This briefing describes the Joint Commissioning Panel for Mental Health (JCP-MH), a collaborative co-chaired by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Royal College of General Practitioners. The collaboration includes seventeen leading organisations, inspiring commissioners to improve mental health and wellbeing, using a values based commissioning model. It brings together service users, carers, clinicians, commissioners, managers and others to deliver the best possible commissioning for mental health and wellbeing. The JCP-MH publishes briefings on the key values for effective mental health commissioning. It also provides practical guidance and a framework for mental health commissioning and supports commissioners in commissioning mental health care that delivers the best possible outcomes for health and well being

1. The JCP-MH has already published
sixteen guides on what a ‘good
service’ should look like:
• acute mental health care
(inpatient and crisis home
treatment)
• black and minority ethnic groups
(mental health services for)
• community mental health
• dementia
• drug and alcohol
• eating disorders
• forensic mental health
• learning disabilities
• liaison mental health services
to acute hospitals
• older people
• perinatal
• primary mental health care
• public mental health
• rehabilitation services
• transition (from CAMHS
to adult)
• ‘values-based’ commissioning
(guidance on implementing).
Guides and tools to improve commissioning outcomes
Bringing together scientific
evidence, user and carer experience,
and case-studies of best practice,
these have been produced by a
coalition of leading organisations.
Later in 2014, the JCP will publish
additional guides on autistic
spectrum disorders, neuropsychiatry,
employment services, and recovery
interventions.
The JCP has also published a mental
health and wellbeing commissioning
pack. This was produced in
collaboration with the former
Strategic Health Authority Mental
Health Leads’ Group.
This contains tools for needs
assessment, contract inserts, cost-
benefit tools, and other resources.
The JCP also works directly with
CCGs and HWBs to review and
improve practice.
Further information
Resources, publications, and
more detailed progress reports:
www.jcpmh.info
Further queries:
Email jcpmh@rcpsych.ac.uk
www.jcpmh.info
Joint Commissioning Panel
for Mental Health
www.jcpmh.info
Guidance for commissioners of acute care – inpatient and crisis home treatment 1
Practical
mental health
commissioning
Guidance for commissioners of
acute care – inpatient
and crisis home treatment
Joint Commissioning Panel
for Mental Health
www.jcpmh.info
Guidance for commissioners of drug and alcohol services 1
Practical
mental health
commissioning
Guidance for commissioners of
drug and
alcohol services
Joint Commissioning Panel
for Mental Health
www.jcpmh.info
Guidance for commissioners of community specialist mental health services 1
Practical
mental health
commissioning
Guidance for commissioners of
forensic mental
health services
Joint Commissioning Panel
for Mental Health
www.jcpmh.info
Guidance for commissioners of mental health services for people with learning disabilities 1
Practical
mental health
commissioning
Guidance for commissioners of
mental health services
for people with
learning disabilities
Joint Commissioning Panel
for Mental Health
www.jcpmh.info

2. our aim
The JCP-MH: a new direction
for better outcomes
The JCP-MH:
• publishes briefings on the key
values for effective mental health
commissioning
• provides practical guidance and
a framework for mental health
commissioning
• supports commissioners in
commissioning mental health
care that delivers the best
possible outcomes for health
and well being
• brings together service users,
carers, clinicians, commissioners,
managers and others to deliver
the best possible commissioning
for mental health and wellbeing.
Launched in April 2011, the Joint Commissioning Panel for Mental Health
is comprised of leading organisations who are aiming to inform high-quality
mental health and learning disability commissioning in England.
Who is in the JCP-MH?
The JCP-MH is co-chaired by
Dr Neil Deuchar (Royal College
of Psychiatrists) and Dr Liz
England (Royal College of
General Practitioners).
JCP-MH members include:
• Service users and carers
• Royal College of General
Practitioners
• Royal College of Psychiatrists
• Department of Health
• Association of Directors of
Adult Social Services
• NHS Confederation’s
Mental Health Network
• Mind
• Rethink Mental Illness
• National Survivor and
User Network
• National Involvement
Partnership
• Royal College of Nursing
• Afiya Trust
• British Psychological Society
• Representatives of the English
Strategic Health Authorities
• Representation from specialised
commissioning
• Mental Health Providers Forum
• New Savoy Partnership
• Healthcare Financial
Management Association.
Joint Commissioning Panel
for Mental Health
www.jcpmh.info