Community Support Team (Huntlyburn, Melrose)
What we do:
The Community Support Team (CST) was developed in April 1997 to provide intensive community support to clients aged 16 and onwards suffering acute mental health problems and to offer an alternative to hospital admission or facilitate earlier discharge.
Area covered:
Borders-wide
About our services:
The activities of the CST include assessment, emotional support, symptom management, practical help, supervision and safety, family work, respite and monitoring medication. This list is not exhaustive.
The CST liaises with the key worker from the client's team of origin who will keep up regular contact during the time the CST are involved, to ensure continuity of care. Clinical responsibility for CST clients remains with the Consultant from the referring Community Mental Health Team who is available for review and advice when required.
The service is Borders-wide and operates routinely from 0900hrs-2100hrs Monday to Friday. There is basic weekend cover by one member of staff from 0900hrs-1700hrs on Saturday and Sunday. Clients can be visited more than once a day if the need is there, particularly in the early stages of involvement. The average length of involvement with the CST is 3-4 weeks.
Service Aims
- To provide a flexible approach to care for clients requiring acute mental health care in the home environment.
- To enhance existing in-patient and community services and offer the people of the Borders a wider choice of health care.
- To provide additional community resources to help support the reduction of acute in-patient beds.
Staffing
The CST is nurse-led and comprises: -
2 Community Psychiatric Charge Nurses
3 Community Psychiatric Staff Nurses (1 full & 2 part-time)
1 Team Secretary Part-time (9 hours per week)
How to access our services:
The Community Support Team can be accessed via a member of the community mental health team, acute psychiatric day and inpatient services.
Contact Details:
Huntlyburn House
Melrose
TD6 9BD
01896 827160 General Tel.
01896 827154 Fax