We are a community for people with lived experience of mental health to campaign for change.
Announcing IMHN as the Independent Facilitator of Mental Health Lived Experience Engagement across Greater Manchester
The Independent Mental Health Network (IMHN) has been announced as the new Independent Facilitator for the Greater Manchester Adult Mental Health Service User Network.
IMHN will be working closely with people with lived experience of mental health problems and the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership to develop a strong network that will influence the design and shape of mental health support across the region.
IMHN CEO, Tom Renhard, said:
“We are delighted to be working with people and communities across Greater Manchester to support the development of a strong voice for those with lived experience of mental health problems, shaping future mental health support for years to come.
We are already working with members of the adult mental health service user network and the wider partnership to build strong relationships and explore the key priorities for the region. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is now more important than ever to bring people together ensure mental health support is the best it can be; with the voices of people with lived experience being instrumental in getting this right.”
The first steps are continuing to speak to people and communities across the region about experiences of existing mental health support, and how they would like to participate in shaping the network. We are keen to hear from the fantastic range of people, organisations and communities across Greater Manchester; so do get in touch.
Listed below are a number of ways to initially get involved. Additionally, members of the IMHN team are happy to join virtual meetings, taking place during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to introduce themselves and discuss topics of interest.
Ways to get involved:
- Sign up to our mailing list and tell us about what matters to you
- Anyone that would like to work with IMHN can get in touch at any time by emailing greatermanchester[@]imhn.org
- we are holding regular ‘virtual’ engagement events – details of these can be found by clicking here
[ENDS]
Notes to editors:
What is the Independent Mental Health Network (IMHN)?
IMHN is a member-led organisation that works both for, and in the interests of, people with lived experience of mental health. Via our branches, we support work improving local mental health services; contribute and campaign on mental health matters happening both locally and nationally; and actively challenge mental health stigma by working with partner organisations.
What has IMHN already achieved?
Via its branches in Bristol and North Somerset and with the support of our membership base, IMHN’s work has resulted in the organisation acquiring a reputation as a staunch advocate for effective and worthwhile change.
This is a result of work including but not limited to: co-designing the new IAPT service across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire; ensuring effective lived experience involvement in the introduction of brand new mental health crisis and recovery centres; and contributing to national campaigns, for example by leading the Bristol Time to Change Hub partnership, and delivering Peerfest 2017.
Where can I get more information?
IMHN’s website can provide more information about our ongoing projects, past achievements, and current operations.
Visit www.imhn.org for more information. The top menu can direct you to dedicated webpages covering latest news, our branches and membership, and the work we are doing dealing with the consequences of Coronavirus (COVID-19).
For specific questions, clarifications, and further information, please contact .
May 15, 2020 at 9:35 am
Are you someone with a passion for improving mental health services and empowering those with lived experience of mental health?
Do you support the principles of lived experience leadership and have a willingness to ensure this remains embedded in health and social care services?
If so – the Independent Mental Health Network wants to hear from you!
We are currently recruiting:
- Project Coordinator (Representation and Engagement) – fixed term, to 28 February 2021
- Project Coordinator (Communications and Engagement) – fixed term, to 28 February 2021
- Trustees – voluntary position for a three-year term
More information about each opportunity is below and if you have any queries please get in touch with us using the contact details provided.
Project Coordinator (Representation and Engagement)
Information about the post
Salary: £19,500 (pro-rata) – equivalent to £10 per hour.
Hours: Part-time – 30 hours per week (fixed term to 28 February 2021)
Location: Greater Manchester
The post-holder will be expected to provide all aspects of project coordination to the organisation’s representation and engagement functions in Greater Manchester. This will involve working closely with different stakeholders, including: IMHN Board of Trustees, IMHN members, funders, providers of mental health services, etc. This will also include providing support for representatives with lived experience of mental health problems attending meetings and engaging in shaping mental health support on behalf of the organisation.
The post will be based in Greater Manchester, with the opportunity for flexible and occasional home working. This will include travel to meetings across Greater Manchester. The role may also include occasional evening and weekend working hours.
Note: if the government restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid-19 are in place at the time of employment, the role will initially be home based
Full information about the post can be found by clicking the job description and person specification link.
Job description and person specification
IMHN Application Form – Project Coordinator
IMHN_Equal_Opportunities_Monitoring_Form
How to apply
To apply for this post, please send in your completed application form, CV and monitoring form to recruitment[@]imhn.org (make sure to remove the square brackets from the email address – this is an anti-spam measure), by no later than 12 noon, Monday 18 May 2020.
Interviews will take place on Thursday 28 May or Friday 29 May 2020.
Project Coordinator (Communications and Engagement)
Information about the post
Salary: £19,500 (pro-rata) – equivalent to £10 per hour.
Hours: Part-time – 30 hours per week (fixed term to 28 February, 2021)
Location: Greater Manchester
The post-holder will be expected to provide all aspects of project coordination to the organisation’s communications and engagement functions in Greater Manchester. This will involve working closely with different stakeholders, including: IMHN Board of Trustees, IMHN members, funders, providers of mental health services, etc. This will also include providing communications support for the organisation.
The post will be based in Greater Manchester, with the opportunity for flexible and occasional home working. This will include travel to meetings across Greater Manchester. The role may also include occasional evening and weekend working hours.
Note: if the government restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid-19 are in place at the time of employment, the role will initially be home based
Full information about the post can be found by clicking the job description and person specification link.
Job description and person specification
IMHN Application Form – Project Coordinator
IMHN_Equal_Opportunities_Monitoring_Form
How to apply
To apply for this post, please send in your completed application form, CV and monitoring form to recruitment[@]imhn.org (make sure to remove the square brackets from the email address – this is an anti-spam measure), by no later than 12 noon, Monday 18 May 2020.
Interviews will take place on Thursday 28 May or Friday 29 May 2020.
Volunteer opportunity – Trustee
Trustee Opportunity Information
It is expected you will be able to commit about a day a month to assist in influencing the development of a young, dynamic and growing organisation.
We recommend you take a look at the documents linked below. They will help you write your application, and assist with understanding the way that the charity operates
IMHN Constitution (last amended January 2017)
IMHN Constitution – Bye Laws (last amended January 2017)
How to apply
To apply to be a Trustee, please send in your CV and covering letter to trustees[@]imhn.org (make sure to remove the square brackets from the email address – this is an anti-spam measure), by no later than 12 noon, Monday 18 May 2020.
Interviews will take place week commencing Monday 1st June 2020. Please ensure you tell us about any dates that you cannot attend during that week when submitting your application.
For an informal conversation about the role or organisation, please email Tom Renhard at trustees[@]imhn.org (make sure to remove the square brackets from the email address – this is an anti-spam measure).
We would especially welcome applications from those with qualifications or extensive experience in any of the following areas:
- Finance
- Fundraising and bid writing
- Law and advocacy
- Marketing / Public relations
We would especially welcome applications from individuals who identify as:
- LGBTQIA+
- BAME
Further information about our organisation
IMHN exists to represent those with lived experience of mental health, uniting voices for positive change in how mental health services are delivered.
We’re governed by a board of up to twelve Trustees, who work alongside our branches and volunteers to develop a thriving and active organisation improving mental health services and empowering those with lived experience to have their voice heard.
The charity is young and working to develop its first strategic plan that will embed our core objectives into everything that we do. The charity has also launched in Greater Manchester. We will be playing a leading role in developing a network for people with lived experience of mental health that will influence the development of mental health support across the area.
It’s an exciting time for us having undertaken many successful projects including:
- Hosting Peerfest 2017 in Bristol with local partners after competing in a national tendering exercise.
- Taking part in several ward visits and service redesign exercises including Bristol’s mental health crisis houses.
- Delivering a workshop focusing on a new ‘crisis café’ that will be coming to Weston-Super-Mare later in 2019.
- Leading on the local Time to Change Bristol Hub, working with local partners to challenge mental health stigma and discrimination.
- Shaping the specification of the new Improving Access to Psychological Therapies service across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire area.
- We are also currently supporting the development of Bristol North Somerset and South Gloucestershire CCG’s mental health strategy.
This is a fantastic opportunity to take on a key role in a developing and growing charity committed to changing lives and we look forward to receiving your application.
April 16, 2020 at 5:12 pm
Do you have lived experience of mental health crisis or attempting to access mental health crisis services?
We are looking for up to six lived experience representatives to join a crisis pathway redesign event.
The details are below:
Date: Friday 15 November 2019
Times: 09:30am -16:30pm
Location: Holiday Inn, Bond Street, Bristol, BS1 3LE (next to the Bristol Bear Pit roundabout).
About the role
The aim of the day is to progress the development of a new blueprint for BNSSG crisis services. We want to come to together as system partners to co-produce the crisis services of the future.
Your role will be to help shape the conversations on the day and what is developed.
Lived experience attendees at the service redesign event will:
- Provide the perspectives of people who use mental health crisis services (or have attempted to).
- Use any personal experience as a patient of the current services in a constructive and objective way to ensure views are as representative as possible.
- Be available to attend the event for the whole day.
- Understand that they may be asked to respect the confidentiality of items discussed at the event.
- Contribute to feedback on presentations given at the meetings, some of which will be made by people who use are currently using or have used services.
- Feedback to IMHN on matters discussed at the event.
- Help others attending decide on appropriate outcome measurements that will capture the experiences of those trying to access the services in the future.
BNSSG CCG and IMHN will provide the following support to representatives:
- An allowance of £84.00 for attending the whole event.
- Reasonable out of pocket travel expenses from within the Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire area (taxis must be agreed in advance).
- Free parking in the NCP Car Park by the Holiday Inn (where travelling by car).
- Lunch will also be provided (please tell us about any dietary requirements).
- Support to take part in the day from BNSSG CCG and IMHN.
Supporting Statementand Deadline
We are asking applicants to write no more than 250 words stating how they meet the criteria listed in the experience, knowledge and skills section. Please do specify if you have personal experience of crisis services as part of your supporting statement. If you need more advice or help, please feel free to contact Tom.
Please email expressions of interest to tom[@]imhn.org (removing the brackets from the email address) by Monday 11 November 2019. We will notify successful applicants by Tuesday 12 November 2019.
You can read more about the opportunity here.
November 6, 2019 at 5:53 pm
IMHN represents a diverse community of past, current and future users of mental health services, as well as those with lived experience of mental health. By working together, we believe that we can be a force for positive change in the way that mental health is treated, perceived, and recognised.
As the network grows, we are looking for volunteers to join us and bring new skills and experience to the table. We have two different roles, which will greatly contribute to the work and projects that IMHN are involved with: Content Creators and Event Assistants. Both roles are a great opportunity to experience working with a growing start-up mental health charity.
Within both of these roles, there will also be the opportunity to support a campaign we are launching later this year focused on suicide prevention. This will see activities organised across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire encouraging people to open up about mental health and find out more about support they can access.
Role: Content Creators
We are looking to increase the range, diversity and frequency of our original content across multiple platforms. This includes our monthly newsletters, opportunity mailouts, website content including blog posts and news articles, and social media accounts.
Typical tasks would include researching and writing content for our websites and newsletters (this may include news items, blogs, comments on policy pieces) and drafting posts for social media.
What do we offer?
- Experience in developing content for different platforms.
- Visibility of content you post to an audience of thousands of people.
- The opportunity to develop your skills and experience for use on your CV.
- A reference letter confirming the skills you developed with us and the number of hours you volunteered for.
Role: Event Assistants
We are looking to increase the range, diversity and frequency of our events across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. Currently we run several successful events and meetings across the area. These include:
- Mental Health Conversations
- Monthly Member Meetings
- Panel discussions
- Engagement activities through the Time to Change Campaign
We are also planning a large-scale Suicide Prevention campaign this Winter, which will involve a programme of events. More information about this will be published soon.
Typical tasks would include assisting with event planning, promotion and evaluation; supporting attendees at events to ensure that they have the best experience possible; and supporting the development of an annual events cycle.
What do we offer?
- Experience in running events and understanding the event planning cycle
- Experience in project coordination.
- Experience in understanding the policy landscape that mental health operates in.
- The opportunity to develop your skills and experience for use on your CV.
- A reference letter confirming the skills you developed with us and the number of hours you volunteered for.
Getting involved: what do we need from you?
- The expected commitment is between 2 and 4 hours per week, which can be flexible to fit around your commitments, including work, studies, and exams.
- Ability to work to deadlines.
- Ability to absorb and interpret information.
- Ability to be able to work as part of a team and communicate with others effectively.
Interested?
Send an email with your CV and a short covering letter (up to one side of A4) on why you would like to volunteer with us, what you would bring to the role and what you hope to get out of the role. Please send completed expressions of interest to engagement[@]imhn.org .
If you have any questions or would like to know more, we would be happy to hear from you.
October 2, 2019 at 4:10 pm