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.
Why would someone choose the service
The suite provides a place of safety for an individual detained under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act.
We treat all service users and carers with the upmost dignity and respect during what can be a distressing period.
We strive to ensure that the detained person is seen as quickly as possible to avoid unnecessary delays to the assessment process.
The suite is a comfortable environment and has a separate area for carers to relax in.
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 at the Hawthorne unit cares 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 72 hours of Section 136 being applied, with most seen within three hours of admission.
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
Identified as having a minor or moderate mental health problem. The patient is signposted to services available in the community and may be referred back to their own GP
Further assessment and care as an alternative to admission
Further assessment and care in secondary mental health services (specialist care)
Informal admission to inpatient services
Compulsory admission to inpatient services
Outcomes
The main focus of our services is to help the individual recover as soon as possible. We will help the individual to be discharged back into the community as soon as possible if appropriate.
We hope to maintain the safety of the detained person and members of the public and to establish if there is a need for assessment or treatment of a mental health disorder.
Referral criteria:
To access the service an individual must have been detained under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act.