Camden Council has launched a new Mental Health Social Work Hub, aiming to strengthen services and improve integration with NHS mental health care. The initiative was discussed at the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee meeting on 8 July 2025, detailed in the public reports pack.
The new hub is part of a broader effort, outlined in a new model of Mental Health Social Work in Camden, to modernise mental health social work in the borough. The changes follow a formal staff consultation launched in November 2024. According to the council, the new model seeks to:
- Work in partnership with the NHS Mental Health Services
- Further strengthen models of integrated neighbourhood working
- Provide assurance on the delivery of the Council's statutory duties
- Embed 'What Matters' strengths-based practice within Mental Health Social Work.
The confirmed changes include:
- All Mental Health Social Work staff reporting directly to the Council.
- Creation of a Mental Health Social Work Hub.
- Creation of 3 localised Mental Health Social Work Teams (MHSWTs).
- All mental health social care activity to be recorded directly onto the Council's Adult Social Care recording system (MOSAIC).
- Replacing the existing Section 75 agreement with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreed between London Borough of Camden and North London Foundation Trust (NLFT).
The new Mental Health Social Work Service is scheduled to commence on 30 June 2025. A review of residents currently known to North London Foundation Trust (NLFT)'s Mental Health Services has been completed to identify individuals currently supported and determine the most appropriate team or service to meet their needs under the new model. This includes a transition process to ensure continuity of care for residents.
The council aims to strengthen mental health social care provision and ensure residents receive timely and person-centred support.
The service aims to define and refine the Service and individual team offers, ensuring clarity of purpose and alignment with the overall service vision. The service will also focus on building strong internal relationships across the newly formed teams to foster collaboration and shared identity. Externally, the Service will continue to work hand in hand with NHS Mental Health Services and wider support services, including housing, employment, and the Voluntary and Community Sector, to ensure holistic support for individuals.
The three localised Mental Health Social Work Teams (MHSWTs) will work alongside the Trust's three Core Mental Health Services: Inpatient, Specialist and Crisis Teams. The aim is to meet the social care needs for people experiencing mental ill health. The plan is also for MHSWTs to become part of Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs) as they are established.
The new model of Mental Health Social Work includes replacing the existing Section 75 agreement with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreed between London Borough of Camden and North London Foundation Trust (NLFT). A 2023 review of the Section 75 agreement identified opportunities for improvement relating to safeguarding practice, application of statutory duties (i.e. Care Act 2014), and equity of access to social care support for residents.
All mental health social care activity will be recorded directly onto the Council's Adult Social Care recording system (MOSAIC).
