FOI2026/1906

FOI request for physical activity provision for individuals transitioning back to the community after an inpatient mental health stay

Organisation name (e.g. Trust or ICB name): Click or tap here to enter text.

Section 1: Core Physical Activity Provision

1. Does your organisation offer access to physical activity programme(s)* for people living with severe mental ill health (i.e. psychosis, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar disorder) that support engagement with physical activity during/following the transition from inpatient mental health settings?

*by physical activity programme, we mean any programme that incorporates an element of physical activity.

☐ Yes

☐ No

2. If yes, please tell us the name(s) of the programme(s) or type of referral(s). If you are unsure of the name, please describe the type of programme it is.

Click or tap here to enter text.

3. In a typical month, what proportion of eligible patients are referred to NHS-led physical activity programmes to support with physical activity during/following the transition from inpatient mental health settings? Please click one box.

4. In a typical month, what proportion of referred patients attend NHS-led physical activity programmes to support with physical activity during/following the transition from inpatient mental health settings? Please click one box.

5. What is the primary setting for this provision?

☐ Inpatient only

☐ Community only

☐ Mixed (programmes that span both settings)

6. Who can be referred to this programme? Select all that apply.

☐ All individuals with mental ill health.

☐ People with specific diagnoses.

☐ People with psychosis.

☐ People with schizophrenia.

☐ People with schizoaffective disorder.

☐ People with bipolar disorders.

☐ Other.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

☐ People engaged with specific services (e.g. working adults, older adults).

☐ People in early intervention services.

☐ Other.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

☐ People with specific characteristics. Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

☐ People in a specific location. Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

7. Who delivers the physical activity support? Select all that apply.

☐ Registered clinical staff (e.g. Physio, Nurse, OT).

☐ Specialist fitness instructors / exercise specialists.

☐ Peer support workers.

☐ Private sector or charity staff / volunteers.

☐ Community-based organisations (e.g. voluntary, community, and social enterprise organisations) staff / volunteers.

☐ Other.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

8. What is the format of the programme? Select all that apply.

☐ One-to-one in-person

☐ Group in-person.

☐ One-to-one online.

☐ Group online.

☐ One-to-on by telephone.

☐ Advice only.

☐ Other.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

Section 2: The Transition Pathway

9. Is physical activity support explicitly included and formally documented in the standard discharge planning process for individuals admitted to inpatient services?

☐ Yes.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

☐ No.

☐ Unsure.

☐ Other.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

10. Are physical activity goals integrated into broader social care or recovery plans (e.g., Section 117 aftercare plans)?

☐ Yes.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

☐ No.

☐ Unsure.

☐ Other.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

11. Who is primarily responsible for initiating a referral for physical activity support during the discharge planning process? Select all that apply.

☐ Registered clinical staff (e.g. physiotherapist, nurse, occupational therapist)

☐ Exercise specialist.

☐ Peer support worker.

☐ Discharge coordinator.

☐ Patient.

☐ Other.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

12. Which of the following best describes your organisation’s approach to supporting physical activity during or after discharge from inpatient mental health care? Select all that apply.

☐ No routine pathway/protocol in place.

☐ Informal signposting (giving a leaflet/web link).

☐ Formal referral to/from an NHS provider.

☐ Formal referral to external/community or VCSE provision.

☐ Shared/integrated pathway involving NHS and community practices.

☐ Unsure.

☐ Other.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

13. At what point does community-based physical activity support typically begin? Please answer based on any of your Trusts policies, protocols or pathways.

☐ While the individual is still an inpatient.

☐ Immediate (within 72 hours of discharge).

☐ Short-term (within the first 7–14 days).

☐ Delayed (after the first month).

☐ Unsure.

☐ Other. Please specify: Click or tap here to enter text.

14. Do individuals have any influence in selecting the type and location of their post-discharge physical activity? (e.g., assigned to a specific programme vs. choosing from a menu of options).

☐ Yes.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

☐ No.

☐ Unsure.

☐ Other.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

15. Do you record whether an individual actually attended the community activity after inpatient discharge? (e.g., formal feedback loop, informal phone call, or no tracking).

☐ Yes.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

☐ No.

☐ Unsure.

☐ Other.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

16. Do individuals admitted to inpatient services have the opportunity to visit the community physical activity venue before they are formally discharged from the hospital?

☐ Yes.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

☐ No.

☐ Unsure.

☐ Other.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

17. Do individuals delivering physical activity services in the community have the opportunity to visit inpatient settings to meet individuals referred before they are formally discharged from the hospital?

☐ Yes.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

☐ No.

☐ Unsure.

☐ Other.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

18. What level of clinical risk information is shared with community physical activity providers during the referral process? (e.g., No information shared, basic safety alerts only, full risk assessment summary).

☐ No information shared.

☐ Basic safety alerts only.

☐ Full risk assessment summary

☐ Other.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

19. Are there clear or designated responsible roles for ensuring a physical activity handover occurs during transition? Please answer based on any Trust policies, protocols or pathways.

☐ Yes.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

☐ No.

☐ Unsure.

☐ Prefer not to say.

Section 3: Governance, System Integration and Partnerships

20. Is the transition support time-limited? (E.g. 12 weeks of support).

☐ Yes.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

☐ No.

☐ Unsure.

☐ Prefer not to say.

21. Does the transition support time involve a gradual handover to mainstream community activity?

☐ Yes.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

☐ No.

☐ Unsure.

☐ Prefer not to say.

22. How is physical activity support currently funded? (e.g., core NHS budget, short-term grant funding, local authority public health budget, or charitable donations).

☐ Core NHS budget .

☐ Short-term grand funding.

☐ Local authority public health budget.

☐ Charitable donations.

☐ Self-funded/paid for by service-user.

☐ Other. Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

23. Do you have formal partnerships with private, charity or community-based organisations to support physical activity post-discharge?

☐ Yes.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

☐ No.

☐ Unsure.

☐ Prefer not to say.

24. How is the communication managed between inpatient teams and community physical activity providers?

☐ Shared records .

☐ Email.

☐ No formal communication.

☐ Other. Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

25. Does your organisation require any form of ‘medical clearance’ or ‘fitness to exercise’ sign-off from a clinician before an individual is referred to community physical activity services? For example, this may include a formal risk assessment, clinical review, physical health check, or confirmation of clinical judgement to indicate suitability.

☐ Yes.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

☐ No.

☐ Unsure.

☐ Prefer not to say.

Section 4: Outcomes and Future Development

26. Based on existing policies and protocols, what outcomes do you prioritise for physical activity during transition? Select all that apply.

☐ Social inclusion and community connection.

☐ Prevention of hospital readmission.

☐ Reduced social isolation.

☐ Improved mental health symptom management.

☐ Improved physical health outcomes.

☐ Other.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

27. Does your service formally measure social, physical, or mental health outcomes related to physical activity participation (e.g., social isolation, community belonging, or specific symptoms)?

☐ Yes.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

☐ No.

☐ Unsure.

Section 1: Core Physical Activity Provision

1. Does your organisation offer access to physical activity programme(s)* for people living with severe mental ill health (i.e. psychosis, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar disorder) that support engagement with physical activity during/following the transition from inpatient mental health settings?

*by physical activity programme, we mean any programme that incorporates an element of physical activity.

☒ Yes

☐ No

2. If yes, please tell us the name(s) of the programme(s) or type of referral(s). If you are unsure of the name, please describe the type of programme it is.

Greater Manchester Moving – note that this is a partnership program, and not a distinct provider.

3. In a typical month, what proportion of eligible patients are referred to NHS-led physical activity programmes to support with physical activity during/following the transition from inpatient mental health settings? Please click one box.

4. In a typical month, what proportion of referred patients attend NHS-led physical activity programmes to support with physical activity during/following the transition from inpatient mental health settings? Please click one box.

5. What is the primary setting for this provision?

☐ Inpatient only

☐ Community only

☒ Mixed (programmes that span both settings)

6. Who can be referred to this programme? Select all that apply.

☒ All individuals with mental ill health.

☐ People with specific diagnoses.

☐ People with psychosis.

☐ People with schizophrenia.

☐ People with schizoaffective disorder.

☐ People with bipolar disorders.

☐ Other.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

☐ People engaged with specific services (e.g. working adults, older adults).

☐ People in early intervention services.

☐ Other.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

☐ People with specific characteristics. Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

☐ People in a specific location. Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

7. Who delivers the physical activity support? Select all that apply.

☐ Registered clinical staff (e.g. Physio, Nurse, OT).

☐ Specialist fitness instructors / exercise specialists.

☐ Peer support workers.

☐ Private sector or charity staff / volunteers.

☒ Community-based organisations (e.g. voluntary, community, and social enterprise organisations) staff / volunteers.

☐ Other.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

8. What is the format of the programme? Select all that apply.

☐ One-to-one in-person

☐ Group in-person.

☐ One-to-one online.

☐ Group online.

☐ One-to-on by telephone.

☐ Advice only.

☒ Other.  Please specify. This information is not held by NHS Greater Manchester ICB. Greater Manchester Moving partnership works through a range of local partners who may deliver activities in different formats

Section 2: The Transition Pathway

9. Is physical activity support explicitly included and formally documented in the standard discharge planning process for individuals admitted to inpatient services?

☐ Yes.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

☐ No.

☐ Unsure.

☒ Other.  Please specify. This information is not monitored by the ICB

10. Are physical activity goals integrated into broader social care or recovery plans (e.g., Section 117 aftercare plans)?

☐ Yes.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

☐ No.

☐ Unsure.

☒ Other.  Please specify. This information is not monitored by the ICB

11. Who is primarily responsible for initiating a referral for physical activity support during the discharge planning process? Select all that apply.

☐ Registered clinical staff (e.g. physiotherapist, nurse, occupational therapist)

☐ Exercise specialist.

☐ Peer support worker.

☐ Discharge coordinator.

☐ Patient.

☒ Other.  Please specify. This information is not monitored by the ICB

12. Which of the following best describes your organisation’s approach to supporting physical activity during or after discharge from inpatient mental health care? Select all that apply.

☐ No routine pathway/protocol in place.

☐ Informal signposting (giving a leaflet/web link).

☐ Formal referral to/from an NHS provider.

☐ Formal referral to external/community or VCSE provision.

☐ Shared/integrated pathway involving NHS and community practices.

☐ Unsure.

☒ Other.  Please specify. NHS Greater Manchester ICB is aware of the Greater Manchester Moving partnership as a system-wide programme that promotes physical activity across Greater Manchester. However, the ICB does not hold information on whether individual NHS providers have formal pathways or protocols in place to support physical activity during or following discharge from inpatient mental health care. Please note Greater Manchester Moving is a charity and Active Partnership; it is not a provider of the individual post-discharge physical activity services referred to in this FOI and does not have operational oversight of those services.

13. At what point does community-based physical activity support typically begin? Please answer based on any of your Trusts policies, protocols or pathways.

☐ While the individual is still an inpatient.

☐ Immediate (within 72 hours of discharge).

☐ Short-term (within the first 7–14 days).

☐ Delayed (after the first month).

☐ Unsure.

☒ Other. Please specify: This information is not monitored or held by NHS Greater Manchester ICB.

14. Do individuals have any influence in selecting the type and location of their post-discharge physical activity? (e.g., assigned to a specific programme vs. choosing from a menu of options).

☐ Yes.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

☐ No.

☐ Unsure.

☒ Other.  Please specify. This information is not monitored or held by NHS Greater Manchester ICB.

15. Do you record whether an individual actually attended the community activity after inpatient discharge? (e.g., formal feedback loop, informal phone call, or no tracking).

☐ Yes.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

☐ No.

☐ Unsure.

☒ Other.  Please specify. This information is not monitored or held by NHS Greater Manchester ICB.

16. Do individuals admitted to inpatient services have the opportunity to visit the community physical activity venue before they are formally discharged from the hospital?

☐ Yes.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

☐ No.

☐ Unsure.

☒ Other.  Please specify. This information is not monitored or held by NHS Greater Manchester ICB.

17. Do individuals delivering physical activity services in the community have the opportunity to visit inpatient settings to meet individuals referred before they are formally discharged from the hospital?

☐ Yes.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

☐ No.

☐ Unsure.

☒ Other.  Please specify. This information is not monitored or held by NHS Greater Manchester ICB.

18. What level of clinical risk information is shared with community physical activity providers during the referral process? (e.g., No information shared, basic safety alerts only, full risk assessment summary).

☐ No information shared.

☐ Basic safety alerts only.

☐ Full risk assessment summary

☒ Other.  Please specify. This information is not held by NHS Greater Manchester ICB. Any information sharing would be determined by the referring provider in accordance with local clinical governance arrangements.

19. Are there clear or designated responsible roles for ensuring a physical activity handover occurs during transition? Please answer based on any Trust policies, protocols or pathways.

☐ Yes.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

☐ No.

☒ Unsure. This information may be held by the NHS Trusts or the Greater Manchester Moving partnership.

☐ Prefer not to say.

Section 3: Governance, System Integration and Partnerships

20. Is the transition support time-limited? (E.g. 12 weeks of support).

☐ Yes.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

☐ No.

☒ Unsure. This information may be held by the NHS Trusts or the Greater Manchester Moving partnership.

☐ Prefer not to say.

21. Does the transition support time involve a gradual handover to mainstream community activity?

☐ Yes.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

☐ No.

☒ Unsure. NHS Greater Manchester ICB does not hold detailed information on the funding arrangements for individual physical activity programmes. This information may be held by the NHS Trusts.

☐ Prefer not to say.

22. How is physical activity support currently funded? (e.g., core NHS budget, short-term grant funding, local authority public health budget, or charitable donations).

☐ Core NHS budget .

☐ Short-term grand funding.

☐ Local authority public health budget.

☐ Charitable donations.

☐ Self-funded/paid for by service-user.

☒ Other. Please specify. Greater Manchester Moving partnership is supported through a range of funding sources and partnerships. NHS Greater Manchester ICB does not hold detailed information on the funding arrangements for individual physical activity programmes.

23. Do you have formal partnerships with private, charity or community-based organisations to support physical activity post-discharge?

☒ Yes.  Please specify. NHS Greater Manchester works in partnership with Greater Manchester Moving, which is a charity and Active Partnership for Greater Manchester, although the ICB does not directly oversee operational delivery of post-discharge physical activity services. Greater Manchester Moving is a charity and Active Partnership; it is not a provider of the individual post-discharge physical activity services referred to in this FOI and does not have operational oversight of those services.

☐ No.

☐ Unsure.

☐ Prefer not to say.

24. How is the communication managed between inpatient teams and community physical activity providers?

☐ Shared records .

☐ Email.

☐ No formal communication.

☒ Other. Please specify. This information is not monitored or held by NHS Greater Manchester ICB.

25. Does your organisation require any form of ‘medical clearance’ or ‘fitness to exercise’ sign-off from a clinician before an individual is referred to community physical activity services? For example, this may include a formal risk assessment, clinical review, physical health check, or confirmation of clinical judgement to indicate suitability.

☐ Yes.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

☐ No.

☒ Unsure. This information may be held by the NHS Trusts or the Greater Manchester Moving partnership.

☐ Prefer not to say.

Section 4: Outcomes and Future Development

26. Based on existing policies and protocols, what outcomes do you prioritise for physical activity during transition? Select all that apply.

☒ Social inclusion and community connection.

☐ Prevention of hospital readmission.

☒ Reduced social isolation.

☒ Improved mental health symptom management.

☒ Improved physical health outcomes.

☐ Other.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

27. Does your service formally measure social, physical, or mental health outcomes related to physical activity participation (e.g., social isolation, community belonging, or specific symptoms)?

☐ Yes.  Please specify. Click or tap here to enter text.

☒ No.

☐ Unsure.

NHS Greater Manchester ICB has responded based on the information it holds. Where responses indicate that the information is not held, not routinely monitored, or the ICB is unsure, this reflects that the operational delivery of inpatient mental health services and associated physical activity pathways is undertaken by individual NHS provider organisations. Greater Manchester Moving as referenced in some responses is a charity and Active Partnership; it is not a provider of the individual post-discharge physical activity services referred to in the FOI and does not have operational oversight of those services. Within Greater Manchester, inpatient mental health services are primarily provided by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) and Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust (PCFT). If you require information relating to the operational arrangements within those services, you may wish to submit a Freedom of Information request directly to the relevant Trust. Where our responses relate to community-based or voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) provision, NHS Greater Manchester ICB is unable to identify or provide contact details for the individual organisations involved