The 136 suite is a place of safety for those who have been detained under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act by the police following concerns that they are suffering from a mental disorder.
Once in the suite, the individual is assessed to establish whether they need treatment.
The 136 suite is staffed by qualified mental health nurses to ensure that the needs of the detained person are fully met. They ensure that the safety and dignity of the individual is maintained until a decision can be made by the assessing team as to what treatment best meets the detained person’s needs.
South West Yorkshire Partnership have three 136 suites available at:
The Dales, Calderdale Hospital, Halifax
Unity centre, Fieldhead Hospital, Wakefield
The Oakwell centre, Kendray Hospital, Barnsley
Why a professional should choose the service
A review of Section 136 of the Mental Health Act stated that a police station should only be used as a place of safety for those detained under Section 136 on an exceptional basis.
The 136 suite provides care for people detained under Section 136 to prevent them needing to go into police custody.
As recommended by the Royal College of Psychiatry anyone admitted into the 136 suite is seen within 24 hours of Section 136 being applied.
All staff working within the suite are trained to assess physical health, complete risk assessments and safely use physical restraint.
In most cases, the police are free to leave (following a joint risk assessment) within one hour of arrival at the suite.
Support offered
Possible outcomes of a Section 136 assessment include:
No further action. The patient is discharged back into the community as soon as possible
The patient is signposted to services available in the community and may be referred back to their own GP
Further assessment and care in secondary mental health services (specialist care)
Informal admission to inpatient services
Compulsory admission to inpatient services
Outcomes
To assess the mental health of an individual in a place of safety and to identify any further care or treatment needs.
Referral criteria:
To access the service an individual must have been detained under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act.