Crisis Response
The Crisis Response Service is an out-of-hours service which has been established in accordance with the NHS Plan and the National Service Framework for Mental Health.
The service will respond to adults of working age (16 years and over), including older people who have a mental health crisis out of hours.
The unit is based at:
Forston Clinic
Charminster
Dorchester
Dorset DT2 9TB
Tel: 01305 361269
Opening hours:
Monday - Friday |
5pm-11pm |
Saturdays and Sundays |
9am-11pm |
Bank Holidays |
9am-11pm |
The Referral Process
The crisis response worker will triage all referrals. This includes new referrals and re-referrals, such as service users who are currently receiving a service but do not have a care plan that includes emergency contact with the in-patient or community support units out of hours. Referrals will also include an offer of advice to carers or families of people in crisis.
Who may be referred?
Referrals will target people in crisis or who need something that cannot wait until the next working day.
Referrals could be from:
Service-users and carers
Other health care professionals
NHS Direct
Police
Accident and Emergency Services
Local Authority Out-of-Hours Services
Referrers will be asked to provide some basic information to determine the eligibility of an emergency response.
What does the service offer?
The service will provide telephone support and, where appropriate, will undertake face-to-face assessments.
The following options will be available:
- Inviting people to the community support unit at Forston Clinic or the treatment centre at Dorset County Hospital for assessment
- Co-ordinating a response to include arrangements for seeing urgent cases at Dorset County Hospital minor injuries unit or other hospital settings.
These urgent responses can include medical and social care staff from the out-out-hours services provided by the local authority:
- Signposting people to other services more appropriate to meet their needs
- Providing a care management pathway that screens people to other community mental health services
- Providing information or advice to service users or carers which meets their immediate needs
The new NHS Dorset came into being on 1 October 2006. The Trust was formed by the merger of North Dorset Primary Care Trust, South West Dorset Primary Care Trust and South and East Dorset Primary Care Trust.
If you need to contact services provided by one of the former primary care trusts, please use the existing telephone numbers in the relevant leaflets.