This leaflet introduces you to the Community Mental Health Integrated Team (CMHIT) and provides information that may be helpful during your time with our service. Most mental health problems don’t need a psychiatrist. Your doctor (GP) can give you support, prescribe antidepressants or refer you to a counsellor or psychotherapist. However, if your problems are more complicated, your GP may want to refer you to a community mental health integrated team.

The CMHIT will deliver care, through an integrated care approach to help you to manage the ups and downs of your condition, supporting you to self-manage and to recognise when there is a worsening of your condition. There will be key workers within all parts of the integrated teams.

The Integrated Team will be made up of:

  • NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB
  • Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
  • GP practices and PCNs
  • People with lived experience
  • Healthwatch Voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector organisations
  • Lancashire County Council
  • Blackpool Council
  • Blackburn with Darwen Council
  • Westmorland and Furness Council

Key worker

Who will my key worker be?

Your key worker could be anyone within the Community Mental Health Integrated Team. Your key worker will be allocated and may change depending on your needs i.e. someone from CMHT or the services above.

How can my key worker support me?

  • Your key worker will be your main point of contact at that time and support you, your family and carers to navigate the system
  • Your key worker will provide an assessment and create a person centered care plan with you, your carer’ and family
  • Your key worker will be your primary intervention giver in most cases
  • Your key worker will update care and safety plans at the end of an intervention or if your needs change
  • Your key worker will provide a link to other support as required and may signpost you to community resources and support.

How long will I have a key worker?

Your key worker will be involved in your care for an appropriate length of time. You will have regular reviews and planning for your discharge will be discussed as part of your recovery pathway.

Please note any information shared with staff will remain confidential. In exceptional circumstances, permission from the patient (or where appropriate, the carer/guardian) will be sought before any information is disclosed.

Benefits

  • Work collaboratively.
  • People will receive the care they need first time, by the most appropriate service and organisation.
  • Create a “no wrong door” approach. Anybody referred will be reviewed by the enhanced multi-disciplinary team and seen by the most appropriate service, breaking down barriers to care.
  • Support people to avoid crisis. Provide timely evidenced-based treatments in the community.
  • Provide easy access to specialist mental health care. People will not have to wait for secondary care assessments if they can be supported and managed in primary care. Provide support for wider life issues that can trigger mental ill-health.
  • Provide lived experience peer support to help build knowledge, skills, and confidence. This will allow them to manage their condition and general health and well-being, to be able to live independently in the community

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

If you have some concerns, questions or need advice on our services, you can contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on 0800 234 6088 or email the PALS Team.  

Need mental health support?

Call 0800 953 0110 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or by calling NHS 111, selecting option 2.

Text support can be reached by messaging Shout, which is a free, confidential and 24/7 texting service. Simply text ‘Shout’ to 85258. Further support is available through Kooth offering self-help resources, online messaging and support for young people aged 11 to 25. 

Additionally, the Hub of Hope provides a directory of mental health support and services across the UK.

This leaflet is available in alternative languages and formats upon request. Please speak to a member of our staff to arrange this.