Community Mental Health Team for Older People (65 and over)

Community Mental Health Team for Older People (65 and over). Contact: Gary Newham, Integrated Team Manager Telephone: 01202 305143  email: gary.newham@dhft.nhs.uk

Services provided are on a partnership arrangement between Borough of Poole, Dorset HealthCare NHS Trust and Poole Primary Care Trust. There are two Community Mental health teams in Poole: North and South. They each consist of consultants and other medical professionals, occupational therapists, social workers, care managers and community mental health nurses.

What we do

We provide assessment, treatment and support to older people with mental health problems, based on 3 guiding principles:

• Person centred care. We will listen to your views and those who care for you as we value the experience and skills of older people, recognising the differing needs of each person and developing services to respond to your individual needs
• Partnership. Evidence of collaboration should be found at all levels; between organisations; between professionals; between you, family members and professional carers
• Evidence-based Practice. Services should utilise evidence from research and have robust systems for evaluation and continuous development

How to make a referral

• Referrals for social care: please contact the helpdesk
• Referrals for health assessment: these should be made through your GP

Services for people with dementia

Who do we help?

• People with early memory loss
• People with functional mental illness eg. schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression
• People with organic mental health concerns eg. alzheimer's, dementia
• Carers of older people with conditions mentioned above

What services are available?

• Home care.
• Day centre provision by Health, Social Services or the independent sector
• Respite care in accommodation to suit your assessed needs