Improving Services for Learners with Mental Health Difficulties

LSC proposals for improving services for people with mental health difficulties

The proposals for Improving services for people with mental health difficulties (2006) were published by the LSC in August 2006 (for consultation until 13th October 2006). In order to improve services the LSC has adopted four broad aims that align with the LSC Annual Statement of Priorities and the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) 2006 White Paper, Further Education: Raising Skills, Improving Life Chances.

The aims set out in the proposals are to:
1. Build the capacity of the Further Education (FE) system
2. Boost demand for learning
3. Ensure quality of provision
4. Raise the achievement levels of learners with mental health difficulties

The LSC proposals describe how each of these aims can be achieved. They also identify collaboration (achieved through learning providers working in partnership with a wide range of agencies and through the NIACE/NIMHE/LSC Next Stage partnership project and the regional mental health and learning networks) as key to the success of the proposals and the transformation of provision for learners with mental health difficulties.

NIACE/NIMHE(part of CSIP)/LSC National Task Group

A National Task Group oversees the work of this partnership, and meets regularly to monitor the effectiveness of the whole project and respond to the recommendations of the Social Exclusion Unit.