North London NHS Foundation Trust and Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust have confirmed plans to explore merger by acquisition of Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust.

The transaction will significantly enhance and strengthen children and adult mental health services in North London.

We hope this transaction will also end uncertainty and increase opportunities for valued service users, staff and students at the Tavistock and Portman and further establish North London Foundation Trust as a leader in mental health research and education across North Central London.

Both parties intend to complete the process by 1 April 2026 and focus on creating improved care quality and stability for service users, students and staff.

The UK welfare system is complex and can vary depending on individual circumstances. Some key areas include benefits, housing and support services. We have pulled together a simple and easy to follow guide to summarise the key points for you. 

Please be advised the following information is intended as a general overview only and should not be taken as a substitute for professional legal advice.

Personal Independence Payments (PIP)

• PIP is paid to people in England and Wales who have difficulty completing everyday tasks or getting around as a result of a long-term physical or mental health condition.
• It is not means tested and is available to people who are working.
• The payments will go up in line with inflation this year.
• But the eligibility criteria will be tightened up from November 2026, potentially resulting in reduced payments for many.
• It will become harder for those not currently on PIP to qualify for the daily living component of PIP, which starts at £72.65 a week.
• There will be no change to the mobility component.
• There will also be a review of the PIP assessment process.

But those with most severe conditions will not face reassessments

• The government wants more frequent reassessments for many people claiming PIP, with more face-to-face assessments.
• But those with the most severe, long-term conditions will no longer face any reassessments, under the proposed reforms.

You can find out more in this document here.

At North London Foundation Trust, we pride ourselves on being at the forefront of pioneering research into how to further improve mental healthcare.

I would like to share with you a recently published paper from some of our esteemed colleagues, which evidences the clear benefits of inpatient rehabilitation services.

In-patient mental health rehabilitation services provide specialist treatment to people with complex psychosis. On average, rehabilitation admissions last around a year and usually follow several years of recurrent and often lengthy psychiatric hospital admissions

The paper shows a very significant reduction in service users' acute inpatient bed days following a period of inpatient rehabilitation, compared to the years before, with associated cost savings. This study is the largest of its kind and collated data over a ten year period on patients admitted to our local rehab wards in Camden and Islington. You can read it here. 

Following a competitive procurement process, Twining-Hestia will be taking over Camden’s mental health individual placement and support (IPS) employment services from Monday 5 May 2025. 

Twining-Hestia will take over from Hillside Clubhouse who laid a strong foundation in this area, and we want to thank Hillside for the positive impact they made on the lives of residents over the past seven years.

Twining-Hestia has a strong track record in delivering high-quality IPS Employment Services, with a strong track record of innovation and success in supporting individuals into meaningful employment.

Both the Council and North Central London’s NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) are dedicated to addressing health and social inequalities faced by residents with mental health conditions. 

Twining-Hestia is expected to:

• Proactively collaborate with us and our employment partners to ensure streamlined, timely access to support via cross-referral arrangements.
• Deliver services through co-located settings, such as our local Job Hubs, and make them accessible in community spaces like libraries and Mental Health Supported Living services.
• Collaborate with voluntary organisations to run community events focussed on marginalised ethnic groups.

Individual Placement and Support (IPS) is an evidence-based employment support program designed to help individuals with mental health challenges find and maintain meaningful employment. The free service is available to individuals under community mental health services or through self-referrals, as well as to those receiving therapy from NHS Talking Therapies. 

Find out more information about IPS in Camden here.

We are working closely with Hillside and Twining-Hestia to ensure a smooth transition process for the service users. We’ll keep you updated.

Lastly, we would like to extend our thanks to the dedicated staff members who have played an integral role in the delivery of the service. 

The Recovery College Summer 2025 course guide  and calendar are now available and enrolment is open for courses running April-July.

The Recovery College co-produces recovery-focused courses (in person and online) for everyone 18+ in Camden and Islington.  

Courses are lively, aspirational and interactive – and promote hope that recovery is possible. Recovery College aims to empower people in practical ways by teaching self-care tools to improve wellbeing.

Enrol with The Recovery College by completing our online enrolment form.

You are all invited to attend an event at our St Pancras hospital gallery to meet the artists from our Loudest Whispers exhibition and see their work. 

The event takes place on Saturday 3 May from 1-3.30pm. Light refreshments will be provided. 

For additional details, please contact Peter Herbert, Curator Manager of The Arts Project, via theartsproject1@gmail.com or 07720141713