Building a new model for collaboration in community mental health

With the stakes high and a new NHS provider selection regime adding complexity, Forum Central brought in ThinkforWellbeing’s Jo Metcalfe to support the process.

Jo’s role was to create space for trust-building, facilitate open dialogue, and support the Alliance to transition into a robust, legally sound, and future-focused partnership.

Jo worked closely with Sarah Wilson, Third Sector Involvement Lead at Forum Central, and the four providers to deliver three core strands of the strategic collaboration:

• Supporting a smooth transition from nine separate contracts to two, without disruption to services
• Facilitating collaboration between four large mental health providers – organisations that had previously been competitors
• Developing the governance structures to formalise the Alliance

Jo facilitated:

• A series of relationship-building workshops, focusing first on trust before tackling structure
• Surveys and one-to-one interviews to surface concerns and common ground
• Clear, accessible communications to help boards make informed decisions quickly
• A Memorandum of Understanding, shared values and behaviours, and formal terms of reference

As commissioning capacity shrinks and the NHS moves towards outcome-based models, Alliances like this are well-placed to lead the way. But they need time, investment, and the right kind of support to thrive.

With that in mind, Jo also supported Forum Central to develop and test the infrastructure needed to expand the Alliance to include smaller, grant-funded organisations. As part of this, she helped identify how the Alliance could evolve into a platform for joint bidding and long-term, sustainable collaboration.

“This was groundbreaking work for the third sector in Leeds – and potentially beyond. We weren’t just reacting to the commissioning change but shaping it. Jo’s support made that possible.”
Pip Goff, Chief Executive, Forum Central

The new Alliance launched on 1 July 2025 with two long-term contracts in place. But the impact goes far beyond contracts.

Sarah Wilson, Third Sector Involvement Lead, Forum Central, said:
“Jo was methodical, clear and strategic – but also relational. She helped us turn big ambitions into concrete, actionable steps. I learnt a huge amount from working with her that I will be using in future strategies and collaborations.”

Results

The collaboration is now:

• Better positioned to influence and shape services with a stronger shared voice
• Equipped with governance structures and a delivery model fit for new NHS commissioning frameworks
• Prepared to bring other organisations into the fold
• Ready to pursue new investment and funding opportunities in partnership

Pip Goff, Chief Executive, Forum Central said:

“I learned the value of commissioning an independent facilitator. Jo’s neutral position gave each partner the time and confidence for honest dialogue.

It worked well because it was a joint project; the consultant, the infrastructure body and the four providers. It's a helpful way to work and it was brilliant to have such a good experience with ThinkforWellbeing.”