Successful collaboration was evident at the very first session of the Partnerships with Purpose initiative
It had a specific focus on a mental health project that could be rolled out across the country.
Chaired by Lord Walney in his role as Engagement Director as part of the wider Purpose Coalition, the scheme aims to set new standards for cross-sector partnerships, creating positive and impactful change. This first meeting brought together 25 businesses, universities, NHS Trusts and independent health and social care organisations to share ideas and best practice with a view to collaborating on the challenges currently facing the country.
The session featured two organisations on the frontline of tackling mental health issues which have such a negative impact on individuals and their families but also on productivity and economic growth. Mark Sutton from rail company Southeastern and Victoria Buxton-Helyer from Kent and Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust highlighted how working together to share each organisation’s expertise and resources has led to a partnership which is achieving better outcomes.
Through the Purpose Coalition, the two organisations had identified an opportunity to work together to provide greater mental health support to those who present in a vulnerable state at train stations across the country. They have since developed a strategy to place a mental health nurse on site in stations so that specialist support is immediately available for those who need urgent help. A 12-week trial, with a trained mental health nurse placed at Canterbury East railway station - identified as a location which would benefit from accessible mental health support - is currently taking place. The session included a thought-provoking discussion on some of the challenges the implementation of the partnership posed, including obstacles such as insurance and risk assessments, buy-in from employees and finding suitable locations. It also heard about the benefits it is generating such as the sharing of best practice and expertise and the chance to upskill colleagues through knowledge transference from other companies.
The initiative’s effectiveness is being tracked to see how successful it is in providing immediate support and signposting guidance to mental health services, ensuring that vulnerable individuals have the best possible outcomes. Mark and Victoria will report back on progress and hope to expand the project to other partners once this trial is complete.
There were also offers of help from other businesses such as Sodexo, an organisation which itself is already driving a successful partnership with prisons across the country to improve employability for ex-offenders.
Lord Walney encouraged the session’s participants to actively seek out opportunities for partnership and the sharing of best practice and resources with other Purpose Coalition members, with the aim of driving forward positive change and outcomes. He highlighted the particular importance for smaller businesses which could benefit from the resources of larger organisations to implement their vision of positive change. The creation of a toolkit to map out what an effective partnership might look like was also discussed as a positive step in fostering a culture of collaboration within the Purpose Coalition. It could also be shared with members of the government to encourage consideration of policies that would facilitate the creation of partnerships on a wider scale.
There will be another session later in the year when businesses and organisations can report on their collaborative efforts. In addition to mental health and wellbeing, further areas for partnership will focus on justice and rehabilitation, youth opportunity, health inequalities and digital inclusion and skills. A best practice report, detailing successful partnerships with recommendations for further action, will be published in the summer.
