Description of placement
Tameside is unique in a number of respects. There are separate multidisciplinary teams in each Sector for long term mental illness (CRT) and for non psychotic disorders (CMHT). This enables the practitioners in each area to become focused on particular types of disorders and their skills are unusually well developed. The Community Rehabilitation Team has attracted national recognition both for its organisation and the quality care interventions practised. A similar approach in the Community Mental Health Team is being developed for the systematic approach to complex personality disorders.

This functional division is reflected in the wards – there is one assessment/PICU ward which takes mainly psychotic disorders and a second ward devoted to treating patients with psychosis. A third ward treats patients with non-psychotic disorders.

The SpR worked mainly with the CRT and the level II patients based at Wilshaw House, Ashton and took primary responsibility for liaison with this team, under supervision. He attended the weekly team meeting, works with individual care coordinators about patients who may be deteriorating and took on responsibility for a defined case load in order to develop skills in the longer term management of such patients in the community. In addition, he met regularly with the CMHT and worked jointly with some level I clients. He undertook assessment s of newly referred patients in the clinic and supervised the SHO in clinic. He responded to acute sector work and helped in supervising the SHO. He was encouraged to participate in the in house teaching and with consultants in weekly management / audit/ CPD meetings. He had the opportunity to carry out audit and to take on management tasks.

On call commitment: Approximately 1 in 8 – one weekend in alternate months, 2 nights per month