Co-designing Community Mental Health Hubs in York

We were commissioned by the York Connecting our City Partnership to help transform how York's mental health system supports people in their communities. Innovation Unit has worked alongside partners in York to co-design, test and embed new ways of working, supporting the development and launch of two Mental Health Hubs, inspired by Trieste’s approach to community mental health care. The Hubs act as a compassionate open door to better mental health support within communities. Multidisciplinary teams work together to provide flexible, person-centered support focused on what matters to people. York’s second hub was part of the national pilot programme for Neighbourhood Mental Health Centres across the UK.

What’s changing for people and team

Mental health support is more accessible: both centres offer drop-in hours where people can immediately access support. Appointment times are flexible and people are seen where they feel most comfortable. 

Across both hubs, 88% of people asked agreed or strongly agreed that they were able to access support in a way that worked for them.

People are having a better experience: the model enables the team to get to know people and find out what matters to them, whether it’s mental health, relationships, housing, finances, work or loneliness. They can then offer a range of tailored support. 

95% of people asked agreed or strongly agreed that they felt listened to

95% of people asked agreed or strongly agreed that the people supporting them saw them as more than their mental health 

95% of people asked agreed that they felt less alone because of this support

Practice is changing too: the team work closely together, share responsibility and draw on each other’s expertise.

100% of staff asked agreed or strongly agreed that they are able to work in a person-centred way when supporting people 

73% of staff asked agreed or strongly agreed that they enjoy working in the hub

People are getting the support they need:

93% of people asked agreed or strongly agreed that they got the help they needed. 

Next steps

National policy is now well aligned to York’s vision, and York’s third Hub has been co-designed and, once live, York will have a city-wide offer. 

Innovation Unit is supporting York to future-proof this offer, working with teams across the mental health system to develop a system-wide approach to evaluation, which will inform key transformation and commissioning decisions.