Information
Eva Harper Tel: 020 8206 7160
Service Description
The Home Treatment Team is multidisciplinary comprising of qualified mental health professionals committed to working with older adults with acute mental health problems in their own homes, as an alternative to in-patient care. It incorporates: a Staff Grade Doctor, Psychologist, Senior Occupational Therapist, Social Services Care Manager, Community Support Workers, Community Psychiatry Nurses (Band 7, 6, 5), and a Team Administrator.
The team provides intensive assessment, treatment, and support for older people (over 65 years) in the acute phase of mental health problems. The service is offered to residents in the North Kensington & North East Westminster areas.
The team has a role in treatment interventions, medication administration and monitoring, and in the assessment of a client's home environment. The service provides short-term home treatment, including medication, in order to prevent hospital admission or facilitate early discharge from hospital (for clients who in the absence of the HTT would have to remain in wards).
The key features of the service are that it is mobile, responds quickly and acts as the gatekeeper to in-patient services. The HTT is available 365 days per year, with a telephone advice service that operates between 8pm - 8am.
Referrals can be made by inpatient-services, community psychiatric nurses (CPNs), the community assessment team (CAT) or other mental health professionals such as A/E liaison, emergency social work teams or day hospitals.