-friendly short guide to the revised NSF, which sets out an easy-to-read timetable of the performance targets set against each Key Action of the framework. To download a copy of Hafal’s NSF timetable click here.