Please note: AHSN Network Involvement came to an end in March 2020. This is a closed programme of work within Health Innovation Manchester.

Serenity Integrated Mentoring (SIM) is a model of care intended to support people with mental health issues who were already in regular contact with police and health services and was designed to help better plan and coordinate their care. The aim of the programme was to focus support on the small number of people who are frequently detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act, and offer a more appropriate response to this group of service users.

SIM was established to facilitate a collaborative approach between the police and community mental health teams – with the aim of supporting a very small group of people with complex mental health needs, where the police are often already involved. The model was aimed at supporting some of the most vulnerable in society, who, when in crisis, have many touch points with services across a system, but often experience fragmented and siloed care.

The AHSN Network was involved in the Serenity Integrated Mentoring (SIM) project between 2018 and 2020. The programme was being spread with NHS support when the AHSN Network become involved in 2018; the Network’s role was to provide funding for the training of staff to deliver the project within local NHS Mental Health trust areas.

The AHSN Network’s involvement in the programme came to an end in March 2020, along with the other national adoption and spread programmes for 2018-20.

SIM is not in place in Greater Manchester and East Cheshire however Health Innovation Manchester worked with localities to understand the models of integrated partnership working being developed in GM to meet local strategies.

The AHSN Network are aware of concerns expressed regarding the model, which have emerged in recent months, and have responded to a Freedom of Information request regarding the Network’s involvement in the programme. The AHSN Network take all concerns from service users seriously; as a result, have committed to undertake an independent review to fully understand the circumstances surrounding the AHSN Network role in supporting providers to adopt the model.

A link to the AHSN Network’s response to a Freedom of Information request on SIM is here: www.ahsnnetwork.com/freedom-of-information-foi-requests