This leaflet introduces you to the Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) 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 team.

The adult CMHT is a multi-disciplinary team that provides mental health treatment for adults with complex and enduring mental health needs, who can benefit from specialist support.

What a CMHT can offer you

  • Provide evidence-based interventions, including psychological and pharmacological treatments for people with more complex and enduring mental health needs
  • Offer meaningful engagement with patients and promote recovery
  • Safeguard vulnerable adults from all forms of abuse
  • Promote occupational and social functioning and quality of life for patients
  • Provide physical health interventions where appropriate
  • Promote stability within the lives of patients and their carers’
  • Provide a key worker within the CMHT to support with the above. 

The older adults CMHT supports people over the age of 65 with severe and enduring mental health needs and for people under 65 with early onset dementia.

The key aims of the older adults CMHT:

  • Care, support and treatment for service users with dementia and complex mental health needs.
  • Care, support and treatment for people with mental health problems which are more complex and enduring
  • Mental health medication and physical health monitoring
  • Promote stability within the lives of patients and their carers’
  • Provide a key worker within to support with the above if appropriate.

Key Worker

Who will my key worker be?

Your key worker will be a registered professional allocated from the CMHT. They could be a mental health nurse, occupational therapist, psychologist or social worker – your key worker will be allocated dependent on your needs.

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 centred care plan with you, your carer’ and family using DIALOG+. (DIALOG+ is designed to measure how you rate your quality of life and your experience of the care you receive)
  • 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.

It is important that you are involved in decisions about your care and treatment including signs to look out for that might indicate that your mental health is becoming worse so that your care plan can include advice on how to cope and seek help.

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.

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).

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.