Community Mental Health Team

They are a specialist jointly managed team of people from West Berkshire Council and the Berkshire Health Care Trust who work together to provide services for people who suffer from severe and enduring mental illness or severe emotional distress/disturbance.

The Community Mental Health Team for West Berkshire is located at Hillcroft House on the West Berkshire Community Hospital site.

Staff may provide support in your home and the wider community, or at Hillcroft House through day services or Outpatient appointments.

Referral to CMHT is usually through your GP or other professionals. However, self and/or carer referrals are also accepted.

Within CMHT there are a number of smaller teams that provide specialist support

Community Mental Health Team
The Team is divided into two patches covering the East and West of Berkshire. Each team consists of a Patch Team Leader, Social Workers and Community Psychiatric Nurses. 

For detailed information on assessment and care planning in mental health services please download the handout "Assessment and the Care Programme Approach".

Crisis / Home Treatment Team
All initial referrals to Community Mental Health Services are dealt with by this team. They provide a single point of contact and duty system for all incoming referrals. They will make the initial decision whether to:

• Refer you to the East or West team for further work.
• Deal with you themselves urgently - or if input is needed within up to five days.
• Deal with you the same day if they feel the situation needs this.

If the Crisis Team does begin work with you, they may carry on with this if your needs are short term (less than eight weeks), but they will pass your case over to one of the two main teams if they feel support is needed for more than eight weeks.

The Crisis Team can also be contacted out of hours, to ensure people suffering from mental ill health in West Berkshire have access to services 24hrs a day, 365 days of the year.

Day Services
We offer a supportive and caring environment for those living in the community and those returning home following discharge from hospital. There are a range of therapeutic, leisure and recreational activities which provide opportunities for individual and group work. Staff can offer counselling and emotional support

Consultant Psychiatrists
A Consultant Psychiatrist is a medically qualified doctor who has specialised in mental illness, rather than become a GP or a surgeon or whatever. They hold at least one post graduate qualification after their basic medical degree. They work in multidisciplinary teams providing expert input particularly regarding diagnosis and drug treatment but their training is wide so they can contribute to a general understanding of a person with mental health problems from a psychological, social and strictly medical view points to provide an holistic formulation of how these factors are working together in a given individual. Because of their medical training they do look out for possible physical illness in those referred to the team and the other doctors within the team are responsible to the Consultant. Some of their work involves the care of those admitted to hospital and here they have specific legal responsibilities regarding anyone detained under the Mental Health Act 1983. Most work takes place in the community in a variety of settings. In addition they often have some management responsibilities.

Psychological Therapies Team
This team offers an opportunity for clients to have access to a range of time limited psychological treatments. The team currently comprises experienced Clinical Psychologists and Psychology graduates. Referrals are made through the Community Mental Health Service single point of contact. There is a handout that details this service

Occupational Therapy
The Occupational Therapists work alongside all teams within the community mental health team. They assess and work with clients individually and / or within group settings according to therapeutic need, using a client-centred approach. Their role is to work with clients to help them reach their maximum potential. This may include dealing with issues such as anxiety management, assertiveness and self-esteem.

Assertive Outreach
This is a specialist secondary service.  It is only available to people who already receive support from CMHT and have been assessed as needing this specialist service.

Early Intervention in Psychosis
The Early Intervention in Psychosis Service is available to anyone who appears to be experiencing a first episode of psychosis between the ages of 14-35. Young people aged 14-16 are referred to the Child Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) team for assessment.

Clients can be offered comprehensive mental health care for a 3 year period after the initial "critical phase" of psychosis. The service is based on the recovery model facilitating remission through biological and psychosocial interventions. The aim will be to reduce the individual's adverse reactions to the experience of psychosis and to maximise social and work functioning.