April 2009
A Primary Mental Health Service has been launched in Blackburn with Darwen, with Bootstrap acting as a delivery partner of the Primary Care Trust for the new service.
The service aims to support people who are experiencing a range of common mental health conditions including stress, depression or anxiety. Referrals will be made by GPs and other health professions and, as part of a broad portfolio of services and interventions, Bootstrap will work with:
Referrals who want help to find and keep the right job, or, Referrals who want help to retain the job they have, and may need a range of interventions to achieve this which might include engagement and mediation with their employer, or, Referrals who want help to take gentle steps towards the world of work (perhaps through voluntary work, personal development or learning) without committing at this stage to the ambition of a paid job.
Working one to one with service users and, where appropriate, with colleagues from the borough`s Lifelong Learning Service, we will deliver:
1. A volunteering programme offering both taster placements and longer term supported placements for which we will measure the distance travelled by each participant in relation to soft skills, confidence and learning and which we can accredit through the National Open College Network.
2. A programme of supported group learning opportunities delivered by qualified tutors in community settings.
3. Support to access personal development, learning and vocational training opportunities.
4. A job broking and supported employment service aimed at finding the right job for the right person and then providing the support needed to sustain the job.
5. A retention service to help people to resume their jobs through a range of interventions which might include employer engagement and mediation in the search for reasonable adjustment solutions.