Home › Service directory › Wakefield intensive home based treatment for older people
Wakefield intensive home based treatment for older people
Page last updated on:
About the service
Intensive home based treatment provides assessment and treatment which is rapid, flexible and intensive in its nature. We triage and respond to referrals within 4 or 24 hours dependent on the level of risk.
The majority of assessments take place in the client’s home, but they may also be facilitated in a general hospital or GP surgery. Where possible family members or carers will be encouraged to participate if we have the service users consent.
We provide gatekeeping assessments, which are assessments where by we assess the individual as to whether a hospital admission may be required. Where we can prevent this support is provided in their own homes or we will suggest alternative care.
Where support is required the team will visit the individual in their own home or place of their choice to provide treatment until the crisis has reduced. The team will then decide what ongoing support is then required, whether this be discharge back to the GP or longer term support within other mental health services within the trust.
We accept referrals for any person over the age of 65 with a potential mental health issue. This also includes those under 65 where a diagnosis of early onset dementia is suspected.
Why would someone choose the service?
Our staff are very passionate about the needs of older people and understand the complexity of their care needs
Staff offer person centred care, offering space and time for treatment to be provided which meets their individual needs.
Staff work from a trauma-informed ‘lens’ where there is an awareness of how historic trauma can continue to impact on the ways in which older people have learnt to cope and survive in the world and how this may unintentionally perpetuate their mental health difficulties.
Staff offer a sensitive, responsive and compassionate approach to each service user and are skilled in managing acute distress with empathy and understanding.
Staff you may meet
Administrative staff provide essential support to doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. This can be in a variety of different settings, with administrators working as a receptionist in a clinic or a clerk on a ward. They may also be working closely with a consultant as a medical secretary.
Clinical psychologists aim to reduce psychological distress and to enhance and promote psychological wellbeing. They work in a variety of health and social care settings including hospitals, health centres, community mental health teams, and social services.
A heath care professional who is specially training to prescribe and explore medication options.
The NHS employs a wide range of clinical staff, it wouldn’t be possible to list them all on this website! All our clinical staff are skilled, dedicated professionals who adhere to high standards of training and work-place practice.
Why a professional should choose the service
The intensive home based treatment team provides support for service users, their family and carers in a timely, intensive and sensitive manner. We believe the best place for an individual to receive care and recover from their illness is in their home environment.
By involving the individual and their families in the planning of their care we ensure that the person fully understands the nature of their condition, what care they are receiving and why they are receiving it.
We aim to provide an initial assessment within 4 or 24 hours from receiving the referral dependent on the level of risk.
The level of support can range from several times a week to daily visits dependent on the level of risk.
We are continually developing the offer of home based treatments and have a dedicated clinical psychologist and trauma-informed practitioner in the service who provide short-term assessments, clinical formulations and treatment to service users to support improvements in psychological wellbeing.
We have strong links within the acute pathway between inpatient wards, memory services and CMHTs to facilitate therapeutic transitions between services and support service-users on their recovery journey.
Support offered
We offer a range of support and interventions for the people using our service, including:
Comprehensive initial assessment of mental health needs, including risk assessment and safety planning
Formulation of a plan of care to provide intensive support relating to the current crisis
Management of severe mental health problems and high levels of risk to self or others until the risk cannot be managed safely in the community
Commence , monitor and review medication to reduce risks and manage long term mental health needs
Encourage individuals to engage with services
Support to develop psychosocial skills such as coping strategies/distraction techniques.
Anxiety management practical support – graded
Maintaining and developing independent living skills.
Maintaining current social contacts
Encourage service users to initiate access community
Short-term psychological interventions (e.g. aimed at understanding and managing anxiety and depression)
Support and education for carers and refer to carers support agencies within the community
Liaise with other services such as primary care or social services to ensure holistic care is provided
Transfer of care for continued mental health support (e.g. CMHTs, third sector, psychological therapy)
Outcomes
We provide short-term home-based treatment to help service users during crisis situations and to avoid any unnecessary admission to hospital.
By accessing our services we hope to help individuals recover from their condition, and give them the support, understanding, skills and confidence they need to try to prevent them from relapsing later.
Referrals accepted from:
GPs, Other NHS services, Other Trust services, Police
Referrals also accepted from:
N/A
Referral criteria:
We accept referrals to our service under the following circumstances:
The individual is likely to need a mental health inpatient admission
The person is at imminent risk of harm to themselves or others and is experiencing mental health problems
Where there is an acute onset of a suspected mental illness
Where it is felt that the individual is experiencing a relapse of their mental health and intensive support can be provided to reduce further deterioration
The person’s discharge from hospital may be more timely with the support of the home treatment team