ABSTRACT
Traditionally, Sandwell has had a national reputation for its successful partnership working, particularly between health and social services (known locally as Social Inclusion and Health). Against this background, it is perhaps unsurprising that key players within the local economy would look to using a care trust model to deliver plans for integrated mental health services. From April 2003, the existing Black Country Mental Health NHS Trust (BCMHT) was redesignated as Sandwell Mental Health NHS and Social Care Trust, with responsibility for the delivery of:
• all health service functions currently within the remit of BCMHT (including adult mental health, old age psychiatry, children and adolescent mental health and specialised learning disability services)
• all adult mental health social care services.
