Networks – ‘Go Live’ 28th July

Posted on 25th July, 2008

In 2005 we undertook a thorough review of our services that showed we needed to re-design them to make them more joined-up, convenient and easy to use. As a result we are making some important changes to the way we work and are introducing networks of care that will enable us to work more closely with our partners in primary care and the voluntary sector. We will no longer have as many separate services and will have more integrated teams working across geographical boundaries to deliver joined-up care which is focused on recovery. On Monday 28th July the network functions become a reality when staff who were previously organised as Community Mental Health Teams begin to operate in the Mental Wellbeing and Access or Recovery and Independent Living network functions, alongside the Urgent and Inpatient Care teams. Our Mental Wellbeing and Access teams will focus on a much closer relationship with primary care, providing fast assessment for people presenting with a mental health problem for the first time and swift access to help for people who have previously received specialist mental health services. Experienced mental health staff will take the role of access coordinator to ensure that people will get the appropriate care and treatment from the right part of the mental health network. GPs can expect to see a far greater presence of specialist mental health expertise in primary care settings Recovery and Independent Living teams will focus on people with long term mental health needs whose relationship with services is complex. While our Urgent and Inpatient Care teams care for people with severe mental health difficulties, who are in crisis or experiencing severe distress and who may require a period of stay in hospital. For more details visit Our Services section.