Integrated Community Mental Health Teams

Integrated Community Mental Health Teams provide support and treatment to adults (18+) with a broad range of mental health issues. The teams work with individuals, families, communities and other agencies to provide a service which assesses and addresses mental health needs, promotes good mental health, manages risk and provides support to families/carers. Community based appointments occur in a variety of settings such as NHS premises and client homes. The service is divided into three different elements: Assessment, Brief Intervention and Support and Recovery.

Key learning opportunities/skills development

• Gaining an understanding of signs and symptoms of mental ill health and how they are treated.
  
• Holistic assessment of needs, including the assessment of risk and identification of relevant care pathway (clustering).
  
• Effective triaging. 
  
• Gaining a more comprehensive knowledge of other services, when and how to safely signpost.
  
• Importance of interagency partnership working. 
  
• CPA process and caseload management.
  
• Therapeutic relationship building.
  
• Planning and implementation of care, including the management of risk.
  
• Clinical decision making.
  
• Communication and MDT working.
  
• Medication management.
  
• Record keeping.