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• Annual health checks and physical
health checks for people with
Severe Mental Illness (SMI) will be
commissioned and monitored at
Place. These checks are vital for
identifying preventable conditions
early and addressing the significant
health inequalities faced by people
with SMI, whose life expectancy is
15–20 years shorter than the
general population. Checks will
include cardiovascular disease risk
assessments, metabolic screening,
and lifestyle support, with follow-up
interventions embedded into
personalised care plans.
Children and young people
At the community level, services are
designed to support children and
families through targeted, multi-agency
coordination. This tier of delivery sits
across multiple neighbourhoods and is
aligned with local authority-defined
localities and school clusters, enabling
a joined-up approach to meeting
complex needs.
Delivery at Place will focus on
commissioning and sustaining
integrated services that bring together
education, social care, community
health, and voluntary sector partners.
These services are essential for
children and young people who require
more than universal support, including
those with Special Educational Needs
and Disabilities (SEND), mental health
needs, and neurodiversity.
Multi-disciplinary teams comprising
early help practitioners, school nurses,
social workers, educational
psychologists, therapists, and
community nurses will work
collaboratively to provide coordinated
care. These teams will operate within
locality-based structures to ensure
consistency, reduce duplication, and
improve access to support.
Community-level services will include:
• Targeted support for children with
additional needs, including SEND
and neurodevelopmental
conditions.
• Community-based mental health
and therapy services, designed to
be accessible and responsive.
• Integrated locality teams, offering
wraparound support for families
through coordinated case
management.
• School-based mental health
interventions, including drop-in
clinics and early access to
psychological support.
• Data-sharing protocols to identify
and support children at risk, such
as those with poor attendance,
safeguarding concerns, or
emerging health issues.
• Partnerships with youth services
and voluntary organisations,
ensuring holistic development and
continuity of care.
Services will be commissioned and
monitored at Place, ensuring strategic
alignment, equitable access, and
consistent standards across Devon.
The aim is to reduce escalation to
statutory services, improve school
attendance and mental wellbeing, and
ensure early identification of issues.
By embedding targeted support within
communities and aligning it with local
systems, NHS Devon will reduce
health inequalities and ensure that
every child and family has access to
the right help, at the right time, in the
right setting.