With the start of the new financial year comes a new record in this Barometer survey of mental health chief executives. The highest result has been recorded, with a confidence score of 9.47 for achieving break even by the end of the financial year.

With the start of the new financial year comes a new record in this Barometer survey of mental health chief executives. The highest result has been recorded, with a confidence score of 9.47 for achieving break even by the end of the financial year.

Confidence in recruiting early intervention teams is also up, but confidence in working to the care programme approach and commissioners' understanding of mental health is down.

In response to a new question, just over 70 per cent of respondents believe some mental health trusts will never reach foundation status. Of those, 85 per cent believe over five mental health trusts will never achieve it.

There is also little confidence in health secretary Patricia Hewitt's pledge that computerised cognitive behavioural therapy will be available to every patient.

The next Barometer of mental health chief executives will appear on 12 July.

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