Our service has a team of staff, including psychiatrists, speciality doctors, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, psychologists, pharmacists and support workers.

During your care, you will see different members of our team. We will try to maintain continuity of three to five practitioners for core visits, but this may not always be possible (for example, if you are being supported with your medication at regular points in the day).

We will work closely with you, your family and carers, including your social networks to provide intensive support and care, helping you to draw on your own strengths and to help you learn different ways of improving and maintaining your mental wellbeing.

Where appropriate, we will also help you to access other services that could be relevant to your care, such as the community mental health team and voluntary sector services. Our input will be short term, intensive and flexible to meet your current needs.

Our aim

Our primary aim is based on the recognition that people recover more quickly if treated at home in familiar surroundings.

Often individuals accessing home treatment do so as a step-up in care from their usual community team, or stepdown following a period of care in a psychiatric hospital. We will work with you and the people you identify to complete personal care and safety plans that will support your ongoing recovery.

Where will we see you?

Our aim will be to see you at home. We may also invite you to attend one of our local bases located at Holywell Hospital in Antrim, Causeway Hospital, Coleraine, or at the Mid Ulster Hospital in Magherafelt.

Family, friend and carer support

To help with your recovery, it is important to work closely with other people who support you. We offer people involved in your care the opportunity to discuss their worries in relation to their role supporting you.

Driving

You will normally be advised not to drive while under the care of the Home Treatment Team. The Team will be able to provide further information.

Information about discharge planning

Discharge planning is a process that supports the transfer of care from the Crisis Response Home Treatment Team to a community mental health team.

Being involved in planning means you can get information about when and how the discharge will happen. This enables you to prepare and ensures you have the support to help you to maintain recovery after discharge. It also means you can inform staff about how things are at home and gives you the chance to ask any questions, for example, about medication or plans for follow up.

You can talk to the team about developing a relapse prevention plan. This plan is a vital tool for anyone in recovery. Having a plan helps you recognise your own personal indictors that may point to relapse in the future. Most often, a relapse prevention plan is a written document that a person develops with the team, and shares with their support group. The plan offers a course of action for responding to triggers.

What to expect when you are being discharged from the Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Service

You will be given a copy of your relapse plan and a copy of the details for follow up with your local community mental health team.

Follow up will be completed within seven working days from your discharge from the service.

During your appointment with the community mental health team, you will be able to agree a plan of care for your continued recovery.

Will my family/carer be involved in my discharge?

Our staff will ask you if you are happy for your family or carer to be involved in your discharge. This is important because staff must respect individual confidentiality and cannot discuss your care without your informed consent. In some occasions without your permission, it can still be helpful to speak with your family/carer about the condition you have in general terms so they can help you in your recovery.

Who will be involved in my discharge?

The Crisis Resolution Home Treatment service has a duty to involve you in your discharge. You can also involve your family or carer or a friend. Occasionally a discharge planning meeting may be arranged. Different staff involved in your care will attend the meeting to support the sharing of information. You will normally be invited to attend this meeting, as will your family or carer.

Where can I find out more?

You can ask our staff about local arrangements for discharge.

Where do I go if I have any concerns about my discharge plan?

Initially, you should raise your concerns with a member of staff. If you feel unable to do this, you should speak with the team leader.