The Mental Health Team

The Mental Health Team is responsible for providing your family member or friend’s care and treatment for their mental health condition when being supported in the community.

The team is made up of qualified professionals from both health and social care backgrounds who work together to best meet the patient’s individual needs.

Staff members may be psychiatrists, psychologists, community psychiatric nurses, social workers, and occupational therapists. The patient might receive support from one or more members of staff depending on their health needs.

The team also includes dedicated support workers to help people meet their recovery goals and manage their mental health living in the community.

Peer Support Workers (PSWs) are people who have experienced of a mental health condition and are now using that lived experience to support people accessing mental health services and their families.

PSWs join other members of the care team to help support patients’ wellbeing and provide inspiration for their recovery. You can find them across the Trust in various clinical teams, both inpatient and in the community.

The Mental Health Team is also supported by a friendly administrative team. It will most likely be an administrative team member who will answer the phone if you call.

You should receive information about the service from a member of the team. A service leaflet should be shared with you. If you do not receive this then please ask a member of staff.

Alternatively, you can find the Mental Health Team leaflets on the Oxford Health website.

The role of the Keyworker

Patients will be allocated a Keyworker, who will be responsible for working with them to agree what support they need in their recovery. The Keyworker is the main point of contact for the patient and their family.

The Keyworker can be of any profession: nurse, doctor, social worker, psychologist. For patients in community services only and where appropriate the keyworker could be a peer support worker or support worker if they are providing most care and support.

In cases where an unregistered worker is assigned as the key worker there must be a clear plan of how to escalate concerns, and their work with the patient must be overseen and regularly supervised by an allocated qualified member of staff.

The key worker takes overall responsibility for ensuring that the patient’s needs are assessed, their care is planned, and those plans are carried out (in accordance with their care plan).

The Keyworker will be responsible for liaising with other professionals and services involved with the patient, both within their team and outside agencies (other NHS services, GPs and 3rd sector)

A patient’s Keyworker may change over the duration of their care, and this can be for a few reasons. If this does happen, it is our intention to organise a handover period from one keyworker to another, to ensure that the patient has a seamless transition of their care. However, there will be occasions, which are out of our control, where this may not be possible.

It may also be necessary, on occasions, for us to use locum/agency keyworkers for a period too.

The Keyworker will arrange to see the patient at appropriate intervals and these meetings can take place somewhere that makes the person feel most comfortable, either at home, the team base or at a GP surgery.

If we have consent from the patient, you can be involved in these appointments and in development of the care plan.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the mental health team:

How will my relative’s GP be involved with the mental health team?

The role of the GP varies depending upon the care needs of the patient. GPs may be involved in the assessment of someone who has been admitted under a section of the Mental Health Act.

They may also be involved in their ongoing care after they are discharged from hospital. The care team will explain the role of the GP to you.

Who is responsible for my relative?

If your relative has been assigned a Keyworker, they will take overall responsibility (with the support of a Consultant Psychiatrist) for ensuring the patients’ needs are assessed, their care is planned and those plans are carried out. During admission to hospital the Keyworker will remain involved, but decisions will be led by the Inpatient Consultant.

Who is my point of contact should I want/need to share anything with the mental health team?

If you have been given the contact details of your relative’s Keyworker then you can contact them however there will be times when they may not be available. It is advised that you call the mental health team on the number you or your relative have been given. Alternatively, you can call our coordination centre on 01865 901 000 where one of our call handlers will be able to assist you.

What if the relationship between my relative and their Keyworker does not work?

Building a therapeutic relationship takes time and we would encourage you to allow a reasonable period for that rapport to develop between your loved one and professionals caring for them.

However, if over time patients are not happy with the relationship they have with their Keyworker, they can speak to the team manager and ask to be assigned another Keyworker.  It is likely the Keyworker will have also recognised this.