Mental Health Arrangements in Lincolnshire

Lincolnshire County Council fulfils its duties to support people experiencing mental ill health through the following functions.

For people aged between 18 and 65: LCC has partnership arrangements made through section 75 of the National Health Services Act 2006 with Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation NHS Trust (LPFT). The section 75 agreement delegates the provision of social care assessment and associated functions and service provision to the trust alongside its wider functions in supporting people experiencing mental ill health.

For people aged over 65: Lincolnshire Adult Care’s Adult Frailty and Long Term Conditions teams provide social care assessment and professional support, often in conjunction with the health professionals in LPFT’s older people’s Community Mental Health Teams.

The Joint Transitions Protocol for People aged 65 and Over with Mental Health Needs is intended to ensure smooth transfer arrangements between LPFT and Adult Care teams as people approach the age of 65. This can be found in the Service Specific Procedures folder (Section 11) of the Local Resource Library.

The protocol reflects the practice standards set in the National Service Framework (NSF) for older people and the National Service Framework for Mental Health Needs which require both parties to be clear about their arrangements for collaborative working.

The section 75 agreement between LPFT and LCC, section 3.9.2 states:

LCC and LPFT will also work together through appropriate and agreed transition arrangements to prepare the Council to ensure continuity of mental health social and health care for people aged 64 and above who are:

• in receipt of services under these Arrangements; and
• will, or are likely to, require continued care arising from mental health needs on or after becoming 65 years of age.

It will be the responsibility of the Council to arrange for the provision of such continuing adult social care for eligible people on reaching the age of 65 years. Additional services will also be utilised as appropriate; for example, older people may access any help or support provided by members of the Managed Care Network.

All social care case work activity undertaken by LPFT will be recorded in the Adult Care system using the same recording procedures and forms as LCC Adult Care staff under a joint Information Sharing Agreement.

Please note: People who are subject to some sections under the Mental Health Act or Mental Capacity Act, including Powers of Attorney, Court Appointed Deputy and DoLS, must have those orders or statuses recorded in their social care record.