Appeal to save two Barnet mental health services

Rephael House is facing a £10k rent hike while Barnet Council has already agreed to close The Network Service, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

Barnet Council is being urged to save two mental health services from closure.

North Finchley charity Rephael House partners with the council to provide counseling to children and young people but has been hit with a rent hike of up to £10,000.

The charity has gone from paying £20,000 a year to between £25,000 and £35,000, with this increase backdated by a year.

Last month the council’s cabinet also approved the decision to close The Network Service, another mental health needs service.

According to the council, a “decline in usage”, “the availability of alternative services to meet the same needs” and the council’s “financial position” were the reasons for the decision.

A consultation on the closure ran from May to July and 132 people responded. These were made up of 43 current and past users of The Network Service, eight friends and family members, 22 residents and 59 professionals.

In total, 73% of all groups opposed the closure.

All eight friends and family members opposed it, while 70% of past and current users opposed the plan. Of the residents, 64% were against closure and 74% of the professionals.

Speaking before the cabinet decision, Barnet Unison’s branch secretary John Burgess said: “Closing The Network is a false economy, it costs very little but saves the NHS and the council huge sums by keeping people well, in work, and out of crisis.

“The consultation shows residents, carers, and professionals overwhelmingly oppose closure. Labour nationally is committed to expanding mental health support. Why would a Labour council do the opposite?”

“Unresolved talks” between the borough’s mental health social workers, represented by Unison, over “staffing levels and rates of turnover” were also raised by Barnet Green Party, although strike action is currently suspended following an 81-day walkout in 2024.

Charli Thompson, a Barnet Green Party spokesperson, said: “Barnet says it values mental health, but its actions tell a different story. You can’t hand out awards to community services like Rephael House, while at the same time charging them commercial rents when they are struggling to survive.

“You can’t claim to be protecting residents while closing The Network or letting social work teams collapse from exhaustion. This is a systemic failure to put our communities’ needs first.”

In response, a council spokesperson said: “Through our mental health charter and mental health and wellbeing charter co-designed with children and young people we are committed to a public health approach to supporting residents living with mental health issues.

“Our approach tackles inequalities, prioritises prevention across the whole population, addresses emerging risks, and outlines a proactive roadmap for fostering resilience across all sectors of our borough — from mental health services and schools to housing, community and faith organisations.

“We welcome all constructive input from service users on the support services the council and its partners provide.”

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