Mental Health - What do they do?

In a Scottish local authority, mental health teams play a crucial role in providing support, care, and treatment to individuals experiencing mental health problems, particularly those with severe and enduring conditions. These services are often delivered through Integrated Community Mental Health Teams (ICMHTs) or Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs), which are a partnership between the local authority (specifically social work services) and NHS Health Boards.

Here's a breakdown of what a mental health team in a Scottish local authority typically does:
 

Core Responsibilities and Services:

• Assessment and Care Planning:
  • Conduct comprehensive assessments of individuals mental health needs, including their social circumstances, to determine the most appropriate care and support.
  • Develop personalized care plans that may include a range of interventions, treatments, and social support.
  • Prioritize support for people with severe or continuing mental health problems, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe anxiety, or psychosis.
• Treatment and Support:
  • Provide direct mental health interventions and treatments, often through a multidisciplinary team.
  • Offer support to help individuals maintain independence, engage in day opportunities, or access short breaks.
  • Assist with practical aspects of daily living, such as housing, employment, and social connections.
• Care Management and Coordination:
  • Manage and coordinate care for individuals, often working closely with GPs, consultant psychiatrists, and other health and social care professionals.
  • Ensure continuity of care, especially for those transitioning from hospital to community settings.
• Statutory Duties (Mental Health Officers - MHOs):
  • Local authorities appoint Mental Health Officers (MHOs), who are specially trained social workers with statutory powers under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.
  • MHOs play a critical role in the legal framework surrounding mental health care, including:
    • Interviewing individuals and explaining their rights (including rights to independent advocacy and a named person).
    • Preparing Social Circumstances Reports for individuals detained under mental health orders (e.g., emergency detention, short-term detention, compulsory treatment orders).
    • Assessing mental health and writing reports for legal orders like welfare guardianship or intervention orders under the Adults with Incapacity Act.
    • Consenting to compulsory treatment in certain circumstances, acting as a safeguard for individuals' human rights.
• Promotion of Wellbeing and Social Development:
  • Provide or secure services designed to promote the well-being and social development of individuals with mental disorder, even those not in hospital.
  • This can include social, cultural, and recreational activities, training, and assistance in obtaining and undertaking employment.
• Partnership Working:
  • Collaborate extensively with NHS Health Boards, other local authority departments (e.g., housing, education, leisure), voluntary organizations, and private providers to deliver integrated services.
  • Work with police and prison services where individuals with mental health problems are involved.
     

Multidisciplinary Teams:

Mental health teams in Scottish local authorities are typically staffed by a range of professionals, including:

• Mental Health Nurses (CPNs - Community Psychiatric Nurses): Provide direct care, monitor medication, offer brief psychological interventions, and help individuals set goals.
• Social Workers (including Mental Health Officers):Focus on care planning, social circumstances, legal aspects of mental health care, and safeguarding rights.
• Occupational Therapists (OTs):Help individuals engage in meaningful activities and develop practical skills for daily living.
• Psychiatrists: Medical doctors specializing in mental health who diagnose conditions, prescribe medication, and provide medical oversight.
• Psychologists:Provide psychological therapies and interventions to help individuals understand and manage their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
   

Focus and Evolution of Services:

There has been a significant shift in Scotland towards delivering mental health services in the community, moving away from long-stay institutions. The focus is increasingly on:

• Recovery-oriented approach: Supporting individuals to be active in managing their own healthcare and leading fulfilling lives, even with ongoing symptoms.
• Early intervention and prevention: Aiming to address mental health issues at an early stage and prevent escalation.
• Addressing social determinants: Recognizing that factors like poverty, employment, and housing significantly impact mental health and working across policies to address these.
• Reducing stigma and discrimination: Working to create a society where people can openly discuss mental health and seek support without fear of judgment.

In essence, mental health teams in Scottish local authorities work to provide holistic, person-centred care that addresses both the clinical and social needs of individuals with mental health problems, with a strong emphasis on community-based support and the protection of individual rights.