6.2 Protocol with Adult Community Mental Health |
Contents
1. Purpose of the Protocol
The purpose of this Protocol is to identify the framework within which the Adult Community Mental Health Teams will work with the Children's Services and exchange information in order to facilitate service delivery to families where the parent has a mental health problem and there are dependent children living in the household. This will include the exchange of non-personal information in the form of 'consultation'.
The "Crossing Bridges" initiative draws the conclusion that 'the health and social care needs of children and families should be considered jointly'. This requires that the worker dealing with the adults in the family to recognise the needs of the child and the child's social worker to address the needs of the whole family in their assessment.
2. Community Mental Health Services
The health and social work professionals to whom this Protocol is relevant include:
- The multi-disciplinary Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT's)
- Specialist multi-disciplinary teams including:
- ECDAS (Enfield Community Drugs and Alcohol Service)
- N.L.F.S. (North London Forensic Service) based at Camlet Lodge Chase Farm Hospital.
- Tulip, Assertive Outreach Service, in conjunction with the local Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT).
There is a range of services in Enfield to help people with more serious mental health problems. These include:
- Enfield Mental Health Day Care Services at Park Avenue Day Centre.
- Acute Day Hospital at Chase Farm Hospital
- Plus 2 designated sessions for the CMHT service users in the Family Therapy Service.
- Emergency Assessment Centre at Chase Farm Hospital.
and In-Patient Services at:
- Lea and Lordship Wards at St. Ann's Hospital, Tottenham (for people living in Edmonton).
- Sussex and Devon Wards at Chase Farm Hospital (for all other Enfield residents) and the Rehabilitation Service based at Somerset Villa.
Each CMHT includes a manager who coordinates delivery of the service provided by the multi-disciplinary team. The CMHT also include Consultant Psychiatrists and other medical staff, Clinical Psychologists, Community Mental Health Nurses including Community Psychiatric Nurses (CPN), Social Workers and an Occupational Therapist.
3. Children's Services
3.1 Services Provided
Children's Services have realigned their Assessment and Care Planning Services to comply with the requirements of the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and Their Families.
Children's Services will deliver the following services to children and families referred to them by the Community Mental Health Teams:
- An assessment of Children who may be In Need, which includes children at risk of Significant Harm.
- Support to appropriate Children in Need including Disabled Children, Looked After Children and children who are the subject of a Child Protection Plan.
Children's Services will also provide support and guidance to colleagues in the Community Mental Health Teams regarding children in need and child protection concerns.
3.2 Assessment Process
Children's Services carry out assessments of Children who may be In Need in line with the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and Their Families.
Requests for an assessment of Children in Need, including children at risk of Significant Harm should be made to the Referral and Assessment Team using the multi-agency form. Guidance and Information about the referral and assessment process is being distributed to all agencies and teams along with the London Child Protection Procedures.
The Request for Assessment Form is detailed and professionals are asked to complete the form as fully as possible as this assists the assessment process. Parents should be informed and agree to a referral to Children's Services unless there are child protection concerns in which case consent can be overridden. In child protection cases the parent should also be informed of the referral unless this would increase the risk to the child.
3.3 Initial Assessment
An Initial Assessment must be carried out within 10 working days of the request and the service user and referrer will be notified of the outcome of the assessment within 7 working days of completion of the assessment.
3.4 Core Assessment
Core Assessments are more complex assessments and may include a Child Protection Enquiry where necessary. The Core Assessment must be completed within 35 working days of the decision to undertake it. If a Core Assessment is undertaken following a referral from the CMHT it is likely that the referring team will be asked to contribute information as required.
Key points at which CMHT members will be involved in a Core Assessment are:
- In the setting up of the assessment or in a planning meeting where decisions are made about the focus and scope of the assessment.
- As a contributor to the assessment process in the form of specialist mental health assessment.
- In making available their professional judgement, during the formulation of a Children's Plan to support the child and family.
- As a provider or facilitator of services to be offered as part of the Children's Plan, (including a Child Protection Plan).
4. Referrals From Children's Services to the Community Mental Health Teams
When a child's social worker is concerned that a parent has, or might have a mental health problem, then consultation and advice can be obtained through the access system in Silver Street.
An access worker is available daily and will give advice and, when appropriate, accept a referral to the CMHT. If the child's social worker is not satisfied with the advice of the access worker then the Access Manager should be consulted. To facilitate a referral, the child's social worker will provide the Access Service with as much information as possible, including a copy of the Initial Assessment, which identifies the mental health concerns or describes the behaviour causing concern and how this affects the parent's capacity to meet their children's needs.
If the referral is not urgent it will be discussed at the weekly CMHT meeting where a decision will be made on whether to offer an assessment led by one of the CMHT members or refer on to another agency/service. If an assessment is offered, then the child's social worker would be expected to contribute to a joint assessment process if appropriate.
If the referral is deemed to be more urgent then the CMHT Access worker, in discussion with the Access Manager, will decide upon the appropriate response.
5. Multi-agency Working
The Assessment Framework places a strong emphasis on the need for agencies to work together - to share information, make joint assessments or share the work of the assessment.
When referrals are made the decision whether to initiate a joint enquiry/assessment should be agreed wherever there is felt to be a benefit.
Health professionals concerned with mental health and substance misuse will have a particular role in providing information as to the user's likely response to treatment and in ensuring services are available.
End