Description of placementDescription of placement
This post involves working within one sector ( Central sector) of the general adult psychiatry service at Central Manchester. Clinical work is mainly with Crisis Response Home treatment Team (CRHT), a 24 hour/ 7 day per week service whose role is to assess and treat acutely mentally ill patients in the community, avoiding hospital admission or facilitating early discharge from inpatient care. This service was developed from the Home Option service previously operating from 1997to 2007 . The change to CRHT occurred at the same time as the establishment in Manchester of an Early Intervention Service and a full assertive outreach team for MMHSCT.

In line with government policy, CRHT is staffed by nursing, social work, psychology , occupational therapy staff and support workers in addition to psychiatrists and has an emphasis on a team approach and working with patients mainly in their own homes. There is administrative and pharmacy support. The team has a daily multidisciplinary handover in the base at the Rawnsley building where all patients are mentioned and daily plans for contacts with patients are established. Patients can be seen at the base or in their own homes.

The ST4-6 or SpR is closely involved in assessing and reviewing the care of patients under the care of the team and supervising and providing support to junior trainee and psychiatric advice to non-medical members of the multidisciplinary team. At present the CRHT is organised in alignment with the four CMHT sectors of central Manchester and there are usually 12-15 patients under the care of the central sector CRHT at any one time.. The sector covered is the area immediately surrounding the hospital site and extending 1-2 miles to the south and east. It is a fairly deprived area with inhabitants from many ethnic backgrounds and a significant minority who do not speak English. There is an opportunity for a senior trainee to become involved in the steering group for the CRHT service which meets monthly on Thursdays.

There is a junior trainee, currently an ST2 doctor also working alongside the ST4-6 /SpR .

The ST4-6/SpR will also work with the CMHT for the same area. The CMHT for this patch is covered by Dr Poynton(P/T), Dr Mukherjee(F/T) and Dr Garvey(3 sessions).Each of these consultants is linked to specific GP practices and a small number of new outpatients are seen each week together with follow up patients under the care of the CMHT. The CMHT meets on Thursday morning to discuss new referrals and management of community patients seen either in outpatients or at home. The SpR/ ST4-6 may attend these meetings as well if not busy with on call work and there may be opportunities for community visits to CMHT patients in addition to reviews in OPC.

On call commitment: Day time on call one day per week with internal cover; out of hours on call- citywide shift rota for MMHSCT

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