National Policies
This section is a library of key national policy, best practice and implementation guides. The main drivers for change in mental health services over the last 10 years are available on the links below.
Acts and Bills
- Mental Health Act 2007
- Mental Capacity Act 2005
- Disability Discrimination Act 1995
- Children Act 1989
Best Practice Guides
- Best practice in managing risk: principles and guidance for best practice in the assessment and management of risk to self and others in mental health services
- Commissioning a brighter future: improving access to psychological therapies - positive practice guide
- Fast-forwarding primary care mental health: Graduate primary care mental health workers
- Mental Health and Deafness - Towards Equity and Access
- Mental health observation, including constant observation - good practice guidelines for healthcare staff working in prisons
- Mental health services workforce design and development
- Recruitment and retention of mental health nurses: Good practice guide
- Safe and supportive observation of patients at risk mental health nursing - Addressing acute concerns
- Safer management of controlled drugs: Guidance on strengthened governance arrangements
- Specification for adult medium-secure services
Implementation Guides
- Mental Health Policy Implementation Guide
- Adult acute inpatient care provision
- Community Development: Workers for Black and Minority Ethnic Communities
- Community Mental Health Teams
- Dual Diagnosis good practice guide
- Mainstreaming gender and women's mental health: implementation guidance
- National minimum standards for general adult services in Psychiatric Intensive Care Units (PICU) and Low Secure Environments
- Personality disorder: no longer a diagnosis of exclusion
- Support, Time and Recovery (STR) workers
National Service Frameworks
- Mental Health: Modern Standards and Service Models
- Children, Young People and Maternity Services
- Older People
- Long-term Conditions
- NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care
Page Last Updated: Jan 20 2009