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Independent sector mental health projects are hiding behind their charitable status to conceal the true commercial nature of their business, delegates at Community Care Live were told today, writes Simeon Brody.

Mind chief executive Richard Brook said some independent projects were “trying to con us” and ran the risk of letting users down because they did not stick to their values.

He told the conference that at least commercial agencies were honest about their motives.

Brook said service providers were preoccupied with growing their services rather than meeting the needs of users.

He argued the government’s social inclusion agenda was “sinking like a stone” and said there still has not been any significant shift of power towards service users.