Anyone can suffer from a mental health problem at some time in their lives.
Where a mental health problem becomes more serious and affects you to such an extent that it is having a negative effect on your quality of life and the way you relate to people and events, then our services, in partnership with health and voluntary organisations, may be able to help you.
What can I expect to happen?
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After discussion with a Duty Social Worker, you will be given advice, help and support;
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Where necessary, you will be allocated a Social Worker who can work with you to assess your needs. This assessment results in a Care Plan being made in partnership and in agreement with you;
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This Care Plan will say what your needs are, which services you will receive, how often, and when the service will be reviewed;
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We also try to involve carers, where appropriate. Carers may feel that they need to have a separate assessment of their needs;
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Sometimes, Social Workers are asked by relatives, doctors, friends, or neighbours to visit someone and assess them under the Mental Health Act 1983. This will be carried out by an Approved Social Worker.
What does an 'Approved Social Worker' mean?
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An 'Approved Social Worker' is a Social Worker who has received specialist training and who has been given responsibilities under the Mental Health Act 1983 to assess, when requested, whether a person needs to be detained in hospital.
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The Approved Social Worker will attempt to support a person in making a decision about what help would best meet their needs. This might be via support in the community provided by Social Services or by a voluntary admission to hospital. In some circumstances, this may not be possible because of a person's state of mind.
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In such a situation, the Approved Social Worker will consult, if possible, with the person's doctor and an approved psychiatrist and may arrange for the person to be detained in hospital for a period of assessment or treatment. When someone is admitted compulsory to hospital, they will be informed of their rights under the Mental Health Act 1983, their needs will be assessed and a Care Plan arranged for them when they are to be discharged from hospital.
What does the Council provide?
Gateshead Social Service's Mental Health Division provides a range of services including the following:
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Social Work Support;
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Community Support Team - support in your own home;
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Day Services;
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Residential Service - also offers respite, emergency and rehabilitation services;
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Independent Living Schemes - provides tenancies with support.
How to use the services provided by the Council and other organisations
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For services provided by the Council, you must have had your needs assessed by a Social Worker and the services required to meet your needs must be stated in your Care Plan;
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For services proved by the National Health Service, you usually need to be referred via your doctor, a health care professional or a Social Worker;
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For any residential services, including those run by the private or voluntary sectors, you need an assessment by a Social Worker (unless you have the funds and are willing to pay the full price for the service);
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Services provided by the voluntary organisations are open to anyone who needs to use the services they provide. You can contact the agency direct or ask someone to contact them on your behalf.
Cost of using the services
There are no charges for advice, information or for an assessment of need. Ongoing individual social work support is completely free of charge.
Where we arrange other services such as day or residential care, there may be a charge, depending on an assessment of your circumstances.
If you need to pay a charge, you will be given full details before you decide whether to take up this service.