Terms of reference

The National Mental Health Partnership Board (NPB) will oversee the delivery and implementation Together for Mental Health – A Strategy for Mental Health and Wellbeing in Wales and its Delivery Plan; guiding and monitoring progress, and facilitating co-ordination of the cross-cutting approach required across Welsh Government, Statutory Agencies, the Third and Independent Sectors.

The vision for Mental Health and Wellbeing in Wales is set out in the 6 high level outcomes of Together for Mental Health:

• The mental health and wellbeing of the whole population is improved.
• The impact of mental health problems and/or mental illness on individuals of all ages, their families and carers, communities and the economy more widely, is better recognised and reduced.
• Inequalities, stigma and discrimination suffered by people experiencing mental health problems and mental illness are reduced.
• Individuals have a better experience of the support and treatment they receive and have an increased feeling of input and control over related decisions.
• Access to, and the quality of preventative measures, early intervention and treatment services is improved and more people recover as a result.
• The values, attitudes and skills of those treating or supporting individuals of all ages with mental health problems or mental illness are improved.

The National Mental Health Partnership Board will provide leadership, influence and support to ensure successful delivery of the Strategy and its Delivery Plan.

The National Mental Health Partnership Board will:

• Oversee implementation of Together for Mental Health and its Delivery Plan, guiding and reviewing progress
• Advise the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services on progress, emerging issues and future priorities
• Ensure that implementation is based on a human rights approach, advancing equality and tackling inequalities, and that there is a full life course approach
• Increase ownership in the Strategy through promoting wider involvement and engagement.

It will do this by:

• Ensuring appropriate engagement of stakeholders including the wider public, people with lived experience, service users, families and carers
• Overseeing the work of the sub-groups and task and finish groups of the National Mental Health Partnership Board, agreeing priorities for action and reviewing progress
• Reviewing the annual progress reports provided by Local Partnership Boards on implementation of the Delivery Plan priorities in their area
• Preparing an annual all-Wales report on progress and next steps
• Agreeing priorities for subsequent Delivery Plans to drive implementation for the 10-year course of the Strategy
• Sharing learning and good practice on improving mental wellbeing
• All members acting as advocates for the broader aims and aspirations of the Strategy.

Together for Mental Health specifies that the Children, Young People and Families Mental Health Delivery Assurance Group (CYPF MH DAG), and the Older Person’s Mental Health and Dementia Delivery Assurance Group (OP MH DAG) will report to the National Mental Health Partnership Board. Other groups will be convened as required to support the work of the National Mental Health Partnership Board.

The National Mental Health Partnership Board is accountable to the Minister for Health and Social Services. The National Mental Health Partnership Board Chair will report progress on the implementation of the Strategy through an annual report to the Cabinet Secretary.

The National Mental Health Partnership Board has no statutory power. Its authority and influence are granted by the members that participate and influence change and their own accountability arrangements.

Accountability for delivery remains with the relevant statutory organisations and providers from other sectors and their performance management will be through existing mechanisms and not via the National Mental Health Partnership Board.

Working groups can be established as appropriate to support implementation of the Delivery Plan, through the National Mental Health Partnership Board.

Progress will be reported to the National Mental Health Partnership Board through routine reports by the National Mental Health Partnership Board’s Responsible Officer.

Membership of the National Mental Health Partnership Board is attached.

Policy delivery and support to the National Mental Health Partnership Board will be provided by officials from the Mental Health and Vulnerable Groups Division and the Public Health Division of Welsh Government.

In addition to the core membership identified, further individuals will be invited to attend specific meetings/workshops based on the agenda items to be discussed, to ensure that appropriate expertise and experience is available to allow informed debate. This will be particularly important to ensure appropriate cross-Governmental and cross-Sector involvement.

Membership will be reviewed annually to ensure that it reflects the views of those relevant to shape and influence the priorities of that forthcoming year.

Members will be expected to act as the interface between the National Mental Health Partnership Board and networks across Wales. Members not undertaking this role or not regularly attending meetings will be removed from the Board at annual review.

In making contributions to the National Mental Health Partnership Board, they will be asked to indicate whether they are representing the views of organisations, agencies or groups or whether they are providing a personal view.

To ensure continuity, deputies will only be allowed to attend meetings in exceptional circumstances.

Members will be expected to notify the Chair when there is a potential conflict of interest relating to a specific item on the agenda.

The role of the secretariat is provided by Welsh Government to the National Mental Health Partnership Board, with the operational management support to enable it to fulfil its functions.

The secretariat will:

• arrange meetings in consultation with the Chair and Strategy Lead
• prepare and distribute agenda, minutes and briefing papers
• co-ordinate liaison between any working groups and other stakeholders
• prepare briefings, reports and correspondence.

The National Mental Health Partnership Board will meet 3 times a year. Additional workshop sessions may take place to allow focussed debate on key issues.

Video and/or audio conferencing will be used to facilitate wider attendance and reduce travelling times.

The National Mental Health Partnership Board will require one third of external members to be quorate and the attendance of the Chair.

These arrangements will be subject to review annually.