MENTAL HEALTH SPECIFIC GRANT ( MHSG)
Purpose
Mental Health Specific Grant (MHSG) is paid under the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 to help local authorities to work with their partners to develop local, community based services for people with mental health problems and their carers.
MHSG is funded by the Executive in partnership with the local authorities. The Executive provides 70 per cent of costs; the local authorities 30 per cent. A totel of £20 million is available in both 2006-07 and 2007-08.
MHSG currently supports around 375 (small scale) projects throughout Scotland, covering a wide range of mental health services, including drop-in centres, day services, counselling services, information and advice, education and employment schemes, advocacy, befriending, and respite and home-based care.
Operation
The running of MHSG is devolved to local authorities, decisions on the funding of individual projects and services remain a matter for each local authority and its partners. Anyone wishing to apply for MHSG should contact their own local authority social work department for advice.
Further information is available from the 2006-08 Guidance.
Monitoring and Evaluation of Projects
Local authorities are required, under the MHSG grant conditions, to monitor and evaluate whether or not projects are meeting their set aims and objectives. Half of the local authorities will be evaluated each year, with the remaining councils carrying out the same process the following year.
In 2005, the following local authorities completed project evaluations:
TABLE A
The remaining local authorities are due to complete this process by November 2006.