Nhs Mental Health Teams Factsheet

NHS Mental Health Teams (MHTs)
Community Mental Health

Teams (CMHTs)
Mental health teams are part of the NHS. They support people living in the
community who have complex or serious mental health problems. This
factsheet focusses on secondary mental health teams. What they can do
to help you and how you can get referred to them. It also explains what to
do if you have problems with your mental health team.
• Mental health teams are there to help you to improve your mental
health.
• There are different mental health teams such as community mental
health team, crisis team and early intervention team.
• Different mental health professionals such as psychiatrists,
psychologists, community psychiatric nurses, social workers, and
occupational therapists work in a mental health team.
• You might get help from the whole team, or from 1 or 2
professionals.
• You usually get referred to mental health teams through a health
professional.
• If you have complex care needs, you might be placed under the
Care Programme Approach (CPA). CPA means you will have a
care plan which outlines your needs. And a care coordinator to
make sure that your needs are met.
• A new Integrated Care System is being rolled out in parts of
England from April 2021 which brings health and care organisations
together.
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This factsheet covers:
1. What is the mental health system?

2. Are there different mental health teams?
3. Who makes up a mental health team?
4. How can I access a mental health team?
5. Can I choose which mental health team I go to?
6. How long will I have to wait for my appointment?
7. What will happen during my first appointment?
8. What will happen during my first appointment with the mental health
team?
9. What is the care programme approach (CPA)?
10. What will happen to my care if I move area?
11. When will I stop seeing the mental health team?
12. What if I have problems with my mental health team?
13. What about confidentiality?
14. What can I expect from the mental health team as a carer, friend or
relative?
In this factsheet the term ‘Mental Health Teams’ refers to the following
teams.
• Community mental health teams

• Crisis teams
• Early intervention teams
• Assertive outreach team
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1. What is the mental health system?
The mental health system within the NHS is split into 3 tiers: primary,
secondary and tertiary care.1
But from April 2021, the NHS has started rolling out a programme called
the Integrated Care System which will change the landscape of the current
healthcare system. See the below section of this factsheet, ‘What is
Integrated Care Systems?’ for more information.
Primary care. This is the entry level of care for the NHS. You can get
treatment and support from primary care services if you have mild or
moderate mental health problems. Primary services include:
• your GP,
• your local link worker through your GP. See the later section of this
factsheet for more information, ‘What is social prescribing?’ and
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• talking therapy from your local Improving Access to Psychological
Therapies (IAPT) service.
Secondary care. This is the next level of care in the NHS. It covers
general community and hospital care.
A mental health team (MHT) is part of community care. Community care

means you get treatment outside of a hospital stay. You may be referred
to an MHT if you need more support with your mental health. MHT’s are
staffed with professionals such as a psychiatrist and psychologists.
See section 2 of this factsheet, ‘Are there different mental health teams?’
for more information.
Hospital care includes inpatient treatment. You are an inpatient in hospital

if you stay voluntarily, or if you are detained under the Mental Health Act.
Tertiary care. This is highly specialist care within the NHS. It covers
specialist community and hospital care.
Examples of community tertiary care are:
• assertive outreach teams, and

• specialist national services within the Maudsley hospital in London.
The Maudsley is a national service which means that you can access it
even if you live outside of London. But you will need a referral.
Specialist hospital care includes secure units.2 Patients in secure units are
usually detained under the Mental Health Act and present a level of risk
greater than general mental health services could safely deal with.
What is the Integrated Care System?

Integrated care is about removing traditional divisions between different
tiers of care such as primary and secondary care. This is so that people
can get the support that they need. It aims to remove divisions such as
those between:3
• hospitals and GPs

• physical and mental health and
• NHS and the local authority.
These divisions have meant that lots of people have had disjointed care.
Integrated Care Systems are new partnerships between the NHS and
other health and care organisations. Such as the local authority, voluntary
sector and social enterprise sector. By working together and putting you
and your needs at the centre, your care will have a more collaborative
approach. This means that you are likely to get better mental health care
and support.
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You can check to see if ICS rollout has started in your local area by
clicking the following link: www.england.nhs.uk/integratedcare/integrated-
care-in-your-area/.
You can find more information on www.rethink.org about:
• GP, what to expect from your doctor

• Talking therapies
• NHS know your rights
• Mental Health Act
Or call our General Enquiries team on 0121 522 7007 and ask them to
send you a copy of our factsheet.
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2. Are there different types of mental health team?
There are different types of mental health teams (MHT) that support
different mental health needs. But there is some overlap between the
services.
Common MHTs are the following.
• Community mental health team

• Crisis team
• Early intervention team
• Assertive outreach team
What is a community mental health team?

A community mental health team (CMHT) can support you to recover from
mental health issues. They can give you short or long-term care and
treatment if you are in the community.
Health professionals from different backgrounds work in the CMHT. They

work together to help you get better.
A team may have one main clinic or office. Or they may work in different
places, like GP surgeries or health centers. You may be offered home
visits. This will depend on your local NHS Trust. CMHTs are for people
aged between 18 and 65.
There are different mental health teams for other age groups. They are:
• child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), for people

under 18 years old, and
• older adult mental health teams, for people who are over 65.
What is a crisis team?

A crisis team can support you if you are having a mental health crisis in
the community. They offer short term support to help prevent hospital
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admission. They can arrange for you to go to hospital if you are very
unwell.
Having a mental health crisis can mean different things. It can include:
• thinking about suicide or acting on suicidal thoughts,

• severely self-harming,
• experiencing psychosis, where you are out of touch with your
normal reality, or
• doing something that could put you or other people at risk.
A crisis team can also support you when you are discharged from a short
stay in hospital.
The team may:
• offer medication,
• arrange regular visits, and
• make sure you are in touch with other services to get long-term
support, such as the CMHT or social services.
Crisis teams are sometimes called:
• home treatment teams,

• crisis resolution teams,
• intensive teams,
• crisis and assessment teams, and
• rapid response teams.
You can get crisis support by:
• looking on your local NHS trust’s website for information,

• calling your local NHS urgent mental health helpline. Follow this
link: www.nhs.uk/service-search/mental-health/find-an-urgent-
mental-health-helpline
• calling NHS 111, or
• talking to your GP.
What is an early intervention team?

Early intervention in psychosis team (EIT) services can support you if you
experience psychosis for the first time.4 You might get help from an EIT
service if you have psychosis and have used drugs.5
Psychosis is a medical term. If you have psychosis, you will process the
world around you differently to other people. This can include how you
experience, believe or view things.6
You might see or hear things that others do not. Or believe things other
people do not. Some people describe it as a "break from reality".
It is common symptom for people who have a diagnosis of schizophrenia,
schizoaffective disorder and bipolar disorder.
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The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends
that early intervention services should be open to people of all ages.7
You should be referred to the EIT without delay. You should be referred to
a crisis team if EIT can’t provide urgent support for you in a crisis. But you
should still be supported by the EIT at the same time.8
You can find more information about ‘Psychosis’ at www.rethink.org. Or

call our General Enquiries team on 0121 522 7007 and ask them to send
you a copy.
What is an assertive outreach team?

An assertive outreach team (AOT) may work with you if you are 18 or over
and you need intensive support because of complex mental health needs.9
The team aim to give you support, so that you are able to get the
treatment or care that you need from other services.
This support can help you to manage your condition better. And reduce
your chances of going back to hospital.10 The AOT is also known as the
complex care team (CCT) or programme of assertive community treatment
(PACT).
However, AOT’s no longer exist in most areas. You will be able to get
support from the community mental health team if there is not an AOT in
your area.
You may need the AOT if you have:11
• a severe long-term mental illness that affects you every day,

• been in hospital many times and have often used crisis services,
• problems working with mental health services, or
• complex needs such as:
o violent behaviour,
o serious self-harming,
o not responding to treatment,
o drug or alcohol use and mental illness. This is known as dual
diagnosis,
o being detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act in the
last 2 years, or
o unstable accommodation or homelessness.
AOTs should review your care plan every 6 months.12 See section 8 of this
factsheet for more information, ‘What is the care programme approach
(CPA)’
Why don’t AOT’s exist in most areas?13
Studies have shown that although AOT’s can improve people’s

engagement with appointments, they haven’t largely changed:
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• hospital bed use,
• people’s need for crisis support, or
• the patient experience.
Is a drug and alcohol team a mental health team?

Drug and alcohol teams are not usually specifically for people with mental
health needs. They support people with an alcohol or drug addiction. They
are sometimes called ‘addiction services.’
If you have an alcohol or drug addiction and a mental health condition this
is called having a ‘dual diagnosis.’
You may need to work with both the substance abuse team and
community mental health team to manage your symptoms. In some areas
of the country the NHS will have a dual diagnosis team to support
recovery. They will usually work as part of the community mental health
team.14
If you have complex mental health needs and a substance abuse issue
you may be supported under a package of care called the care
programme approach (CPA). See section 8 of this factsheet for more
information, ‘What is the care programme approach (CPA).’
Providers of mental health and alcohol and drug use services have a joint
responsibility to work together to meet the needs of people with dual
diagnosis.15
You can find more information about 'Drugs alcohol and mental health'
at www.rethink.org. Or call our General Enquiries team on 0121 522 7007
and ask them to send you a copy of our factsheet.
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3. Who makes up a mental health team?
Most staff in a mental health team will have a mental health or social care
background. Staff can include psychiatrists, social workers, mental health
nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists, and support workers.16
All staff work together and have meetings to discuss the progress of
anyone they support. These meetings are called ‘multi-disciplinary
meetings.’
Psychiatrists
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has specialist training in mental
health. They can diagnose mental illness, prescribe medication, and
recommend treatment.
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Social workers
A social worker is trained to give practical help with your social needs.
Such as housing problems, financial issues, or by giving general support
and advice.
Community psychiatric nurses (CPNs)

A CPN is a mental health nurse who works in the community. They can
give you medication and help you to manage your health in the
community.
Psychologists
A psychologist specialises in how your mind works. They will ask you
questions to try to understand how your thoughts and feelings affect your
behaviour. They can offer advice and therapy. They don’t normally
prescribe medication.17
Occupational therapists
An occupational therapist will give practical support to help you to do
activities that you find difficult. They will help you to think about different
ways of doing the activity. They will often give support in your home to
help you to be as independent as possible.
Care Coordinators
A care coordinator is responsible for organising and monitoring your care if
you are under the care programme approach (CPA). Normally, you will
see your care coordinator more often than other NHS staff. Care
coordinators can be nurses, social workers, community psychiatric nurses
(CPN) or occupational therapists.
See section 8 of this factsheet for more information, ‘What is the care
programme approach (CPA)’
Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHP)
An AMHP is a mental health professional who is trained to use the Mental

Health Act. They can be a psychologist, nurse, social worker, or
occupational therapist. They help to decide if you should be detained
under the Mental Health Act along with 2 doctors. The role of the AMHP is
to give a social, rather than a medical opinion.18 Even if they have a
medical background. An AMHP can help to bring you to hospital.
Other professionals
Other people will also make up the team. For example, managers,
psychotherapists, support workers and administrators.
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4. How can I access a mental health team?
A health professional will usually need to refer you to a mental health

team. If the team accept the referral, they will book an appointment for
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you. A referral is when a health professional asks a different service to
support you.
How can I access the community mental health team, crisis team or
early intervention team?
Community mental health teams, crisis teams and early intervention teams
can accept referrals from:
• NHS local urgent helplines. www.nhs.uk/service-search/mental-

health/find-an-urgent-mental-health-helpline.
• GPs,
• Other primary care services, such as Improving Access to
Psychological Therapies (IAPT),
• Psychiatric Liaison Teams in A&E,
• other mental health teams, and
• social services.
Sometimes these teams will accept referrals from:
• the police,
• you, or
• your family.
Early intervention teams and crisis teams are more likely to accept a self
or family referral.
It is more unusual for CMHTs to accept referrals from you or your family.
If you would like to know if a self-referral is possible in your area, you can
ask your local service for more information. Sometimes you can find
information from looking online.
How can I access the assertive outreach team? 19,20

The assertive outreach team can accept referrals from:
• NHS local urgent helplines. www.nhs.uk/service-search/mental-

health/find-an-urgent-mental-health-helpline.
• other mental health teams, and
• sometimes the police.
AOTs will not usually accept referrals from:
• your GP,
• you, or
• your friends and family
What can I do if the referral isn’t accepted?
Mental health teams may not accept a referral from a professional, you or
your family member.
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If your referral has not been accepted, ask the service to explain the
reason why.
If you disagree with their reason for not accepting your referral you can:
• talk to the professional who referred you to see if they can help, or
• ask the service to see their policy. A service should have a policy to
explain which patients will be accepted by the service. You have a
right to request this information under the Freedom of Information
Act.
See section 11 of this factsheet, ‘What if I have problems with my mental

health team’ for more information about what you can do if your referral is
not accepted.
What can I do if there isn’t a service in my area that will meet my

mental health needs?
If there are no services for your needs in your area you can talk to your
doctor or healthcare team and ask them to make an individual funding
request (IFR). An individual funding request means that you are asking the
NHS to give you funding for treatment that exists in a different area. Or
you are asking them to fund treatment which is not usually available on the
NHS. IFR are only approved in exceptional circumstances.
You can find more information about:
• Advocacy
• Complaints
• NHS Treatment: your rights
at www.rethink.org. Or call or General Enquiries Team on 0121 522 7007

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5. Can I choose which mental health team I go to?
You have a legal right to choose your mental health provider and team in
some situations. These rights apply when:21
• you are referred by a GP,

• you have an elective referral for a first outpatient appointment,
• the referral is suitable for your mental health needs,
• the service and team are led by a consultant or a mental healthcare
professional, and
• the provider has a commissioning contract with any Clinical
Commissioning Group (CCG) or NHS England for the required
service.
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An elective referral means that you wish to be referred for treatment that
is not urgent or crisis care.22 This means if you need urgent care or crisis
support you will not be able to pick your provider or care team.
First outpatient appointment means your first appointment with your

chosen provider at the start of a new episode of care. For example, if you
start treatment with a mental health team, you don’t have a right to swap
your team halfway through your treatment.
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6. How long do I have to wait for my appointment?
If the mental health team accept your referral, someone will call or write to
you and give you an appointment. If you are worried about waiting times,
talk to the professional who referred you for support.
Community mental health team. You shouldn’t have to wait more than
18 weeks for an appointment.23
Early intervention team (EIT). You should start getting treatment for
psychosis 2 weeks after your referral.24 Treatment may include
antipsychotic medication and talking therapy like Cognitive Behavioural
Therapy.25
If EIT can’t provide urgent support for you in a crisis, you should be
referred to a crisis team. But you should still be supported by the early
intervention in psychosis services at the same time.26
Crisis team. Most areas have a crisis team that are open 24/7. You
should get support quickly if you need this service. The NHS have said
that every area in England will have a 24/7 mental health crisis service by
2021.27
You can call your local NHS urgent mental health helpline to find out what
support is available. Click on the below link to find your local number or
call NHS 111. www.nhs.uk/service-search/mental-health/find-an-urgent-
mental-health-helpline.
Assertive outreach team. You shouldn’t have to wait more than 18

weeks for an appointment.28
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7. What can I do to help my mental health whilst I wait for my

appointment?
Whilst you wait for your appointment it may be helpful for you to try other
ways to support your mental health, such as making social connections
with people, exercising or focusing on sleep. Click the below link for more
information on how to look after your mental wellbeing
www.rethink.org/advice-and-information/living-with-mental-
illness/wellbeing-physical-health/
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You could also ask your GP if there is a social prescribing link worker in
your area to offer support to help with your mental health.
What is social prescribing?29
Social prescribing is a non-medical option to help improve your wellbeing.

You can talk to your GP about a link worker. GPs will be able to make a
referral to a social prescribing link worker. In some areas other health and
care providers can make a referral, such as social services.
Social prescribing link workers aren’t yet available in all areas of the
country. The NHS have committed to having more than 1,000 link workers
in place by 2024. There are many different names for link workers locally,
such as community connector, wellbeing navigator or wellbeing advisor.
A link worker will work with you to find out what is important to you. They
will help you to unpick complicated areas in your life and offer support to
help your mental wellbeing. They can connect you with local support such
as:
• activity groups,
• support groups,
• services, such as charities, and
• social services.
You can find more information about different ways to manage your
mental health in our factsheet ‘Recovery' at www.rethink.org. Or call our
General Enquiries team on 0121 522 7007 and ask them to send you a
copy of our factsheet.
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8. What will happen during my first appointment with the mental

health team?
At your first appointment you will have a mental health assessment with at
least 1 health professional. Your assessment may take a few
appointments to complete.
The reason for the assessment is to find out what support and treatment
you need to help you recover.
You will be asked about things such as the following.30
• Your thoughts, feelings and actions

• Your symptoms and experiences
• Support you already have
• If you care for anyone
• Your housing and financial needs
• Your employment and training needs
• Your relationships
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• Cultural or religious needs
• Drug or alcohol use
• Your current coping techniques
• What you want to achieve in the future
You might be asked about things that have happened in your past. Some
people find this difficult. Don’t be afraid to say if you don't feel comfortable
to talk about something.
Give the team any information that you think is important to help them to
understand your needs. The team will only be able to support you with
things that you tell them about. If you find certain topics hard to discuss
you could write down what you want to say before the appointment and
hand the paper to the professional to read.
Your treatment or care plan should meet your mental health needs. You
should be involved in the planning of your care. Your wishes for support
and treatment should be listened to.31 You should be at the centre of your
care. This is called a person-centred approach. Talk to your care team if
you feel as though you are not being involved enough with your care.
You can also involve any carers, friends or family in your care planning.
They should be encouraged to share their views. You should be asked on
different occasions if you would like your family to be involved with your
care. 32
Your care might involve help from 1 team member. Or you might work with
different members of the team.
If you have complex care needs, you may be assessed under the care
programme approach (CPA). This means you will have a care coordinator
to support you. Some people have a preference for a male or female care
coordinator. Tell the assessor if this is important to you. But be aware that
you may not be given your preference.
See section 8 of this factsheet for more information, ‘What is the care
programme approach (CPA).’
Are the mental health team responsible for all of my healthcare

needs?
A mental health team will generally only support with your mental health
needs. Such as medication or talking therapy.
Your GP will still be responsible for the rest of your medical care, such as
physical health needs.
However, even if you are under the care of the mental health team your
GP may be responsible for prescribing your mental health medication.
This will depend on shared care arrangements. Shared care is when your
GP prescribes medication under guidance from another team.
13
Shared care may work for you if you prefer your medication to be
prescribed by a GP rather than a psychiatrist. For example, your GP may
be closer to your home than the MHT. But your GP needs to make sure
that they are clinically able to prescribe your medication before agreeing to
shared care.33
What if I have psychosis or a severe mental illness?
A mental health team will support with both your mental health needs and
monitor your physical health needs if you have psychosis. Your physical
health monitoring will be transferred to your GP after 12 months. Or until
your symptoms have become stable.34
Your GP should offer you a regular physical health check if you have a
severe mental illness. This is because you are a higher risk of developing
certain physical health conditions. 35,36 Your GP have a register that
should remind them when this is due.37
As part of your health monitoring, a doctor or nurse may check your:
• blood pressure,
• pulse,
• urine,
• blood, and
• weight.
You can find more information about ‘Severe Mental Illness and
Physical Health Checks' at www.rethink.org.
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9. What is the Care Programme Approach (CPA)?
The Care Programme Approach (CPA) is a package of care that is used

by mental health services. CPA should be available if you have a wide
range of needs from different services or you are thought to be a high risk
of harm.38 This is known as having complex care needs.
You will have a care plan and a professional to coordinate your care if you
are under CPA. All care plans must include a crisis plan.39
CPA aims to support your mental health recovery by helping you to

understand your:
• strengths,
• goals,
• support needs, and
• difficulties.
Not everyone who is supported by a mental health team will be under

CPA.
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You can find more information about ‘Care Programme Approach (CPA)’
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10. What will happen to my care if I move area?
Your mental health team (MHT) should make sure that your care is
transferred to a local MHT if you move to a different area.40 Tell your team
as early as you can when you are due to move. Your care is unlikely to be
transferred to a different MHT if you remain local to the area.
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11. When will I stop seeing the mental health team?
As a general rule you should continue to get support from the mental
health team until you no longer need it. But usually you will only get 3
years support from an early intervention team. This can be extended if you
have not made a stable recovery.41
When you no longer receive support from a service, you are ‘discharged’
from their care. Mental health teams should make sure that you have the
right support to stay well before they discharge you.
As part of your discharge, you may be referred or signposted to a more

appropriate service.42 For example, if you need longer term support to stay
well, a crisis team may refer you to the community mental health team
(CMHT). Crisis teams only tend to offer short term support. Or the
assertive outreach team may refer you to the CMHT if you no longer need
intensive support.
They should give you information on what to do, or who to contact, if your
mental health gets worse. A 24-hour helpline should be available
to service users so that they can discuss any problems arising after
discharge.43 You could ask the team how you can be referred back to
them if you need their support.
Who should be involved in the discharge process?

Your mental health team should involve you in the discharge process.44
Mental health teams should also check if you have support from people
close to you. This can include family members, friends or your partner.45
They should be involved in your discharge if you would like them to be.
What should I do if I don’t think I should be discharged?

Ask the service to explain the reason why you were discharged.
If you disagree with their reason for discharge, you can:
• talk to the professional who referred you to see if they can help, and
15
• ask the service if you can see their policy. A service should have a
policy to explain when patients will be discharged from the service.
You have a right to request this information under the Freedom of
Information Act.
See section 11 of this factsheet, ‘What if I have problems with my mental

health team’ for more information about your options.
Will my benefits be affected if I am discharged from a mental health

team?
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) won’t stop or reduce your
benefits if you are discharged from a mental health team.
But your entitlement to certain benefits might be affected. This is because

your health may have improved. Benefits such as Employment and
Support Allowance (ESA), certain components of Universal Credit (UC)
and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) are based on how your illness
affects you.
You are responsible for telling the DWP if your health has improved.
Health professionals are unlikely to do this for you.
You can find more information about ‘Employment and support allowance’
and ‘Personal Independence Payment’ at:
illness/moneybenefits-and-mental-health/
What other services may support me if I am discharged from a

mental health team?
When you are discharged from a mental health team you might get
support from:
• your GP,
• a link worker through your GP,
• a different mental health team,
• social services, or
• charities such as Rethink Mental Illness.
• GP what to expect from your doctor

• Social Care Assessment under the Care Act 2014
at www.rethink.org. Or call or General Enquiries Team on 0121 522 7007

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12. What if I have problems with my mental health team?
You can try the following to try to solve any problems you have with the
mental health team.
Contact your care coordinator

Not everyone will have a care coordinator.
If you have an issue with your care or treatment your care coordinator
should be a good person to talk to. They are responsible for making sure
that your care needs are met.
See section 8 of this factsheet, ‘What is the care programme approach

(CPA)’ for more information.
Contact PALS
If you are unhappy with your care or treatment you can contact the Patient
Advice and Liaison Service (PALS). PALS are a service within the NHS.
They can try to help you with any problems or questions you have. There
is more information on finding your local PALS in the ‘useful contacts’
section at the end of this factsheet.
Contact an advocacy service

Advocates are not part of the NHS. They are a free service that can help
you to make your voice heard and help deal with problems with services.
There are different types of advocacy services who may be able to help.
• A community advocate may be able to help you talk to

professionals, help you write letters, or attend appointments or
meetings with you.
• An NHS complaints advocate can help you to make a complaint.
Make a complaint
You can make a formal complaint if you are unhappy with care, treatment
or facilities that the NHS provide. You can find details about how to make
a complaint on the website of your local NHS Trust.
• Advocacy
• Complaints

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13. What about confidentiality?
The mental health team needs your permission to share information with
other professionals, or your family or friends.46 But they can share
information with any health professionals that need to be involved in your
care, such as your GP. They can do this without your consent. This is
known as implied consent.47
They can share information with other professionals if they are worried
about your safety, or the safety of other people. They can do this without
your consent. 48
You can find more information about ‘Confidentiality’ at www.rethink.org.

Or call our General Enquiries team on 0121 522 7007 and ask them to
send you a copy of our factsheet.
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14. What can I expect from the mental health team as a carer, friend
or relative?
The mental health team (MHT) should do the following to support you. 49
• Give you information about how to care and support someone with
a mental illness. This is sometimes called ‘psychoeducation.’
• Tell you about support available for carers.
• Offer family intervention if you support someone who has
psychosis.50
• Offer an assessment of your own needs if you care for someone
with psychosis. They should give a copy to your GP. This is a
different assessment to a ‘carer’s assessment.’
• Tell you about your right to have a carer’s assessment from social
services. This will be available to you if you need your own support
to continue to support someone. It is free to have an assessment
Do I have a right to know information about someone’s care and

treatment?
An MHT can only share information about someone’s care if the person it
concerns agrees to have their information shared.51
You should talk to the person you care for about what information they are
happy for you to know. This information should be written in their
records.52
The MHT should involve you in care planning if the person you care for
would like you to be involved.53
18
How can I look after my own mental health?
As a carer it is important to look after your own mental wellbeing. Don’t be
afraid to ask for help if you need it. If you need support to care for
someone, you could try the following:
• Talk to friends and family

• Talk to your doctor
• Join a carers service. They are free and available in most areas
• Join a support group for carers, friends and family.
• Look after your mental wellbeing. Click this link for more information
illness/wellbeing-physical-health/
• Confidentiality and information sharing – for carers, friends and

relatives
• Supporting someone with a mental illness
• Carers Assessment
• Respite care - breaks for carers

Top
Patient Advice and Liaison Service

You can find your local Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) by
using the search facility on the NHS choices website.
Website: www.nhs.uk/Service-Search/Patient-advice-and-liaison-services-
(PALS)/LocationSearch/363
NHS Urgent Mental Health Helpline

Call for 24-hour advice and support - for you or someone you care for. You
can speak to a mental health professional. They will help decide the best
course of care.
Website: www.nhs.uk/service-search/mental-health/find-an-urgent-
mental-health-helpline
1 NHS Providers. The NHS provider sector nhsproviders.org/topics/delivery-and-

performance/the-nhs-provider-sector (accessed 17th September 2021).
2 NHS Providers. The NHS provider sector nhsproviders.org/topics/delivery-and-
performance/the-nhs-provider-sector (accessed 17th September 2021).

3 NHS. What are Integrated Care Systems? www.england.nhs.uk/integratedcare/what-is-
integrated-care/ (accessed 29th September 2021)

19
4 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Psychosis and schizophrenia in
adults: treatment and management. Clinical Guidance 178. London: National Institute for
Health and Care Excellence; 2014. Page 7.
5 NHS England, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, National Collaborating
Centre for Mental Health. Implementing the Early Intervention in Psychosis Access and
Waiting Time Standard: Guidance. London: NHS England; 2016. para 3.5.2.
6 NHS England, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, National Collaborating
Centre for Mental Health. Implementing the Early Intervention in Psychosis Access and
Waiting Time Standard: Guidance. London: NHS England; 2016. Para 2.2.1.
Health and Care Excellence; 2014. Para 1.3.1.1.
9 Department of Health. The Mental Health Implementation Policy Guide. London:
Department of Health; 2001. Page 26.

http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/Documents/776/CRHT%20PIG.pdf (accessed 17th
September 2021).



13 Social Care Online. The replacement of assertive outreach services by reinforcing local
community teams: a replication study reporting comparative outcomes and patient

reported experience. 2018. www.scie-socialcareonline.org.uk/the-replacement-of-
assertive-outreach-services-by-reinforcing-local-community-teams-a-replication-study-
reporting-comparative-outcomes-and-patient-reported-
experience/r/a1C0f000005L7rpEAC (accessed 17th September 2021).
14 Public Health England. Better care for people with co-occurring mental health and
alcohol/drug use conditions
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment
_data/file/625809/Co-occurring_mental_health_and_alcohol_drug_use_conditions.pdf
page 5-6 (accessed 17th September 2021).
15 Public Health England. Better care for people with co-occurring mental health and
alcohol/drug use conditions

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment
_data/file/625809/Co-occurring_mental_health_and_alcohol_drug_use_conditions.pdf
page 25 (accessed 17th September 2021).
16 Royal College of Psychiatrists. Mental Health Services/Teams in the Community.
www.rcpsych.ac.uk/healthadvice/treatmentswellbeing/mentalhealthinthecommunity.aspx
(accessed 17th September 2021).
17 Reg 214, Human Medicines Regulations 2012. SI 2012/1916.
18 Department of Health. Code of Practice Mental Health Act 1983. Norwich: TSO; 2015.
Para 14.52.
19 Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. Assertive outreach
teams. www.bsmhft.nhs.uk/our-services/adult-services/adult-community-
services/assertive-outreach-teams/ (accessed 17th September 2021).
20 Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust.
https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/services/mental-health-services/adult-and-older-adult/brent-
assertive-outreach-team (accessed 17th September 2021).
21 NHS England. Choice in Mental Health Care https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-
content/uploads/2018/02/choice-in-mental-health-care-v5.pdf Page 5 (accessed 17th

September 2021).
22 NHS England. Choice in Mental Health Care https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-
content/uploads/2018/02/choice-in-mental-health-care-v5.pdf Page 5 (accessed 17th

September 2021).
23 Department of Health. The Handbook to the NHS Constitution. London: Department of
Health; 2015. Page 28.

20
24 National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Implementing the Early
Intervention in Psychosis Access and Waiting Time Standard: Guidance.
www.england.nhs.uk/mentalhealth/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2016/04/eip-guidance.pdf
Para 4.1. (accessed 17th September 2021).
Health and Care Excellence; 2014. para 1.4.2.1.
27 NHS England. Crisis and acute mental health services
www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/adults/crisis-and-acute-care/ (accessed 17th

September 2021).
28 Department of Health. The Handbook to the NHS Constitution. London: Department of

29 NHS. Social Prescribing – Frequently Asked Questions
www.england.nhs.uk/personalisedcare/social-prescribing/faqs/#will-social-prescribing-
link-workers-be-found-only-in-general-practice-and-primary-care-networks (accessed 29th
September 2021)
30 NHS. Mental Health Assessment www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/mental-
health-services/mental-health-assessments/ (17th September 2021).

31 NHS England. Involving people in their own care.
https://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/patient-participation/ (Accessed 17th September

2021)
32 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Service user experience in adult
mental health: improving the experience of care for people using adult NHS mental health
services. Clinical Guidance 136. London: National Institute for Health and Care
Excellence; December 2011. Paragraph 1.1.14.
33 NHS England. Responsibility for prescribing between Primary & Secondary/Tertiary
Care https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/responsibility-prescribing-
between-primary-secondary-care-v2.pdf para 4.1.1(accessed 17th September 2021).
34 National Institute of Health and Care Excellence. Psychosis and schizophrenia:
Summary. cks.nice.org.uk/topics/psychosis-
schizophrenia/#:~:text=This%20CKS%20topic%20is%20based%20on%20the%20Nation
al,established%20diagnosis%20of%20a%20psychotic%20disorder%20including%20schi
zophrenia. (accessed 17th September 2021) Bottom of page.
adults: prevention and management. Clinical Guidance 178. London: National Institute for
Health and Care Excellence; February 2014. Paragraph 1.5.3.2.
36 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Bipolar disorder: assessment and
management. Clinical Guidance 185. London: National Institute for Health and Care
Excellence; September 2014. Paragraph 1.2.10.
38 Department of Health. Refocusing the Care Programme Approach: Policy and Positive
Practice Guidance. London: Department of Health; 2008. Page 2.

39 Department of Health. Refocusing the Care Programme Approach: Policy and Positive
Practice Guidance. London: Department of Health; 2008. Page 19.

40 NHS England. Who Pays? Determining responsibility for payments to providers. Leeds:
NHS England; 2013. Para 15.

Excellence; 2011. Page 25, para 1.7.1.
21
services. Clinical Guidance 136. London: national Institute for Health and Care
46 Department of Health. Confidentiality: NHS Code of Practice. London: Department of

47 General Medical Council. Confidentiality: good practice in handling patient information.
Manchester: General Medical Council; January 2017. Paragraph 27.


Health and Care Excellence; February 2014. 1.1.5.
adults. Quality Standard 80. London: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence;
2015. Page 21 – 22.


Excellence; December 2011. Paragraph 1.1.14.
22
© Rethink Mental Illness 2014
Last updated October 2021
Next update October 2024
Version number 2
This factsheet is available
in large print.
Last updated 01/10/2010
or write to us at Rethink Mental

Illness:
RAIS, PO Box 18252, Solihull
B91 9BA
Last updated 01/10/2010
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NHS Mental Health Teams (MHTs)

Community Mental Health

1. What is the mental health system?

• Community mental health teams

1. What is the mental health system?

A mental health team (MHT) is part of community care. Community care

Hospital care includes inpatient treatment. You are an inpatient in hospital

Examples of community tertiary care are:

• assertive outreach teams, and

What is the Integrated Care System?

• hospitals and GPs

You can find more information on www.rethink.org about:

• GP, what to expect from your doctor

2. Are there different types of mental health team?

Common MHTs are the following.

• Community mental health team

What is a community mental health team?

Health professionals from different backgrounds work in the CMHT. They

• child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), for people

What is a crisis team?

• thinking about suicide or acting on suicidal thoughts,

The team may:

Crisis teams are sometimes called:

• home treatment teams,

You can get crisis support by:

• looking on your local NHS trust’s website for information,

What is an early intervention team?

You can find more information about ‘Psychosis’ at www.rethink.org. Or

What is an assertive outreach team?

You may need the AOT if you have:11

• a severe long-term mental illness that affects you every day,

Why don’t AOT’s exist in most areas?13

Studies have shown that although AOT’s can improve people’s

Is a drug and alcohol team a mental health team?

3. Who makes up a mental health team?

Community psychiatric nurses (CPNs)

Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHP)

An AMHP is a mental health professional who is trained to use the Mental

4. How can I access a mental health team?

A health professional will usually need to refer you to a mental health

• NHS local urgent helplines. www.nhs.uk/service-search/mental-

Sometimes these teams will accept referrals from:

How can I access the assertive outreach team? 19,20

• NHS local urgent helplines. www.nhs.uk/service-search/mental-

AOTs will not usually accept referrals from:

What can I do if the referral isn’t accepted?

See section 11 of this factsheet, ‘What if I have problems with my mental

What can I do if there isn’t a service in my area that will meet my

You can find more information about:

at www.rethink.org. Or call or General Enquiries Team on 0121 522 7007

5. Can I choose which mental health team I go to?

• you are referred by a GP,

First outpatient appointment means your first appointment with your

6. How long do I have to wait for my appointment?

Assertive outreach team. You shouldn’t have to wait more than 18

7. What can I do to help my mental health whilst I wait for my

What is social prescribing?29

Social prescribing is a non-medical option to help improve your wellbeing.

8. What will happen during my first appointment with the mental

You will be asked about things such as the following.30