News
Croydon’s Mental Health Service User Group
Return of Applications: Monday 4th December 2023
The post-holder will deliver, develop and expand upon the success of our existing independent peer support Linkworking Project at inpatient wards at the Royal Bethlem Hospital (RBH) and Croydon’s Mental Health Community Services, Jeanette Wallace House (JWH) and Queens Resource Centre (QRC). The post-holder will manage and support our team of Linkworkers to monitor the quality of Croydon’s statutory mental health services.
The post holder will provide feedback and help to campaign for improvements to statutory services provided by the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust (SLaM). Hear Us report all project outputs and share our findings with the South West London Integrated Care Board (SWL ICB) and at senior stakeholder meetings across the borough of Croydon. The Linkworking Project will contribute and support Hear Us in representing the voice of Croydon’s service users in the development, planning and commissioning of mental health services.
Getting vaccinated against flu and Covid-19 this winter is the best way that people can protect themselves and those around them. There are a number of places across South West London that eligible people can get vaccinated, this includes community pharmacies, GP surgeries and community locations. We want to ensure that eligible people are aware of the vaccination offer available to them and have most up to date information.
Rachael Swan
Communications and Engagement Officer (Croydon)
NHS South West London
South West London Integrated Care System
RE: DWP consultation on proposed changes to Work Capability Assessment for Universal Credit and Employment Support Allowance.
Letter sent to:
The Rt Hon Mel Stride MP – Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
Liz Kendall – Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The Rt Hon Tom Pursglove – Minister of State for Disabled People, Health and Work
Vicky Foxcroft Shadow Minister for Disabled People
Sarah Jones MP. Labour. Member of Parliament for Croydon Central.
Steve Reed MP. Labour. Member of Parliament for Croydon North.
The Next Hear Us Mental Health Open Forum
2:30 pm on Tuesday 7th November 2023
Topic: Mental Health First Aid Training
We will be joined by Ibrahim from Croydon Council to talk about the free Mental Health First Aid training course. Ibrahim will tell us more about the training how how to access it.
The Mental Health First Aider course (MHFAider®) allows people from Croydon e.g. work or live within the borough to undertake the training to support with:
Keep your awareness of mental health support current
Update your knowledge of mental health and what influences it
Practice applying the Mental Health First Aid action plan
Receive access to MHFAider® Support and Benefits for three years
Welfare Surgeries Benefits Referral
We have funded to help the following people:
If you are living within the London Borough of Croydon, have a mental illness and are in need, we might be able to help support you.
Please complete the referral form;
click here to access our referral form.
Please be aware that we are currently receiving a high demand for our services and may be unable to help everyone.
Consultation Paper
The DWP has launched a consultation on work capability assessment (WCA) reform so that Disabled people assessed as having a limited capability for work are, in their words, not “held back” from the “opportunity” to work.
The WCA is used in universal credit (UC) and employment support allowance (ESA) to determine what work-related conditions a Disabled person must meet to keep getting their benefit.
The WCA is used in universal credit (UC) and employment support allowance (ESA) to determine what work-related conditions a Disabled person must meet to keep getting their benefit.
If you are found to have a ‘limited capability for work-related activity’ (LCWRA), no work-related activity conditions will apply to you, and you will also be entitled to an extra amount of benefit.
The March 2023 Health and Disability White Paper proposed abolishing the WCA and instead replacing it with one health and disability assessment – the personal independence payment (PIP) assessment.
This reform would then be rolled out, for new claims only, on a staged, geographical basis from no earlier than 2026/2027.
However, the DWP says that any changes to the WCA will be introduced from 2025.
Consultation End Date: 30/10/2023
Campaigns Coordinator Vacancy
Recruiting from 24th October 2023
Hear Us is pleased to announce we have won funding from Trust For London for three years, to run a Campaigning Project, and we will be employing a new member of staff as a Campaigns Coordinator.
We wish to build a movement run and led by people with lived experience of mental ill health representing all communities initially in Croydon. This movement will educate, inform and influence for change to improve the lives of some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable in our communities through awareness raising, and campaigning for change in our public services and in the wider community.
News to Follow on the project and the upcoming job vacancy.
Trustee Vacancy
Now Recruiting
Hear Us are currently looking for people passionate about improving Croydon’s mental health services to join our Board of Trustees.
Are you someone who has had an experience of mental distress and/or using mental health services?
Are you interested in being a Trustee of an independent mental health charity run by survivors and service users?
Hear Us has been running for over 20 Years as a not-for-profit organisation in Croydon. On 15th April 2010, Hear Us registered with the Charity Commission for charity status to give Hear Us a more independent and stronger voice in the community of Croydon.
Tim Oldham
CEO
Orchard House
15a Purley Road
South Croydon
Surrey
CR2 6EZ
Tel: 020 8681 6888
Mobile: 07594 373 104
Email: tim@hear-us.org
Charity No. 1135535
Company No. 06891337
