Working With Students with Mental Health Difficulties in Crisis In crises situations Irrespective of whether the student involved is thought or known to have mental health difficulties, the health and safety of all staff and students at the college is paramount in line with the college s Health and Safety Policy. In a situation where a member or members of staff are faced with a crisis situation which it appears as if a student s emotions or actions are beyond their control, or they have indicated that they intend to harm themselves or others, the following procedure are given. Remain calm and ensure that others around you also remain calm. Ask all necessary people to leave the situation. Avoid threatening behaviour such as staring or approaching without warning. Do not touch the student unless you are sure that this will help the student. Ensure that the student has some personal space in which to breathe. Calmly explain your actions to the student before you act on them. Note any threats of suicide and report them to the Colleges Mental Health Team on 7468 or 7158, as suicide threats should always be taken seriously. College Security Personnel should be alerted to the situation, but are advised not to directly approach the student. If it appears as if the crisis has passed, ask the student whom they would be comfortable leaving the college with and contact that person. If necessary, a taxi should be called to take the student and accompanying individual home or to an appropriate location or service. If the student remains highly agitated, but does not appear to pose a threat any longer, then Accident and Emergency services should be called. The situation should be explained to the operator, giving basic details of the student s behaviour. However, if the student remains highly agitated and continues to pose a threat, then the Police should be called.
Please note if the Mental Health Co-ordinator is not available for any reason and you have real concerns for an individual s mental health it is recommended that you contact the mental health team in the area the student lives. This can be done by contacting the social services department in the area of where the student lives and ask to be transferred to the Community Mental Health Team, by giving the student s postal address they can transfer you to the right team are there is often 4 teams covering one borough. For out of hours cases please ring the main social services department in the student s area and ask to speak to The Duty Mental Health Team. Please ensure you report any info back to the Mental Health Coordinator as this may need to be followed up. Community mental health teams The locality mental health teams provide a comprehensive range of services to meet the health and social service needs of people with long term mental health problems living in the community. The locality teams work with other agencies such as the college s mental health worker, day hospital outpatient departments, social services and probation services to ensure an exclusive level of care for their clients. Multidisciplinary teams cover counselling, community psychiatric nursing, mental health education, occupational therapy, psychology, advice to users, carers, professionals and the general public on mental health issues. Currently there are two community mental health teams in Hackney, please find contact information below and the post codes which comes under each team. North Hackney Community South Hackney Community Mental Health Team Mental Health Team Anita House Wilmer Place London N16 OLN Tel: 020 7275 1000 Fax 020 7254 3288 Donald Winnicott Centre Coate Street London E2 9AG Tel: 020 7033 6100 Fax:020 7033 6196
Psychiatric Liaison Team A+E The service is for people experiencing mental health problems which require urgent assessment. The person will be assessed by a psychiatric nurse and maybe seen by a psychiatrist. The crisis intervention service includes referral onto specialist agencies for prescription, advice or support. In some cases people maybe admitted when this is assessed as necessary. The service is open 7 days a week 24 hours per day. This service covers City & Hackney. Contact details: Homerton Hospital Accident & Emergency Department Homerton Row Hackney London E9 6SR Tel No: 020 8510 8980/81
SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN All staff, whatever their role in the organisation, have a legal duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. If you have any concerns about a student or the child of a student please contact Sylvan Dewing on Ext 7520 Room K103 If you cannot get hold of Sylvan and need to speak to someone immediately please contact social services. Please find a list of contacts below: Please always remember to follow up a telephone referral with a written referral requiring feedback. TO MAKE A PROFESSIONAL S REFERRAL TO SOCIAL SERVICES CHILDREN AND FAMILIES Hackney The City Newham Tower Hamlets Tel : 020 8356 5500 ( C & F Admin team) Fax: 020 8356 5516 Ask Admin team to put you through to the Duty Team. Hackney Social Services Children & Families Duty and Assessment Service 205 Morning Lane, London E9 6JX Tel: 020 7332 3621 ( Duty Team) or Tel: 020 7332 1224 (C & F Reception) Fax 020 7332 1573 Speak directly to the Duty Team or ask the receptionist to put you through. Corporation of London Social Services, Department of Community Services PO Box 270 Guildhall London EC2P 2EJ Tel: 020 8430 2000 ( Council Contact Centre) then key in one of these ext nos: 45621 45645 Fax: 020 8430 6468 You will speak directly to an Information and Referral Officer. Fax referral also required. Newham Social Services Children s Assessment and Intake Team (CAIT) Unit 12, Stratford Office Village 4, Romford Road London E15 4EA Tel: 020 7364 5606 ( East Team E3 & E14) Fax 020 7364 5071 Tel: 020 7364 2904 (West Ham E1 & E2) Fax: 020 7364 2969 The appropriate team will take your referral. Tower Hamlets Social Services Advice & Assessment Team East Gladstone Place 1, Ewart Place E3 5EQ Advice & Assessment Team West Cheviot House 227 233 Commercial Road London E1 2BU
1 1 Updated September 2009