Rachel Farrow is coordinating co-production and involvement of people with lived experience for the BLMK mental health, learning disabilities and autism collaborative.
The collaborative is looking at how care is planned and delivered and is further developing a partnership approach to make improvements to outcomes, experience, quality, value for money and inequalities.
Rachel, who formerly worked as a teacher supporting children with severe learning disabilities and who worked in education for 26 years, decided to apply for the role after attending the collaborative’s mental health summit launch event.
“Listening to other people share their insight and experience was incredibly powerful,” she said.
“I left thinking ‘I want to be part of this’ and determined to make sure the voices of service users are heard in further improving care across the area.”
Rachel has lived experience of mental health services and as a carer for a loved one with autism.
The collaborative will support health providers, social care providers and voluntary, community or sector enterprises (VCSEs) across BLMK.
The collaborative partners are the area’s NHS mental health providers East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) and Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL), along with BLMK Integrated Care Board (ICB).
Rachel’s role is funded by BLMK ICB. She is embedded within ELFT and will also work with colleagues from CNWL.
“There has been a tremendous amount of work taking place behind the scenes since the summit and our priority for the coming year is to start turning the ideas shared into actions and outcomes,” added Rachel.
If you are a mental health service user or carer from BLMK and would like to get involved with the collaborative’s work, contact Rachel by emailing rachel.farrow3@nhs.net or calling 07939 518777.