The Highland Council & The Highland Primary Care NHS Trust
Mental Health Support Team
Bruce Gardens
23 Bruce Gardens
Inverness
IV3 5EN
Tel: 01463 714518
Social Work Service
Larch House
Stoneyfield Business Park
Inverness
IV2 7PA
Tel: 01463 711744
The Inverness Community Mental Health Support Team provides support for people with enduring mental health problems.
The Team consists of social workers, nurses, occupational therapists, a psychologist, a supported acommodation worker, and a number of support workers managed by a community support officer.
The aim of the Team is to improve the quality of life of people living in the community who have been disabled by the effects of mental illness by providing a range of support services.
The Team covers the area served by Inverness Area, i.e. Inverness Town, Smithton, Culloden and Balloch, East and West Loch Ness-side as far south as Fort Augustus, to Ardersier in the East, and Beauly and Cannich in the West.
Referral
If you suffer from enduring mental health problems yourself, or care for someone who does, and you fell that the Team could help you, please contact us direct or through your G.P.
A visist will be made by a Team member, and an assessment carried out to determine what help can be provided.
Referral Criteria
The following criteria will apply for referrals to the Team:
Diagnosis
Major mental illness, e.g. schizophrenia, manic depression, paranoid psychosis, chronic depression.
Disability
Sufficient disability to seriously impair a person's ability to lead his or her life, for example, affecting functioning within work, living arrangements, or in the family.
Duration
At least one year.
If an individual fulfils all three criteria, the Team will accept the referral, workload and other factors permitting. Where allocation is not possible a waiting list will be established with user, GP and referrer informed.
If an individual fulfils the first criteria relating to Diagnosis and one other, the Team will give serious consideration to the referral, but cannot guarantee to accept it.
The Team will not accept referrals regarding individuals whose primary diagnosis is alcohol or drug related, or dementia.
Service Provided
A variety of services are provided by the Team. The following list is not exhaustive and may be subject to change:
- help with accommodation
- drop-in centre for Team clients
- counselling
- group homes
- domiciliary support (including help with budgeting, cooking, cleaning, etc)
- laundry facilities
- support for families and carers
- assessment
- monitoring and administration of medication
- referral to other services
- welfare benefits advice
- visiting services
Group Activities
- relaxation
- horse riding
- crafts
- photography
- pottery
- swimming
- art
- knitting & needlecraft
- men's and women's group
- music group
Some of these groups are open to all clients of the Team, while others are more restricted and need referral from caseholders. All the groups are subject to change.
Premises
The Team is located at Larch House on the Stoneyfield Business Park. The Team can be accessed 9.00am to 5.00pm.
The Team also runs a Day Centre for Team clients at the Bruce Gardens Centre, 23 Bruce Gardens, Inverness. Opening hours are as follows:
Monday 9.00am to 4.00pm
Tuesday 9.00am to 4.30pm
Wednesday 11.00am to 4.30pm
Thursday 9.00am to 4.30pm
Friday 9.00am to 4.30pm
Saturday 11.00am to 4.00pm
Recording
The Community Mental Health Support Team records client information in manual files and on computer. As a multi-disciplinary Team we have adopted a common recording system with access on a need-to-know basis. Clients have a right to know how information about them is held. Leaflets from both Highland Communities NHS Trust and The Highland Council about access to this information are available on request.
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