The Intensive Support Team (IST) provides intensive, regular and emergency support for older adults (under 65 if cognitively impaired) in a mental health crisis. The team’s main aims are to support patients in their own home or help them return from hospital, to their home, as quickly as possible.
About the service
This service is currently operating in South East Hampshire only.
The IST works with patients who are:
- in a ‘crisis situation’ and need an immediate care and treatment plan as well as supporting carers to avoid hospital admission
- presenting with significant behavioural and psychological symptoms associated with their mental health which could cause a risk to themselves or others.
The IST also works alongside colleagues to reduce length of stay in hospitals, both acute and in-patient wards, by facilitating early discharge. The team also support patients who are currently in residential or nursing homes.
What we do
The IST work alongside patients’ care co-ordinators (who will continue to oversee the care and treatment plan) and can monitor patients, as much as daily, if needed. The team can also monitor medication changes, although the change itself must be overseen by a community psychiatric nurse or doctor. The team work Monday to Sunday 9am – 5pm.
The IST cannot facilitate emergency respite or residential care, or provide personal care.
Accessing the service
Access to the service is via referral only.
If you are a clinician looking to refer a patient to the IST please ensure they:
- have a completed initial assessment by a community mental health team, which should include a risk assessment, mental health cluster, care or crisis plan, Lester tool, next of kin details and a carers communication plan wherever possible
- have a designated community psychiatric nurse or doctor and are currently open to services
- have a formal or working diagnosis of mental illness.
To contact the team to make a referral or discuss a patient, please call: 02392 681000
If you are a patient or carer looking to receive this service, please contact your GP.
Contact information
Access to the service is via referral by a clinician only
To contact the team to make a referral or discuss a patient call: 02392 681000.
If you are a patient or carer looking to receive this service, please contact your GP.