City of London shifts focus from mental health treatment to preventative strategies
The City of London Corporation will not recommission its Wellbeing Network contract when it expires in June 2027, signalling a significant shift in its approach to mental health support. The focus will move towards preventative mental health strategies and addressing the wider determinants of wellbeing.
The decision was discussed at the Health and Social Care Scrutiny Committee meeting on Thursday, 15 October 2026. Chris Lovitt, Deputy Director of Public Health, explained that while mental health treatment services are primarily an NHS responsibility, Public Health's role is evolving towards prevention and addressing factors such as employment, good housing, and educational attainment. The evidence base for these approaches is being gathered and synthesized, with an evidence review of public mental health activities planned. The City and Hackney Public Health team has also published reports on mental health using population health data, identifying challenges with navigating support, missed prevention opportunities, and the need for better collaboration and data utilization. Furthermore, the team is committed to incorporating anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and decolonial approaches into its public mental health programmes, recognising their importance in addressing the wider determinants of mental health.
Councillor Christopher Paul Boden expressed confusion regarding the distinction between NHS mental health responsibilities and Public Health's role in public mental health,
particularly within the joint City and Hackney Public Health team. Angela Burns, Principal Public Health Specialist, clarified that the joint team benefits both the City and Hackney. The City's Public Health Grant is approximately £1.9 million and receives more per head of population than other areas. While the mandate is primarily for residents, there are areas with a direct mandate for workers, such as sexual health. Public Health aims to focus more on prevention, such as employment and housing, rather than solely on treatment. The team is committed to ensuring the City's voice is heard and services are responsive to City needs, with specific considerations for geographic differences and future activity being proximal to local neighbourhoods. The recharge of the investment to the City Public Health grant for public mental health is yet to be determined but is likely to be 3% of the £440,000 to £800,000 annual investment.
Councillor Tessa Marchington highlighted the stigma surrounding workplace addiction and suggested the Corporation could lead on this issue. She also mentioned upcoming events on social prescribing and creative health.
Public Health will invest £440,000 in public mental health for City and Hackney in 2027/28, increasing to £800,000 per annum from 2028/29. This funding will align with Public Health's grant conditions and strategic objectives, moving away from solely treatment-focused services towards strengthening protective factors.
The Wellbeing Network, which has provided mental health therapeutic treatment services, has been a partnership approach involving the NHS and voluntary sector since 2014/15. Public Health has been funding the service through the Public Health Grant, but this arrangement is not fully aligned with the grant's mandate.
Mind CHWF, a provider of the Wellbeing Network, has developed a wind-down
plan in collaboration with subcontracted providers to manage client journeys until the contract ends on 30 June 2027. Information about the changes has been communicated to existing clients, and new clients are also being informed. The meeting information indicates a shift in focus from direct treatment services to prevention and addressing wider determinants of mental health. While the Wellbeing Network contract is ending in June 2027 and resources will be redirected to improving public mental health, the specific projected impact on immediate mental health needs and existing conditions is not detailed. However, for active clients of the Wellbeing Network, Mind CHWF and its partners are executing structured planned endings
and utilizing direct handovers to alternative local pathways. Public Health is also collaborating with providers to ensure learning from the Wellbeing Network is adopted into existing NHS mental health services.
While the Wellbeing Network served City of London residents, its uptake has been relatively low, with approximately 24 clients per year from the City. Following the closure of the Wellbeing Network in June 2027, residents will be encouraged to seek support via City and Hackney's localized Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and multidisciplinary neighbourhood teams, aligning with the Neighbourhood health framework. The goal is a whole-population
health approach where physical health, social care, and mental health resources are integrated. Existing entry points to care and support include GP surgeries, Talking Therapies, the Access and Duty team in Adult Social Care, and the Single Point of Access for secondary mental health services. Public Health and East London Foundation Trust (ELFT) will collaborate to incorporate learning from the Wellbeing Network's implementation into the design of new services, including a 24/7 neighbourhood mental health centre and a Mental Health Crisis Assessment Service, to ensure better access for City of London residents. The report notes that the uptake of the Wellbeing Network services by City of London residents has been relatively low, with approximately 24 clients per year from the City. While this low uptake is mentioned as a factor, the specific learning points derived from this and how they will inform the design and implementation of the new 24/7 neighbourhood mental health centre and Crisis Assessment Service are not explicitly detailed. However, it is stated that Public Health and ELFT will work together to incorporate learning from the Wellbeing Network's implementation into the design of these new services, including ensuring better access for City of London residents.
Public Health plans to incorporate anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and decolonial approaches into its public mental health programmes, recognising their importance in addressing the wider determinants of mental health. There will also be a specific focus on geographic differences and ensuring future activity is proximal to local neighbourhoods.
Plans are also in development to establish a 24/7 neighbourhood mental health centre and a Mental Health Crisis Assessment Service. Public Health and East London Foundation Trust (ELFT) will collaborate to incorporate learning from the Wellbeing Network into the design of these new services, ensuring better access for City of London residents.
Health and Social Care Scrutiny Committee Agenda Frontsheet 15 October 2026