North Northumberland Adult Community Treatment Team – Patient information leaflet

This leaflet provides you with information that you may find useful during your time with our
service.

We want to offer you as much help and support as you feel you need, to enable you to live
the life you want. If you are not sure about anything in this leaflet please ask a member of
staff.

The North Northumberland Adult Community Treatment team provides an assessment and treatment service for people who are experiencing difficulty with their mental health.

The team is made up of a number of health care professionals. Appointments with the team are usually arranged within the local community mental health team base/s. Home visits may be offered as an alternative venue if appropriate.

The Community Treatment Team provides a service for men and women over the age of 18 years who require a period of assessment and treatment.

Involvement with us is of your choice or you may have been referred to the service by your GP or another health professional. Often when people are experiencing difficulty with their mental health they will need to be seen by a specialist service to assess their current mental health needs and see how they can be helped.

The purpose of the first assessment appointment is to understand the mental health difficulties you are experiencing. You will see one or two clinicians and have a chance to talk about your current needs, symptoms, stressors, previous treatment and medication (if needed).

Anything you say will be confidential unless there is a legal duty to inform outside agencies. This will be explained before the assessment.

Following the assessment, we will explore the best options to support you and discuss this with our Multi-Disciplinary Team who will agree on a plan of care, whether this is within our team or other services.

The clinician will contact you following this to discuss and relay the outcome and will follow this up with a letter to you, which will also be sent to your family doctor and the referrer, if these are different.

You will be given a contact number for the Community Treatment Team so that you will be able to telephone if you cannot attend the appointment.

If it is agreed that you need intervention from the Community Treatment Team, the first few appointments will focus on understanding your needs and developing a care plan.

A range of interventions and therapies will be offered to suit your personal needs. This can include 1:1 sessions, group work, and health checks.

The first appointment is usually around 90 minutes, however you can ask to take a break if needed. You are welcome to bring a carer, friend or advocate with you.

Trust staff carry devices that can monitor and record abusive behaviour. They can alert and receive support from emergency services and the recordings may be used in court proceedings.

Staff can arrange an interpreter if you need one

Contact Nexus Traveline: Tel: 0871 200 22 33

Website: www.traveline.info/

If you want to make a comment, suggestion, compliment or complaint you can:
• talk to the people directly involved in your care
• ask a member of staff for a feedback form, or complete a form on the Trust website www.cntw.nhs.uk/contact/complaints/
• telephone the Complaints Department Tel: 0191 245 6672
• email [email protected]

We are always looking at ways to improve services. Your feedback allows us to monitor the quality of our services and act upon issues that you bring to our attention.

You can provide feedback in the following ways:
• the quickest way for you to do this is to complete our short online survey at www.cntw.nhs.uk/yourvoice
• complete a Your Voice survey, available on wards, reception areas or from staff
• other options for sharing your feedback and experience www.cntw.nhs.uk/yourfeedback

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
PALS provide confidential advice and support, helping you to sort out any concerns that you may have about any aspect of your or your loved ones care.

We act independently when handling patient and family concerns, liaising with staff, managers and, where appropriate, relevant organisations, to negotiate prompt solutions. If necessary, we can also refer patients and families to specific local or national-based support agencies.

PALS North of Tyne
Tel: 0800 032 0202
Email: [email protected]
Post: FREEPOST PALS

9.00 am – 4.30 pm, Monday to Friday

An answerphone is available at all times for you to leave a message. A member of the PALS team will aim to return your call as soon as possible.

North East NHS Independent Complaints Advocacy (ICA) Tel: 0808 802 3000

North Northumberland Adult Community Treatment Team

Alnwick
Unit 2, Hawkhill Business Park
Lesbury
Northumberland
NE66 3PG
Tel: 01665 608 000
Office hours Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm

Berwick
Anderson Court
51 Hide Hill
Berwick
Northumberland
TD15 1EQ
Tel: 01289 301 301
Office hours Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm

Further information about the content, reference sources or production of this leaflet can
be obtained from the Patient Information Centre. If you would like to tell us what you think
about this leaflet please get in touch.

This information can be made available in a range of formats on request (eg Braille, audio, larger print, easy read, BSL or other languages). Please contact the Patient Information
Centre Tel: 0191 246 7288

Published by the Patient Information Centre
2024 Copyright, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust

Ref, PIC/554/1024 October 2024 V8

www.cntw.nhs.uk

Tel: 0191 246 7288

Review date 2027