Dudley Strategy for Tackling Health Inequalities 2010-15

The Local Authority has lead responsibility for ensuring that adults are safeguardedin Dudley and this is done under the auspices of a Dudley Safeguarding AdultsBoard. All agencies contribute to this but the Council ensures co-ordination of effort.Mental Health Services are delivered through the Dudley Walsall Mental HealthTrust. This provides the full range of mental health interventions for adults in Dudleyacross the social care and health spectrum. It includes the role of the Social Workand social care staff working in mental health to support the delivery of theseservices. The services cover in-patient hospital treatment to community supportincluding assertive outreach.These services, therefore, support people in meeting their care needs throughadvice, information and guidance, assessment, brokerage and direct serviceprovision. The aim of the services is to “Put People First,” promote independence ofservice users and support to informal Carers. This effort requires partnershipworking and through this people have opportunity to engage with the services andmeet their desired outcomes. Structures such as the Older People‟s Board or theLearning Disability Board promote this approach whereby people who use services,their carers and the wider public can engage as needed.In this way, Health Inequalities are addressed through promoting equitable access toand engagement with services to promote the independence of users and carers.184