Issue - meetings

The panel was taken through the presentation by Jackie Liveras, Assistant Director, Crisis and Emergency.

Key points included:

Home Treatment Teams (HTTs)

·        HTTs have been running for 12 years across the country.

·        HTTs are a meanigful alternative to hospitals.

·        The National Service Framwork some years ago laid out what the role of HTTs is.

·        People prefer to be treated in the own homes.

·        There is a target of 727 treatment episodes, MHT is currently at 700 and therefore expecting to exceed the target by quite a lot.

Issues include a slight drifting from the National Service Framework and so work is currently being done to re-focus the service.

·        HTTs are a vital component of enabling the re-profiling of beds.

Future plans include:

·        Work to improve service users experience and quality of services, for example ensuring that service users do not have to complete multiple assessments, GPs being able to refer to HTTs directly for assessment.

·        The intake service was reviewed at the end of 2011, this work is now being re-looked at.

Recovery Houses

·        The partnership with Rethink is working very well.

Issues include:

·        Services are not always in place to enable people to move on.

·        Recovery Houses are usually full, with an expected increased demand this will increase pressure.

·        90 admissions across the Trust.

Comments from Rethink included:

·        The success of Recovery Houses is due to the partnership between Rethink and the MHT.

·        Recovery Houses are a hub within the community.

·        Feedback from service users is positive.

·        Peer support groups are being formed and ex service users are being developed in the skills needed to run these groups.

The following discussion points were noted:

·        All staff that are displaced from the closure of Haringey Ward will be redeployed, including an increase in staff numbers on HTTs.

·        The ability for GPs to refer to HTTs is positive.

·        If a person goes into a pharmacy with mental health queries then it would be helpful for the pharmacies to know where to signpost to and which services were open when etc.  The MHT agreed to speak to the Local Pharmaceutical Committee to share this information.

·        The language used on the information sheets about HTTs and Recovery Houses will be shared with service user peer groups to gain their input on how they can be improved, particularly in relation to the language used.

·        Strong relationships with carers and their families is an integral part of the services.

·        HTTs are moving towards a positition where all assessments are done in the home, apart from in exceptional circumstances.  By conducting these at home family members and carers are often automatically involved.

·        Social workers are a part of all HTTs and will conduct carers assessment where the carer says that they wish one to be undertaken.

·        The MHT have a target on carers assessment and report to the Local Authority.  They also have their own records.

·        It is ensured that carers are spoken to and listened to as part of the pathway.

·        Care Coordinators based in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35