The Older People’s Community Treatment Team supports older adults in Newcastle and North Tyneside who need help with their mental health. The team works with people, families and carers to assess needs, agree care plans and offer treatment and support in the community.
This leaflet provides information about our service and how we can support you. We will work in partnership with you to understand your needs, support your recovery, and help you manage your mental health.
Community Treatment Teams support people with mental health needs.
We work with people who need more help than their GP (family doctor) or another health worker can give.
The team is made up of trained staff with different skills. We will make sure you see the right person for your needs.
Most people who use the Older People’s Community Treatment Team are aged 65 or over.
The team may also support people who are younger than 65, depending on the reason for the referral.
The service is for people who need advice, assessment or treatment for their mental health.
People are usually referred by their GP (family doctor) or another health professional.
If your GP (family doctor) or another health worker thinks we can help, they will contact us.
If we can help, we will arrange to see you at home or at a clinic.
We try to see new patients as soon as we can. This is usually within four weeks. We may see you sooner if your needs are urgent.
Your first appointment/assessment
At your first appointment, we will talk with you about your needs and how we can help.
You may be offered more support from the person you meet, or from another member of the team.
After the assessment, the team will talk with you about the next steps and what support may be helpful for you.
- Further specialist assessments over a longer period of time or by another health professional
- Support to help you understand your needs and improve your wellbeing
- Talking therapies
- Help with medication
- Help with memory problems, such as dementia
- Support, advice and health information
- Carer support for close friends and family members
- Working with your GP and other services if needed
Ongoing support
If the service is right for you, the team will work with you to agree a support plan. This plan will be based on your needs and goals.
Support may include regular appointments, help with managing your mental health, and advice about other services that could support you. Appointments may take place at a clinic, in your home, or by phone or video call.
The team will work closely with you and, where appropriate, other health and care professionals involved in your care.
Reviews and discharge
Your support will be reviewed regularly to make sure it is helping you. You will be involved in these reviews and can talk about what is working well or what may need to change.
When you no longer need support from our team, we will talk with you about leaving the service. Your support from our team will end, and your care may continue with your GP or another service if needed.
The team will make sure you know where to get support in the future if you need it.
The Community Treatment Team is made up of different people who work together to support you with your mental health.
You may meet one or more of the following:
- Mental health doctors, who help with understanding your mental health and treatment
- Nurses, who provide regular support and help you manage your mental health
- Psychologists or therapists, who can help you understand and manage your thoughts and feelings
- Occupational therapists, who support you with daily activities, routines, and goals
- Social workers, who can help with social or practical issues
- Support workers or peer support workers, who offer practical and emotional support
You will not see everyone in the team. Only the people who are right for your needs will be involved in your care.
Our Trust is a teaching organisation, which means students or trainees may sometimes be part of the team. You will always be asked for your permission before a student is involved in your care, and you can say no if you wish.
Your care and treatment will be planned with you. The team will listen to what is important to you and agree a plan that meets your needs and goals.
Support may include regular appointments, help to manage your mental health, and advice or support with daily life. Some people may be offered medication or talking therapies if these are right for them.
You will be involved in decisions about your care, and you can ask questions at any time. Your care plan can be changed if your needs change.
We understand that family members, carers, or other people who support you may be important to your recovery.
With your permission, the team can involve your family, carers, or supporters in your care. This may include inviting them to appointments or sharing information that helps them support you.
We will always respect your choices and your right to privacy. We will only share information with other people if you agree, unless there is a serious safety concern.
Carers may also be offered information and signposting to services that can support them in their caring role. A range of resources are available at www.
Appointments
Appointments are usually arranged by the Team. This may be by letter, phone call, text message, or other agreed method.
Appointments may take place at a clinic, in your home, or by phone or video call, depending on your needs and what has been agreed with you.
If you cannot attend an appointment
If you cannot attend an appointment, please contact the team as soon as possible to let us know. This helps us offer the appointment to someone else and arrange another time for you.
If you miss appointments and do not tell us, we may need to review how we support you
Contacting the Team
The Community Treatment Team telephone number is 0191 246 8655. This number is available during office hours.
The team is currently unable to provide an out-of-hours service. Urgent requests for assessment at weekends or evenings are usually made by GPs to a central on-call service.
If you need urgent mental health support but it is not an emergency, you can contact the local mental health crisis team:
Call NHS 111 and select the mental health option.
They can offer advice, support, and help decide what to do next.
You can also call NHS 111, option 2 for urgent health advice at any time. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You’ll speak to a mental health professional who will listen and help you find the right support.
If you are Deaf or have communication difficulties, you can contact us in a crisis 24/7 by:
- Texting 07860 064 775
- Using https://
signvideo.co.uk/ nhs111/ - Contacting 18001 111 using the Relay UK app
Call 999 or go to Accident and Emergency (A&E) if:
- you, or someone else have harmed themselves or is at immediate risk
- there is a medical emergency and someone is seriously ill or injured
If you are not in your local area and need urgent help from a local crisis team, you can call the hospital switchboard on 0191 246 6800.
Being involved in decisions
You have the right to be involved in decisions about your care and treatment. The team will listen to you, explain your options, and answer any questions you may have.
We will work with you to agree what support is right for you, based on your needs, wishes, and goals.
Consent and confidentiality
Your information is kept private and confidential. This means we do not share information about you without your permission.
We will ask for your consent before sharing information with family members, carers, or other services, unless there is a serious concern about safety.
You can ask questions at any time about how your information is used.
Interpreters, accessibility, and reasonable adjustments
We want to make sure you can access our service in a way that works best for you.
Interpreters can be provided if you need support with language or communication. Information can also be made available in other formats, such as large print or easy-read.
Please tell the team if you need any changes to help you access the service, such as extra time, communication support, or help getting to appointments.
All our main outpatient departments are easy to reach by public transport.
If you need help planning your journey please ask us when booking your first appointment or contact the Traveline office and website:
Telephone: 0871 200 22 33 Website: www.traveline.info
If you are receiving benefits, you may be able to claim back some travel costs. Please bring proof of your benefits and photo ID with you.
- Mental health self help guides – www.
selfhelp.cntw.nhs.uk - NHS website – www.
nhs.uk - Local community organisations may also offer support. The team can help you find these resources.
Comments, suggestions, compliments or complaints
You can talk to a staff member or use the contacts listed below.
See other ways to give feedback at www.
Your Voice
You can use this email to tell us what you think about your care. This can
be good or bad. You can also ask us to tell you what happens after you
send feedback.
Email: yourvoice
Comments and complaints
If something went wrong, please tell us. This will help us improve services.
Email: complaints
Phone: 0191 245 6672
Write to: Complaints Department, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, St Nicholas Hospital, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 3XT.
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
PALS is a free and confidential service. They help if you have worries about your care. They support patients, families, and carers.
North of Tyne
(services in Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland and North Cumbria)
Email: pals@nhct.nhs.uk
Phone: 0800 032 0202
South of Tyne
(services in Sunderland, Gateshead, South Tyneside and Lotus Ward, Middlesbrough)
Email: pals
Phone: 0800 328 4397
Single Point of Access
St Nicholas Hospital
Jubilee Road
Gosforth
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE3 3XT
You can contact the team by ringing Single Point of Access Tel: 0191 246 8655 during office hours.
You can get more information about this leaflet from the Patient Information Centre. This includes how the leaflet was made. We can provide this leaflet in other formats. These include Braille, audio, large print, Easy Read, British Sign Language, and other languages.
We welcome your feedback about this leaflet. You can email pic
Published by the Patient Information Centre
2026 Copyright: Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Ref: PIC/131/0826 August 2026 V10
Review date 2029
Website: www.