Andrea is 19 years old and received a service from the Extended Hours Crisis Service (EHS) for 39 weeks. Referral to the EHS was felt necessary to provide her with additional support in order to maintain her safety in the community. She needed input in order to develop skills necessary for a more independent life style, and to offer some respite to her carers. All family members are known to the psychiatric services. In the two years preceding referral to the EHS, she had three episodes of admission to hospital, all informal, lasting 58 days in total. She had no episodes of admission during her 39 weeks with the EHS.
Caerphilly County Borough Council reviewed their current services and provided a better way of deliver services to prevent crisis and provide support outside of weekday working hours.
The need for a service aimed at preventing crises through the provision of support in the evenings and at weekends was identified through consultation with voluntary organisations, user groups and a range of statutory services (social services, housing & health services). Despite the availability of crisis intervention from the emergency duty team, it emerged that a significant number of mental health service users experienced repeated admissions to hospital triggered by crises out of normal office hours. The Mental Health Extended Hours Crisis Prevention Service (EHS for short) was established with funding from the former Welsh Office and Caerphilly County Borough Council. The EHS began providing a service to users in July 1998 and became fully operation, providing a service seven days a week, in December that year.
Aims and objectives:
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