Across Barnet, vital mental health services are under threat, but they do not have to be.

We can protect essential services and address the underlying causes of the crisis, to build a borough that truly values everyone who lives here, no matter their needs.

We call on Barnet Council to:

1. Support Rephael House by offering a fair community rent on par with similar services, and local funding opportunities.
2. Save ‘The Network’ and commit to properly funding this vital community mental health service.
3. Lobby government for sustainable NHS and social care funding for mental health services.
4. Negotiate with mental health social workers via Barnet Unison, to guarantee a safer service for all and fair pay for staff.
5. Move to a needs-led approach to social care, so all needs are recognised and funding reflects the real demand.
6. Adopt a borough-wide Mental Health Plan that;
   • addresses the underlying causes including poverty, a lack of community support and insufficient secure and affordable housing,
   • prioritises prevention and community-based care,
   • ensures robust, safe and accountable transitions between children's and adults services,
   • protects workers rights.

What is happening?

Rephael House, North Finchley - Counselling for children, young people and families

Barnet Council is threatening Rephael House’s future with a rent hike from £20,000 to between £25,000 and £35,000 a year, backdated by 12 months and charged at commercial rates rather than community rates.

This comes as Rephael House faces rising costs and reduced funding. It recently put a call out for support in the local press.

Last year, it delivered over 9,000 counselling sessions to 665 clients, including children as young as four coping with anxiety, self-harm, bereavement, domestic abuse and pandemic-related trauma.

Earlier this year, the Council gave Rephael House an Outstanding Service to the Community Award, yet is now adding financial pressure that could jeopardise its future.

Without urgent support, it may close within three years, ending nearly 30 years of service.

The Network - A community mental health service

Barnet Council is planning to close The Network, a long-standing community mental health service that supports hundreds of adults each year to stay well, avoid hospital admission and remain in work.

The service handles around 350–500 referrals annually and costs about £0.5 million, a tiny fraction of the adult social care budget. Despite 73% of consultation respondents, including service users, carers and professionals, opposing closure, the council is pressing ahead.

This decision will disproportionately harm working-age disabled people, especially women, and is a false economy that will force more residents into crisis services, which cost far more.

Barnet mental health social work team

Mental health social workers in Barnet have been driven to strike for fair pay and a safe service. With waiting lists now over a year long, the service is stretched to breaking point.

Meanwhile, Barnet’s adult social care system continues to operate on a resources-led model, where people’s “needs” are defined by what can be afforded, rather than funding being based on the real level of community need. This hides the true scale of unmet need and leaves older and disabled residents, including those with mental health needs, without the support they need to live well.

We believe mental health is as important as physical health and it is time to hold Barnet Council to account for their part in undermining our community's needs.

Add your name to call on Barnet Council to prioritise mental health now!

Support Rephael House by donating at rephaelhouse.org.uk