Bradford South and West community mental health team is one of the first teams across the country to receive national recognition for the quality of care and treatment it provides.

The Trust was one of eight NHS Trusts to be part of a pilot for community mental health teams to receive national accreditation by the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Centre for Quality Improvement (CCQI).

Accreditation involves self-assessment and peer review against best practice, evidence based standards and looks at over thirty-one areas which includes care planning, service user and carer involvement, staffing, team working, training and supervision.

The team received an accreditation for its high standards of care in supporting people with complex and enduring mental health problems such as schizophrenia, severe depression and bipolar disorder in the local community.

Bernard Hughes, Service Manager at Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are extremely proud of our achievement and it is a real tribute to all the staff who work in the team. The accredited status gives patients and carers confidence that we are providing a high quality service. It also gives us extra confidence that we are performing well against national standards.”

Following the successful pilot the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Centre for Quality Improvement (CCQI) is now rolling out the accreditation process for all community-based mental health services, if they want to apply.

Findings from the review where good practice and high quality care was recognised included that the team provides a joint up service from both health and social care, meaning they can provide a holistic service to service users looking at mental and physical health and social needs.

ernard added: “The assessment team also made some helpful suggestions for improvements, such as making information about the service more accessible, and we are looking at ways we can do this and incorporate the suggestions.Service users and carers were involved throughout the accreditation process and encouraged to be involved throughout. Service users and carers reported that the service is caring, and staff are polite and helpful.