KEY organisations have been discussing how to ensure Somerset’s mental health and dementia services are fit for the future.

Over 40 people from a wide variety of different organisations, such as community based support and residential support, attended a meeting earlier this month.

Cllr William Wallace, cabinet member for Adults Services at Somerset County Council, said: “We need to work with local organisations to plan and develop services that meet people’s needs.

"Organisations that attended the meeting shared examples of good practice, partnership working and good levels of staff retention.

“The group agreed that services need to be more varied and personalised going forward.

"There needs to be a flexible range of options for people to access services that meets their needs.

"The group also agreed that the views of customers and their families and carers should be collected to really understand what is working well and what needs to be improved in mental health and dementia services in Somerset.

“It was really valuable to get the organisations together to discuss mental health and dementia services.

"More engagement with them and customers will take place over the coming months to shape the future of local services.”

Following the discussions Somerset County Council will start to look at the best way to organise future mental health and dementia services to better meet people’s needs.

Linked to this work is a review of how mental health social care services operate in partnership with Somerset Partnership.